Stake Land (2010)

It would be easy to draw comparisons between Stake Land and Zombieland. Aside from the similar titles, they feature a pair of travellers, an experienced killer and a young buck, as they travel across a post-apocalyptic United States of America to get where they're going to. Along the way, they are reminded of the recently departed and the society that has crumbled in the face of an undead onslaught and joined on their journey by other travellers. That's where the similarities end. Zombieland is a comedy, and a damn good one at that and Stake Land is a horror-drama, a post-apocalyptic film much more in the vein of The Road. It's bleak, with wonderful cinematography that highlights the beautiful scenic backdrop and it's suspenseful, with co-writer and director Jim Mickle displaying a certain flair that has prompted me to want to check out his previous effort, 2006's Mulberry Street.

The story begins with a man only known as Mister (played by co-writer Nick Damici) saving young Martin (Connor Paolo) from the same fate that befell his family. It's an excellent opening scene and it both nicely sets up the story and also gives us a good look at the vampires. They're unlike almost any other vampires I've seen on film - sort of a cross between zombies and feral vampires. They retain almost none of their humanity, behaving as fiercely (and stupidly) as savage animals. Taking Martin under his wing, the pair travel north from bayou land towards "New Eden" - the supposed safe haven in Canada, where it's too cold for the "reptilian" vampires to survive. Along the way they pick up a nun (Kelly McGillis), a pregnant woman (Danielle Harris) and an ex-marine (Sean Nelson).

The enemies they face are not just undead - the film delivers a prescient analysis of fundamentalist Christians, some of whom have coalesced into a group known as "The Brotherhood", which sees the vampires as a blessing from their god, and who assisted in the collapse of society and the destruction of the large cities. The weakest part of the film derives from this, as The Brotherhood attack a fortress village by dropping vampires out of helicopters. It's ridiculous and drags the film off-kilter somewhat. It's soon back on track when the group, their numbers dropping one at a time, head closer to the Canadian border and The Brotherhood stalks them, determined to sacrifice them to the vampires.

Aside from the opening, other stand-out scenes include an attack by car-hopping vampires, a nerve-jangling chase through a corn field and an encounter with a recently-turned young girl. The best parts are not the fight scenes, however, but the interludes. It's well acted and well-scripted. In many ways, it's a lot like Monsters. While I didn't care for that film, finding it far too slow and very boring, Stake Land was much more effective at building up my interest as we followed the characters on their journey.

Aside from the helicopter attack and the final fight scene, which feels tacked-on and unnecessary, Stake Land is an excellent film. Belying its low budget, it's well written and acted, including strong performances from Damici as the mysterious "Mister" and Danielle Harris, who is as good as always. The make-up on the vampires is very good and Jeff Grace's score effectively adds to the suspense and desolation that the director conjures. One of the best original vampire films I've seen in quite a few years.

8 out of 10.