I love vampires, and I’m not ashamed about it. There, I said it.
Vampires have copped a bit of a lame reputation in the last few years, and we all know who the main culprit is (I’m looking at you, Edward Cullen/Robert Pattinson/Stephenie Meyer). But my fascination with vampires started way back in 8th grade (circa 1994, for those of you playing at home), when a friend of mine lent me the book Interview With The Vampire. Fairly intense stuff for a 13 year old, but I was instantly hooked and quickly borrowed the rest of the series. I was amazed by the drama, detail and devotion that Anne Rice infused her books with. And though my adoration for the mythical creature is first and foremost with the thinking-feeling kind (of which the epitome would be the Vampire Lestat), over the years I’ve found myself drawn to vampire stories of any kind. And so we arrive at Stake Land, where we meet the second type of vampire – the primal-monster kind.
After his family is attacked by one of the vicious vampires now prowling the nights of this post-apocalyptic era, teenager Martin (Connor Paolo) is taken under the wing of saviour/vampire-hunter Mister (Nick Damici), who is heading towards the New Eden, aka Canada. As they make their way through freshly-formed communities that have sprung up in the wake of the vampire infestation, Martin and Mister meet an array of characters — including a nun, a pregnant teenage girl, and a vampire cult leader — who’ve had their lives changed in this bleak and savage world.
First off, apart from vampires, I’m also a big fan of post-apocalyptic stories. I don’t know why these end of the world tales fascinate me — possibly because I like figuring out how I myself would act — but on a non-personal level, I love the drama and emotion that comes out of these characters who are trying to survive in such dire situations. The humanity and strength of will are just a couple of things that really stand out for me in really well-written stories of this genre, and this film is not lacking in either. Stake Land paints a very dim and grim portrait indeed, and the film is a series of (emotional and plot) ups and downs – coasting along, then bad luck, then escape, then bad luck again, then a win, then more bad luck, etc. Trying very hard not to give anything away here, the film ends on a hopeful note that I just loved. Kind of bittersweet and with room for more that made me feel like I could watch another 2 hours.
The characters are a great mix, and happily solid acting from everyone involved. Paolo as Martin has just the right amount of naivety and hunger, stuck halfway between boy and man. He’s very believable and likeable, and adds a nice element to a film that can sometimes be a bit too subtle or subdued. Damici as Mister is an excellent strong and silent type. His badassery is both convincing and engaging, and it’s easy to understand how Martin looks up to him. Also worth a mention is Sister, the nun that Martin and Mister meet, played by Kelly McGillis. I was really surprised when I found out she was in this film, and even more surprised when she first comes onscreen and we meet her character. Such an interesting choice for both the plot and McGillis, that pays off in spades for both.
My only criticism is the ending. Again, trying not to give anything away, there is a certain kind of coincidence/convenience in the big finale that slightly disappointed me. Not enough to ruin the film, as it still works, but enough to make me go “Damn! This could have been a perfect film!” To be honest though, it does add a certain punch, and I personally don’t know what I would have done instead. Director Jim Mickle, who wrote the film with Damici, has made an interesting, engaging and exciting film, full of great characters, and that looks great as well (some shots are quite beautiful). I’m really curious to find out what he does next. But in the meantime, this is a worthy addition to the Intelligent Horror Movie genre that I highly recommend.
4/5
