What with Romero's recent zombie outings proving underwhelming, countless number of low-budget failures, and various parodies of the genre, you would be correct to assume that the post-apocalyptic horror film had nowhere left to run. With Stake Land, our survivors are pitched against bloodthirsty vampires, with the focus being on protagonists, Mister, a vampire hunter, and Martin, a jaded teenager whose parents have recently been killed, who Mister takes under his wing.
Familiar plot devices are predictably in check (religious cult groups; moral dilemma; good vs. evil); and you will find considerably more depth and characterisation in The Road or The Walking Dead television series, for instance. But there are some clever touches that elevate this from being substandard fare. The narration by Martin adds atmosphere and emotional drive, with the solid performances suiting the solemn atmosphere throughout. Those looking for gore will no doubt appreciate the use of the malevolent vampires, which, in a clever spin, only threaten at night, thus allowing the humans slight hope of restoration throughout the day. The direction is tight, with a surprisingly effective mixture of the horror, western, and road movie genres.
If it sometimes lacks the substance its own intentions clearly strive for, then this still remains an above average effort in an already over saturated market.
Familiar plot devices are predictably in check (religious cult groups; moral dilemma; good vs. evil); and you will find considerably more depth and characterisation in The Road or The Walking Dead television series, for instance. But there are some clever touches that elevate this from being substandard fare. The narration by Martin adds atmosphere and emotional drive, with the solid performances suiting the solemn atmosphere throughout. Those looking for gore will no doubt appreciate the use of the malevolent vampires, which, in a clever spin, only threaten at night, thus allowing the humans slight hope of restoration throughout the day. The direction is tight, with a surprisingly effective mixture of the horror, western, and road movie genres.
If it sometimes lacks the substance its own intentions clearly strive for, then this still remains an above average effort in an already over saturated market.