Stake Land

Name: Stake Land
Genre: Horror
Released: April 22, 2011
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 66

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 57 Ratings

See All

7.0

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.0	Your Score
7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 57 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Stake Land

Now Playing: Stake Land

Movie Details & Credits

Dark Sky Films | Release Date: April 22, 2011 | PG-13

Summary: In a fierce, alternative vision of America’s bleak future, a young boy is about to learn how cruel the world can be. Martin was a normal teenage boy before the country collapsed in an empty pit of economic and political disaster. And from the ashes rose a new breed of terror. A vampire epidemic has swept across what is left of the nation’sIn a fierce, alternative vision of America’s bleak future, a young boy is about to learn how cruel the world can be. Martin was a normal teenage boy before the country collapsed in an empty pit of economic and political disaster. And from the ashes rose a new breed of terror. A vampire epidemic has swept across what is left of the nation’s abandoned towns and cities, and it’s up to Mister, a death dealing, rogue vampire hunter, to get Martin safely north to Canada, the continent’s New Eden. Welcome to Stake Land, kid... (IFC Films)… Expand

Director: Jim Mickle

Genre(s): Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 98 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Peter Hartlaub

Apr 29, 2011

Bursts with action, ideas and interesting characters. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine Pam Grady

May 4, 2011

Stake Land is the movie "The Road" should have been. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Apr 21, 2011

Horror fans will celebrate Stake Land, and future horror-film directors should go to school on it. The flame is still burning -- and it keeps the undead away, at least for a while. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Apr 27, 2011

Director Jim Mickle, who co-wrote the film with his star Nick Damici, has crafted a good-looking, well-played and atmospheric apocalyptic vision. Read full review

Robert Abele

Apr 28, 2011

Resourceful writer-director Jim Mickle covers both in his realism-tinged indie Stake Land and shows that a savvy mixture of characterization, atmosphere and gore-eographed suspense can make even the most familiar fright tropes feel vaguely organic again. Read full review

Ben Sachs

Apr 28, 2011

Mickle's observation of a devastated working-class America is so sharp that the horror elements, though effectively handled, come to feel like an afterthought. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Apr 19, 2011

The whole movie aches from tired blood. Read full review

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

JayNiagara

Sep 5, 2011

Stunningly good horror movie - one of the best in a long time. The obvious comparison is that this must be some kind of 'Zombie Land' rip-off, especially with the vampire-tough-guy-escorting-younger-teen-and-coming-of-age storyline. Make no mistake, any parallels do not matter in the least.Stunningly good horror movie - one of the best in a long time. The obvious comparison is that this must be some kind of 'Zombie Land' rip-off, especially with the vampire-tough-guy-escorting-younger-teen-and-coming-of-age storyline. Make no mistake, any parallels do not matter in the least. This movie is excellent and I cannot believe that it has a PG-13 rating! You know you're in for something brutal in the first five minutes when a vampire is encountered in the rafters of a farmhouse chewing on a newborn baby before dangling its corpse by one arm and dropping it to the floor below. Don't get me wrong, I have three kids of my own and I hate scenes like that - but it establishes the dark tone of the movie and how serious the movie-makers were about creating a realistic post-apocalyptic America that doesn't treat the viewers like idiots.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

dont_walk

Jun 27, 2011

I seriously think that this will be a slow burn success like Shawshank.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Yes, it held up it's influences for all to see - The Road, Kung Fu, The Fellowship of the Ring, Karate Kid, Deliverance, etc - but for a LOW BUDGET FILM it seriously delivered. I wasI seriously think that this will be a slow burn success like Shawshank.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Yes, it held up it's influences for all to see - The Road, Kung Fu, The Fellowship of the Ring, Karate Kid, Deliverance, etc - but for a LOW BUDGET FILM it seriously delivered. I was gripped from the first minute. I didn't recognise any of the actors - even Kelly McGillis; what a refreshing change. Zombie Land with brains (... although I've yet to see Zombie Land so apologise where relevant).

I'm considering buying the OST. *Don't believe the trailer. This is not a non-stop action romp*

Looking forward to the sequel ...… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

Patrick94

Jan 4, 2013

I'm surprised there's so few reviews for this one. I found it to be incredibly enjoyable, the atmosphere, the acting, the action, the suspense. It's all there, and it all works like it should

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

VidsRule

Jan 28, 2013

The world needs more movies like this- a post apocolyptic world with a realistic feel. The movie doesn't push any one concept to far (relationships, human vs human) but has it all. A very good movie.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

ILHM

Jan 31, 2013

The world has been ravished by despair after a deadly plague has transformed most of the population into bloodthirsty vampires. Martin and his mentor, Mister, set off through dangerous territory in the hopes of reaching the safe haven known as New Eden, but in order to do so, they will haveThe world has been ravished by despair after a deadly plague has transformed most of the population into bloodthirsty vampires. Martin and his mentor, Mister, set off through dangerous territory in the hopes of reaching the safe haven known as New Eden, but in order to do so, they will have to fight their way through hordes of the undead, let alone an army of crazed religious fanatics that have embraced "God's wrath." Nick Damici and Jim Mickle follow up their vastly underrated feature debut, MULBERRY STREET, with another powerful post-apocalyptic vision of hell starring Damici as the mysterious vampire slayer, "Mister." The scope of the picture feels all-encompassing, transforming the entire world into an undead nightmare on a relatively small-scale. Damici creates an excellent new anti-hero in Mister, with his brash behavior and uncaring attitude amounting to a memorable performance overall. Connor Paolo comes as a much bigger surprise, however, as Mister's argil apprentice, Martin. His sincerity and vulnerability are what draw us in to their unfortunate predicament as they race for survival. With the human element already in place, we turn to the unbridled terror of Mickle's vampires. The creatures function on a level of base instinct, and attack with the ferocity of an untamed animal. This makes for many frighteningly intense moments as Mister and Martin find themselves in inescapable situations against overwhelming odds. STAKE LAND succeeds on almost every level, and is a refreshing change of pace for vampire fans.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

NFW

Jun 25, 2015

You'd expect a movie called STAKE LAND to be a cheesy B-Movie, but it's actually a well acted, tightly written film that is quite emotional at times. It kind of gives off a "The Road" vibe with it's grim atmosphere and violence, which is pretty cool considering "The Road" is one of myYou'd expect a movie called STAKE LAND to be a cheesy B-Movie, but it's actually a well acted, tightly written film that is quite emotional at times. It kind of gives off a "The Road" vibe with it's grim atmosphere and violence, which is pretty cool considering "The Road" is one of my favorite books. The only draw back is the length, it's WAY too short. I feel if it was longer then it might have been the masterpiece it wanted to you could tell it wanted to be, but it's still great none the less. Definitely proof you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Hyperbole

Jan 17, 2012

The first third is good, the second third is bad and the final third is laughable, and not in a good way. It ends up taking itself far too seriously but doesn't have to writing chops to back that up. It evens runs out of ideas completely, resorting to cringing cliche.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS