RELEASING: IFC Film/IFC Midnight

CREW: Director/Screenplay/Editor/Visual Effects – Jim Mickle; Screenplay – Nick Damici; Producers - Derek Curl, Larry Fessenden, Adam Folk, Brent Kunkle, & Peter Phok; Cinematography – Ryan Samul; Score – Jeff Grace; Costume Design – Liz Vastoia; Production Design – Daniel R. Kersting; Special Effects – Pete Gerner & Brian Spears.

CAST: CONNOR PAOLO... Martin; NICK DAMICI... Mister; KELLY MCGILLIS... Sister; DANIELLE HARRIS... Belle; MICHAEL CERVERIS... Jebedia Loven; SEAN NELSON... Willie; BONNIE DENNISON... Peggy; CHANCE KELLY... Officer Harley; ADAM SCARIMBOLO... Kevin; MARIANNE HAGAN... Doctor Foley.

SYNOPSIS: A vampire epidemic transforms America into a wasteland resembling the Wild West where gunslingers and fanatical preachers hold sway. Survivors band together in rural pockets, fearful of sunset, hiding from vicious, feral bloodthirsty monsters. Many cities and towns are reduced to tombs. Martin’s (PAOLO) family is slaughtered right before his eyes, but he is saved. A grizzled, wayward hunter who stalks the undead simply known as Mister (DAMICI) takes Martin under the wing. He and Martin journey through the locked-down towns of America's heartland, searching for a better place, following a rumor of a new Eden. Along the way they destroy any bloodsuckers that cross their path. They also recruit fellow travelers, including a nun (MCGILLIS) caught in a crisis of faith when her followers turn into ravenous beasts and a pregnant young girl named Belle (HARRIS). This makeshift family unit of vigilantes continues north, avoiding major thoroughfares taken and patrolled by The Brethren, a fundamentalist militia headed by Jebedia Loven (CERVERIS) that interprets the plague as the Lord's work.

REVIEW: I first experienced the pleasure of the unique filmmaking skills of Jim Mickle and Nick Damici on the day they locked the print for “Mulberry Street.” Both Jim and Nick are filmmakers who are capable of wearing several hats on projects, with Nick also taking up a role in front of the camera. At that screening of “Mulberry Street” I had the pleasure to meet Jim and Nick, as well as many members of the cast and crew. There was energy in the air and you couldn’t deny there was something special about these homegrown New York filmmakers.

STAKE LAND is their continued evolution and proof of their exceptionally talent. Jim and Nick deliver a film that demonstrates raw talent and skill that poises them to be the next generation Scorsese and DeNiro – if “Mulberry” was their “Mean Streets” the STAKE LAND is their “Taxi Driver.” The film is beautifully shot, the editing is dynamic, the music underscores the drama, and the effects are not over blown as to take away from the story or performances.

The screenplay is a sophisticated re-imagining of several genre themes (zombie, vampire, western, etc.) woven around a quest that focuses on the coming of age of Martin as an adult in this nightmare world. STAKE LAND works due to its clearly defined characters and pertinent dialogue. You become engrossed in the drama, suspense, and horror. You take the ride because of the characters, and performances, regardless of the threat, zombies, vampires, or cannibals. That being said, I liked their primal vampires, making it grittier then many of the polished vampire films we’ve see over the last two years. The plot isn’t bogged down in an attempt to create a complex vampire mythology. They know we’re aware of the mythology and offer enough information to move the story along. The tales is as tragic and grim as Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, but not nearly as bleak. It’s methodical, reminiscent of the AMC series “The Walking Dead,” but the story isn’t neat. STAKE LAND comes to a satisfying conclusion but leaves a few loose ends for a possible new adventure into the world they’ve created.

There’s no question that Nick is an actor’s writer and Jim is an actor’s director, evident by STAKE LAND’s crisp performances. I’ve enjoyed actress Danielle Harris in many of her genre films but seeing her here is like seeing her for the first time. She shines. It was great to see actress Kelly McGillis on screen again and she delivers a strong performance. Producer Larry Fessenden’s cameo is right on the mark. Connor Paolo is a gifted young actor and this could be the film that rockets his career like “Roger Dodger” did for actor Jesse Eisenberg. Then there’s Nick Damici thrilling performance. His screen presence is a homogeneous blend of Clint Eastwood, Robert DeNiro, and Harvey Keitel, creating a memorable character.

On any given day I can walk into a screening room or open my mail box to find a DVD, and end up watching a film that’s too cleaver for it’s own good by attempting to combine several genre film plots, pay homage to genre films, or believe they’re reinventing the genre by pushing the envelope yet again. The key elements often lacking are plot, dialogue, and characterization – usually in that order. Placing the exceptional technical skill of the filmmakers to the side, STAKE LAND is a superbly written story that engages the audience by placing fully realized and absorbing characters in dire circumstances. It’s one of those rare occasions where I was simply able to set back and get caught up in the ride. STAKE LAND is a fully realized, raw and real tour de force by talented filmmakers, and talented actors, who will undoubtedly be rocking the motion picture world for years to come.

STAKELAND official website – http://www.scareflix.net/stakesite.html

**Based on the regular $13.00 ticket prices at a Manhattan Theater.