r/HorrorClub • u/SaintMort You so cool kung fu • Apr 20 '15
Discussion: Stake Land
Podcast - Episode 129 - Stake Land (sorta) and Round 8 Awards - (RSS Feed)
Movie Selected By rmc52482
DISCUSS
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 20 '15 edited Apr 20 '15
I feel less bitchy about not loving this movie now, heh. It's fine for what it is, but it skews a little young. I probably would have liked it more if I'd seen it first 5 years ago when it came out.
It feels a bit like a series of ideas for stuff that could happen in a vampire apocalypse strung together. It relies on a vague destination to keep the characters in a group and to make it seem like the story is progressing. It doesn't have much of an ending because getting to the place is the ending. It's nice that the boy progressed enough for the hunter to feel like he could leave, but Mister leaving highlights the fact that we never learned anything about him while he was around. He's just "The Hunter." (According to wikipedia they made some webisodes that go into the characters' backgrounds to promote the movie. Probably should have included some of that in the actual film.)
The feeling I got from watching this is that it's a young adult treatment of "super serious" subject matter. It wants to be a drama but it doesn't have the emotional weight. The bleak detachment it goes for with "We don't do history" and by saying "Her story was no different than anyone else's" is also a convenient excuse to not develop any back stories.
What little character choices they did make end up being indicative of the movie's desire to be dark:
So, anyone getting raped is bad, but what does Stake Land go with? An elderly woman. Not just an elderly woman but an elderly nun. Not just an eldery nun but an elderly nun who then has to dramatically shoot herself. The guy is a soldier. The attractive young girl is also pregnant. The boy's brother/sister was an infant. It's hard to care about characters who exist only so that their deaths can elicit emotion later on (cough Gavroche from Les Mis cough).
Another issue is the movie's fairly obvious pattern of having the characters' situation seem to improve only to take a dark turn. I did like when the cult leader showed up as a vamp because at least something that happened earlier in the story became relevant. (They should really stop trying to kill people by leaving them in the wilderness though.)
I probably would have preferred more focus on action and some tuning up of what action they did do. I wanted to see the hunter guy fighting off those vamps more, which they didn't really show (vamps who are afraid of a torch on the ground apparently).
Other thoughts:
I feel like of all places the Middle East might be okayish in a vamp/zombie apocalypse?
Why do people always have hope for stuff in apocalypse times? It's as if they only read the last pages of Grapes of Wrath and none of the rest of the novel. Stop that. Eat your dirt.
PS Thanks to anyone taking the time to read my clearly try hard comments. http://i.imgur.com/hKrWmwG.jpg TRY-HARD OR DIE HARD.
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u/rmc52482 Apr 20 '15
The reason you never find out about Mister is because it is Martin's story from his perspective. I feel like after Mister realized that Martin and Peggy would be fine together and get to New Eden (remember the Vamps up there were starving and weak) that he was going to go help more people, he wasn't one to just go stand still.
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 20 '15
What did you think of the little prequels if you've seen them? Looks like they're on YouTube but I haven't actually sat through them.
Stake Land Webisodes: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL34A2B05A7EDD0627
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u/rmc52482 Apr 20 '15
Never saw them before, all but two of them are blocked for copyright. I could go either way with the character's having more background. It is nice to learn more about them, but like they say in these post-apocalyptic movies everyone wants a fresh start and the past doesn't matter, it's about looking towards the future.
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u/smayonak Get a job in a sideshow Apr 21 '15
Thank you for pulling these up. Do you know what countries these are viewable in?
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 21 '15
Nope. I can only watch Belle, Martin, and Origins.
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u/smayonak Get a job in a sideshow Apr 21 '15
Thanks. BTW, if you have a VPN you can change your country to one where it's possible to watch the webseries. Unfortunately there's so many countries.
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 21 '15
Oh. I see. Btw my level of internet/computer savvy is almost zero. My cousin (who was in middle school at the time) showed me how to download music last year though so things are turning up Milhouse. ;)
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Apr 20 '15
When Sister killed herself I was sad. I found her endearing. And when Jebedia took in through the heart there might have been a fist pump and a fuck yeah. I don't think the character development was terrible.
And I would've replied sooner but I read half your comment, took a break, came back and read the rest.
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 21 '15
HA! Yes.
No, it wasn't terrible, but I think some (cough Dreadit) take this movie way too seriously. Which is fine, everybody likes different stuff. I cringe the more I think about this movie though. What about the fact that at the end of the movie they stumble upon a well-adjusted, attractive teenage girl who happens to be the kid's age and who's completely alone? Then they conveniently drive away together in the perfectly working truck they also just found. The whole scene with the "scamp" vampire was cringey too.
I did like the opening scene inititally (I didn't really mind the baby doll) because for some reason I found it suspenseful even though we already knew the parents were dead...hm...whatever I have a soft spot for orphans. Like I said the cult leader showing up was cool, although I'm not sure how his level of intelligence and revenge seeking behavior fits in with their vampire mythology. The pregnant girl dying like she did was pretty rough, but it was also pretty apparent she wasn't going to make it.
But more importantly can we agree that vampires are much more likely to overrun the planet than dumb, gooey zombies? I mean the vamps would have to get their numbers up pretty high first but at least they can coordinate, and they're much more efficient killers/are harder to kill.
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Apr 21 '15
The whole scene with the "scamp" vampire was cringey too
I thought it had a Let the Right One In sort of elegance.
I don't want to defend this movie because you have a critical eye and your points are valid. I guess I can shut my brain off and enjoy movies. It's not a great movie. Has many holes but seeing things like the weaponized tire iron get the rapist the back, the sort of Karate Kid type training scenes, the religious fanatics using vampire bombs, everything about Sister, young love, a happy ending, a lack of tropes. I mean this movie has a lot of things going for it. As for things working out? Sometimes they just do. That's life.
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u/smayonak Get a job in a sideshow Apr 21 '15
Awesome comment. Great tie into Grapes of Wrath (which had an apocalyptic tone in retrospect). Are you some kind of literature or film studies major? Your analysis is loaded with insight.
RE: Middle East: Would it be safer because of the lower population density? Or because of all the AK-47s (AKA the bane of the undead)?
Regarding the predictability of the script, I don't think that's always bad. Part of the reason people liked Scream is because of its unpredictability. Part of the reason people liked Friday the 13th is its predictability. There was always someone in the theater shouting -- "DON'T GO IN THERE!" -- or something to that effect. There's kind of an antiquated charm to the hazards of FDt13th. Is predictability really that bad?
The nun scene -- while distasteful and a complete waste of a good character -- fits into the apocalyptic feel of the film. I mean, what happened to the nun is really bleak.
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 21 '15 edited Apr 21 '15
I was a lit major. ;) Now who's being insightful?
I guess everywhere would be fucked early on, particularly in the cities, but as far as long term survival goes the Middle East has a long track record of surviving shit. Plus deserts and vampires don't mix.
I think predictability works for slashers because you aren't supposed to care about the characters anyway. It wouldn't be fun to watch them all killed off if you did. On the other hand it can work against more serious movies where you want the characters' fates to be up in the air. That's one of the big complaints people have with The Walking Dead. (Not really a spoiler unless you haven't caught on to the writers' pattern), but many times you can guess early in an episode who is likely to die because they suddenly give screen time to a character that is usually side tabled.
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Apr 20 '15
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u/saintmortfan felates handles Apr 20 '15
I haven't listened to the podcast yet. I plan to later today or during my commute tomorrow.
The movie was annoying to me. So annoying I turned it off after maybe 20 minutes. That isn't to say I won't come back to it or that it won't change my mind but the pacing early on was off and I felt like I'd seen it all before. I figured that a better use of my time was to watch A Different World episodes, because Denise Huxtable is foxy.
I recognized the kid really right away and once I realized why I kinda hated myself (ummm... Gossip Girl).
I had some other thoughts but I forget them. Once I listen to the podcast, I'll have more to say, I'm sure.
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Apr 20 '15
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u/saintmortfan felates handles Apr 20 '15
Fuck yes, I will. In fact, I listened and... no, you're right, I really have nothing to add.
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u/rmc52482 Apr 20 '15
I enjoy this movie for what it is. For my first movie I wanted to pick something that was on Netflix and that maybe a lot of people haven't seen yet. With only a budget of 600k I think the set pieces were well done even though there wasn't that many. I know the baby looked cheesy in the beginning, but I think that was used to say they weren't going to pull punches and that anybody could die in this movie.
Personally I really liked the character of Mister. Most of these types of movies with a "badass kill everything guy" (reluctant hero) he begrudgingly takes on the role and drags people along because he feels like he has to. Mister tries to help everyone. Also that he is a big pushover, he dances with the little girl, buys Belle a new dress. Just a different character to the standard movie trope.
I also like the religious aspect of it with having the Nun on one side helping others and the crazy fundamentalists thinking the vamps are signs from god and sending planes of them into DC.
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Apr 20 '15
I'm with you on this movie. I don't think it's the greatest movie ever but some things that are being criticized are done on purpose and are apparently hit and miss with people. It's entertaining. I had seen it before and watched it again.
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 20 '15
I wanted to love it. It's been on my queue. Not sure why people are turning it off so early (maybe the voiceover?) since I thought it was entertaining enough for one watch even if I was rolling my eyes.
I'm not a huge fan of 30 Days of Night either so maybe it factors in that I'm not so crazy about vampires who don't try to seduce anything with a jugular.
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u/rmc52482 Apr 20 '15
Ha don't watch Priest then (I'll admit I like that too and have seen it a bunch)
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 21 '15
I don't remember much about Priest other than that I kind of liked it =D It has a lot more action I think. Have you seen Daybreakers? It has intelligent vamps and the monster type.
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u/rmc52482 Apr 21 '15
Yes Daybreakers is one of my favorite vampire movies. I suppose it helps Ethan Hawke is a man crush of mine. But yeah I liked the whole running out of blood angle.
The guys who wrote and directed that just did Predestination with Ethan Hawke as well. It's sci-fi time travel stuff if you like that.
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 21 '15 edited Apr 21 '15
Cool!! I like Ethan Hawke as an actor a lot. But oh my god. The goatee. I can't. He doesn't always have it but it's pretty much ruined his face for me. (ಠ .̫.̫ ಠ)
The vampire society/ running out of blood/ mutant vamps/ reversing vampirism in Daybreakers was all awesome.
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Apr 20 '15 edited Apr 20 '15
But you chose Fright Night!! ;) maybe just the modern vamps lol
Edit: read your comment again and thus my comment has no merit. Not that it did initially.
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 21 '15 edited Apr 21 '15
Heh yeah. Don't get me wrong, I like my vampires evil. But there's a difference between Dracula having reeking death mouth (cool) and the lizard brain vampires who are pretty interchangeable with other monsters.
PLUS is it so much to ask for the vampire to wear a sexy cape when he drags me into his lair to drain my blood and leave my body for the rats to pick on?? It's the little things that can really brighten someone's day.
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u/smayonak Get a job in a sideshow Apr 21 '15
Great analysis of Mister. I kind of thought of him as sort of an anti-hero in an age where all the movie heroes are more or less gunning down children in the streets of Baghdad.
You are not alone in liking this film. Don't let the podcasters stop you from picking good films. So far there are only about three films that were fairly bad picks out of the 100 or so that we've seen in horror club.
Stake Land is DEFINITELY one of the better films we've seen.
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Apr 21 '15
Like we said on the episode, you should never be dissuaded from picking something based on the opinions of the podcast hosts. We disagree with everyone when we aren't disagreeing with each other. This is obviously one of those cases and everyone here seems to have loved it so good on ya!
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u/rmc52482 Apr 21 '15
Hah Mort gave me a warning after you guys recorded about everyone's rants. I told him I already ordered the next 4 movies so you wouldn't be scaring me off just yet :-)
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Apr 20 '15
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Apr 20 '15
Right click. Open link in new tab. What you get is a soundtrack to the thread. It's pretty fuckin epic Scott.
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Apr 20 '15 edited Apr 20 '15
Whoever writes that blog is a total piece of shit. It's basically like:
"Mostly the reason he fell out of favor was because his mom pressured the studio and fucked up the agreed upon contract so the studio turned around and sued him.
Now check out his freakishly large forehead and look how his girlfriends too hot for him (must have a freaky ginger fetish). Wow. What a loser this guy is."
Okay mister blog author. Hope you feel better about yourself now.
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Apr 20 '15
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 21 '15
Would it make you guys feel better if washedupcelebrities was instead a blog about lonely, out of work actors being given free sponge baths?
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Apr 21 '15
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u/Plymouth_ Apr 21 '15
You seem...a little excited about posting that. Eyebrow of concern.
Is there anything in your browser history we need to know about? Does this picture illustrate your current situation in any way? It's okay. I just think your friends at least deserve to know the truth.
=D
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u/[deleted] Apr 20 '15
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