In a world ravaged by a pandemic of vampirism, humanity is forced to flee from vicious, feral beasts that have turned large cities into tombs. Survivors cling to life in rural pockets, living in constant fear of the night. The gripping tale of “Stake Land” follows young Martin (Connor Paolo), whose family is brutally slaughtered, leading him to be taken under the wing of a seasoned vampire hunter known as Mister (Nick Damici).
Mister becomes a father figure to Martin, guiding him through the desolate towns of America’s heartland in search of a rumored safe haven called ‘New Eden’ in the north. Their journey is fraught with danger as they encounter bloodsuckers at every turn. Along the way, they rescue a nun known only as Sister (Kelly McGillis) from two young rapists, whom Mister dispatches without hesitation, showcasing the brutal reality of their world.
As they continue their trek northward, the group must navigate the treacherous territories controlled by The Brotherhood, a fanatical militia led by Jebedia Loven (Michael Cerveris). Loven interprets the vampiric plague as a divine punishment, making their journey even more perilous. The group is eventually captured by The Brotherhood, and it is revealed that one of the rapists killed by Mister was Loven’s son. In a cruel twist of fate, Mister is left to face a group of vampires, while Sister is taken as a sex slave, and Martin is forced to convert to the Brotherhood.
However, Martin manages to escape the Brotherhood camp and reunites with Mister, who has survived the vampire attack. Together, they set off to rescue Sister, but their efforts are in vain. They soon come across a survivors’ roadhouse, where they meet Belle (Danielle Harris), a pregnant woman hoping to reach New Eden to give birth. Their group grows stronger when they also rescue Willie (Sean Nelson), a former Marine abandoned by The Brotherhood.
Willie reveals the grim reality of their situation: American military forces have been withdrawn from the Middle East to contain the outbreak, leaving the country vulnerable. The Brotherhood’s actions have contributed to the collapse of society, as they rammed cars filled with vampires through blockades and crashed planes into cities. The four decide to confront Jebedia, leading to a tense ambush where they tie him to a tree, leaving him for the vampires.
After their encounter with Jebedia, the group stumbles upon a survivors’ settlement, where they discover that Sister has also escaped. However, their moment of celebration is cut short when The Brotherhood drops vampires into the town from helicopters, resulting in chaos and death. Despite being offered a chance to stay and help rebuild, the group decides to continue their journey north.
Midway through their journey, their vehicle breaks down, forcing them to continue on foot. They manage to evade danger for a while, but while resting at an abandoned junkyard, they are attacked by ‘berserkers,’ the oldest and strongest type of vampire. In a desperate attempt to save the group, Sister sacrifices herself, diverting the vampires away before taking her own life.
After several days of wandering through the wilderness, the group takes shelter in a dilapidated school bus turned camper. However, they soon realize that Willie is missing. Their search leads them to a tragic discovery: Willie has been killed and strung up in a tree. Mister warns the others about the existence of thinking vampires, urging them to remain vigilant.
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Despite their best efforts, Belle is captured during the night, and Mister and Martin find her in an abandoned silo, wrapped in barbed wire and bitten. Jebedia Loven, now a cunning vampire, reveals himself and attacks. In a fierce confrontation, Martin manages to impale Jebedia, and an injured Mister finishes him off. In a heartbreaking moment, Martin is forced to kill Belle to save her from becoming a vampire.
With their numbers dwindling, Martin and Mister continue their journey north, acquiring a pickup truck along the way. They meet Peggy, a resourceful woman living alone in an abandoned restaurant, who uses a crossbow to fend off approaching vampires. A connection forms