DVD •As horror movies go, "Stake Land" is remarkably thoughtful. A plague has turned much of the world into rampaging vampires, and America into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. A teen (Connor Paolo, from "Gossip Girl") watches vampires kill his family, and then is adopted by a gruff vampire hunter (Nick Damici) — and together they hit the road, seeking a safe haven in Canada and avoiding a murderous cult leader (Michael Cerveris). The action is compelling, but where director Jim Mickle (who co-wrote with Damici) really excels is in creating a foreboding mood on a shoestring. His dystopian landscapes are more harrowing and authentic than "The Road" managed.
