Raising the Stakes (2005)

Steve and Bob are two guys who enjoy their fanboy role-playing lifestyles a bit too much. Their obsession with vampire role-playing games leads them to decide to become vampires and get ... See full summary »

Director:

Justin Channell

Writer:

Justin Channell

Stars:

Josh Lively, Zane Crosby, Ryan Stocking

Cast

Credited cast:
Josh Lively	...	Steve
Zane Crosby	...	Bob
Ryan Stocking	...	Maxwell Selwyn
T.J. Rogers	...	Chad / Homeless Guy
Jordan Hess	...	Mario
Drew Smith	...	Mike
Nino Mancino	...	Sex Offender Marty
Jessica Togias	...	Jessica
Ellie Santy	...	Julie
Jeff Channell	...	Store Clerk
Nick Shomo	...	Alex
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Benzo	...	Ding Dong Ditcher #1
Justin Channell	...	Ding Dong Ditcher #2 / Robert Mesko / Panda Guy
Richard Crosby	...	Ding Dong Ditch Victim / Guy Eating a Sandwich / Tazer Guy (as Richard 'Nips' Crosby)
Chuck Deem	...	Blind Guy

Storyline

Steve and Bob are two guys who enjoy their fanboy role-playing lifestyles a bit too much. Their obsession with vampire role-playing games leads them to decide to become vampires and get revenge on a world that doesn't understand them. Unfortunately for them, it takes a bit more than cheap Halloween makeup to scare people, so their attempts just lead to even more ridicule and physical harm. But that all changes when they discover a dealer of the occult named Maxwell Selwyn who can give them want they want: a potion that will turn them both into vampires. They fork over the money and sure enough, their dream comes true. They set out to finally get revenge on the world that rejected them... only to find they were better off with the cheap makeup.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to ed mcmahon | 

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Taglines:

There's a sucker born every minute...

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 February 2005 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Fairmont, West Virginia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$110 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

IWC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min (Remastered Director's Cut Edition)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot in a very guerilla style, with no location permits. Throughout the entire production, the police only showed up once. The officer did not ask for any kind of permit and after being told that the crew had permission to shoot, left the set.

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Quotes

Floyd Faukman: The police are not sure whether these are genuine vampires or just people who are mimicking vampires... or Theresa Heinz.

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Alternate Versions

The version shown at most public screenings and in the early screener DVD release includes a short scene when Steve and Bob exit the Quick Mart at the beginning. The scene was cut by director Justin Channell choice, due it's lack of purpose and the fact it contained a reference to Scary Movie 2, which was unknown to Channell until after the DVDs had been made.

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Connections

References Chillers (1987)

User Reviews

Good stuff

I gave this a 6 out of 10 comparing it to all movies ever made. If I were looking at it strictly as an indy production I would boost that number up. It's a quite entertaining flick made by some young guys that puts some other low budget pictures to shame. The comedy is there and the plot is decent enough for what the movie is. The acting seems "real" enough for the age group without coming across as just plain bad acting as some low budget pictures do. Even the somewhat annoying "sidekick" with his South Park Cartman imitations and other pop culture referenced imitations doesn't bring the movie down. Everyone on this did a good job and the kids are young so that gives them bonus points. They did a better job at indy film-making than some "adults". Give this one a view and you won't regret it.