THE DRAFT! (2023)

3 stars

Blue Finch Film Releasing. Digital. 27th October

Original title: Setan Alas! – Which translate as Damn Devil.

THE DRAFT! A horror with comedic overtones from Indonesia, is one of those difficult films that you can’t say too much about it, as it will spoil it for the viewer.

Five University friends, all in their early twenties, are in a car driving to their vacation. Two females – Wati (Anastasia Herzigova) and Ani (Angie Waluyo), and three guys, Budi (Hayward Salishz), Iwan (Adhin Abdul Hakim) and Amir (Winner Wijaya) – who is constantly filming.

They are heading to a villa owned by Ani’s parents. Of course it’s in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal (shocker). There is a weird vibe to the rundown place and talk of various spirits, that are well known in their culture. Things get weirder when they meet her slightly creepy Uncle Dadang who looks after the villa. He tells them there is no power. ‘…just like in a horror film’ says Iwan. They are warned about the deep well, where a cat died, and notice the cemetery near the house.

Next day Budi is dead with a knife in his chest. Is there a killer on the loose…?

That’s the setup – to say more would reveal too much about what is going on.

About half an hour into the narrative there is a revelation, which I won’t spoil here, which turns things on their head. This has been compared to the brilliant ONE CUT OF THE DEAD, which may well give you a pointer.

There is a fairly clever conceit at the centre of the story which explains what is occurring. Unfortunately it can’t sustain it as we are treated to variations on the story, as odd and sometimes gruesome things occur. Characters that were dead are alive again. Things change for no apparent reason. It all starts to get a bit kitchen sink-y as various horror situations pile up, though it is quite entertaining despite its contrivances and how daft and comical it gets by the end.

Steve Kirkham