The Draft!- Fantastic Fest 2024
September 20th, 2024
MOVIE: THE DRAFT! (Setan Alas!)
STARRING: ADHIN ABDUL HAKIM, ANASTASIA HERZIGOVA, PUTRI ANGGIE, HAYDAR SALISHZ, WINNER WIJAYA
DIRECTED BY: YUSRON FUADI
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
Sometimes, the meta aspect of a horror film is the entire point. It poses the intriguing question: “Do horror movie characters realize they are in a horror movie?” Typically, the answer is no, but in Yusron Fuadi’s The Draft!, the characters quickly come to understand that they’re trapped in a terrifying narrative. Blending elements of Cabin in the Woods and Stranger Than Fiction, this film from Fantastic Fest presents a smart concept but ultimately feels like a rough draft—promising but flawed.
The story follows a group of five friends in Indonesia who set off for a vacation villa, eager for a fun getaway. The characters—Iwan (Adhin Abdul Hakim), Wati (Anastasia Herzigova), Ani (Putri Anggie), Budi (Haydar Salishz), and Amir (Winner Wijaya)—embody familiar horror archetypes: the nerd, the rich one, the jock, the tough guy, and the pretty one. Their trip takes a sinister turn when Amir suddenly questions their reality: “Wait a minute? We’re in someone’s movie!” They have no memories of their lives before this trip, yet they recall tales of haunted wells and feel compelled to keep their video camera rolling to capture any ghostly encounters.
Initially, the group resists Amir’s revelation, but their fate becomes undeniable after they discover Iwan in his room with a blade in his chest. They begin to reject the narrative, fighting back against their scripted doom. The story twists at every turn—flat tires, a road ending in a cliff, and a labyrinth of horrors emerge as they try to thwart the writer’s intent on making them the next victims.
While this meta-concept keeps The Draft! engaging, it ultimately isn’t enough. Much like Cabin in the Woods, such narratives thrive on a balance of horror and gore, but Fuadi’s direction falls short. Though not expecting Terrifier 2 levels of carnage, the film could have benefited from a higher budget to enhance its scares and special effects.
Despite its shortcomings, The Draft! embodies the spirit of independent horror. It skillfully dissects genre tropes, reminiscent of how One Cut of the Dead was reimagined as Final Cut. Fuadi’s film has the potential for a stronger execution. While many films at Fantastic Fest may surpass it, this draft at least captured my attention.
2 ½ STARS
THE DRAFT! PREMIERED AT FANTASTIC FEST FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2024, AND IS STILL LOOKING FOR DISTRIBUTION.
Written by: Leo Brady
