Indonesian horror-comedy “The Draft!” kicks off with a deceptively slow start that eventually turns into a wild and unpredictable ride. While the meta-concept of placing characters in a film that’s still being written doesn’t feel as fresh as it could’ve, director Yusron Fuadi takes a well-worn setup and infuses it with a self-aware, chaotic, and sometimes absurdist energy that works well with the fluid script.
When five college students take a trip to an isolated cabin, they find almost everything about their surroundings to be a bit strange. As their reality slowly unravels, so does the story they’re trapped in. It’s later revealed that these friends are stuck inside a movie script that’s constantly being rewritten with gruesome deaths and bizarre plot twists, and it’ll be a miracle if they all make it out alive.
A lot of things work here, including the general unpredictability of the premise. Each character’s fate can shift depending on the whims of the “script,” which offers endless narrative possibilities. The problem is that it also lowers the stakes because the characters aren’t fully “real,” but merely pawns in an unfinished screenplay. While this offers moments of dark humor and a handful of admittedly creative kills, the lack of true consequence dampens some of the suspense because these characters can be rewritten at will.
The meta-horror angle also feels more than a little tired. Once a novel concept, self-referential horror now risks being overplayed, and the movie teeters on the edge of being too self-aware. At least Fuadi’s love of the horror genre is evident, as he both critiques and celebrates the filmmaking process while delivering some memorable (and bloody) set pieces.
Although it’s lacking in game-changing originality, there are enough inventive, fun thrills in “The Draft!” to make it worth your time.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 