Review: The Draft! (Fantastic Fest 2024)

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Title: The Draft!
MPAA Rating: Not Yet Rated
Director: Yusron Fuadi
Starring: Adhin Abdul Hakim, Anastasia Herzigova, Putri Anggie
Runtime: 1 hr 24 mins

What It Is: Five college students go on a scenic trip to a spooky house in the middle of nowhere. Standard horror movie setup, right? Wrong. This horror-comedy breaks all the rules.

What We Think: I won’t give the twist away—I can’t. It’s too good. What I can say is that this film surpasses expectations because of a twist that happens fairly early on. It’s fun, hilarious, and genuinely caught me by surprise. Let’s just say, this movie knows horror tropes inside and out and uses them to its advantage. The main cast delivers strong, entertaining performances, and after that early twist, I never knew what to expect. I can’t dive too deeply into everything I liked without spoiling the surprise, but trust me—the humor is spot on.

That said, as fun as the movie was, it’s not without its flaws. For one, the subtitles sometimes blended too much into the background, especially during daylight scenes, making them hard to read. The later parts of the film meandered a bit, and the ending felt somewhat lackluster. The pacing was uneven, and a few music choices didn’t always feel appropriate. There were also moments when the music nearly drowned out the dialogue. Most of these issues seem to stem from editing.

However, none of this seriously detracts from the movie. The concept itself is very clever, and while I can’t spoil it, I will say it offers a fresh and unique take on the typical horror formula. It’s a refreshing ride.

Our Grade: B+, Despite some pacing issues, this movie rocks. It’s a sleeper hit that starts off in one direction but delivers an absolute haymaker, making it highly enjoyable. I definitely recommend this horror comedy.

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