Fantastic Fest Indonesian Horror ‘The Draft!’ Nabbed by Blue Finch Films (EXCLUSIVE)

As a long-time aficionado of international horror cinema, I can hardly contain my excitement for “The Draft!”, the latest addition to Indonesia’s chilling catalog. Having traveled extensively through Southeast Asia and delved deep into its rich folklore, I’ve come to appreciate the unique blend of cultural specificity and universal scare tactics that Indonesian horror films are known for.


The U.K. business, Blue Finch Films, has secured global distribution rights for the Indonesian horror movie titled “The Draft!” before its international debut at Fantastic Fest in Austin.

Under the guidance of director Yusron Fuadi, this film centers around five college students who decide to spend a weekend at a secluded villa. However, they soon discover that they are up against a formidable dark entity. The movie seeks to challenge traditional horror conventions when it comes to its interpretation of the cabin-in-the-woods subgenre.

Fuadi, along with Anindita Suryarasmi, teamed up to write the script. Richard Hames Halstead and B.W. Purba Negara also contributed as co-writers. The producer roles were handled by Munandar Aji and Fani Pramuditya.

“Fuadi declared, ‘The Draft!’ is my heartfelt ode to horror, science fiction, and fantasy films. As a love letter, I poured in all my enthusiasm, frustration, desire, dissent, and fixation into this genre, which often gets overlooked or overused.”

As a cinephile penning my thoughts post-viewing, I wholeheartedly concur with Mike Chapman’s assessment that this cinematic offering from Blue Finch Films is an exceptionally inventive and unique addition to the horror genre. This film has the potential to captivate audiences across the globe.

Blue Finch’s global lineup additionally features “Zero,” directed by Jean Luc Herbulot and selected at Sitges, the award-winning Midnighter film “Oddity” from 2024 SXSW, and Adilkhan Yerzhanov’s suspenseful thriller “Steppenwolf,” which was chosen for Rotterdam.

For quite some time, Indonesia has been a thriving setting for horror movies due to its profound history of folklore and supernatural traditions. Lately, there’s been an increase in both local and foreign attention towards Indonesian horror films, with productions such as “Impetigore” by Joko Anwar and “May the Devil Take You” by Timo Tjahjanto earning recognition on international film festivals. Notably, “Impetigore” represented Indonesia in the Oscars’ international category in 2020, while more recently, “The Queen of Black Magic,” directed by Kimo Stamboel, was acquired for North American distribution by Lionsgate this year.

The purchase of “The Draft” by Blue Finch Films indicates the ongoing global interest in Indonesia’s distinctive style of horror, a blend of culturally-specific elements and universally terrifying techniques.

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2024-08-16 10:16