Blue Finch Films, a UK-based sales and distribution company, has acquired worldwide rights to the Indonesian horror film “The Draft!” ahead of its international premiere at Austin’s Fantastic Fest.
Directed by Yusron Fuadi, the film follows the eerie tale of five college students who venture to a remote villa for a weekend getaway, only to encounter a formidable dark force. “The Draft!” is Fuadi’s attempt to challenge and redefine the cabin-in-the-woods subgenre by subverting traditional horror tropes.
The screenplay for “The Draft!” was co-written by Fuadi and Anindita Suryarasmi, with contributions from Richard Hames Halstead and B.W. Purba Negara. Munandar Aji and Fani Pramuditya produced the film. Fuadi expressed his deep personal connection to the project, said, “*‘The Draft!’ is my love letter to horror, sci-fi and fantasy film. Being a love letter, naturally I put all my passion, anger, lust, protest and obsession to this slightly underrated and somewhat overdone genre.”
Mike Chapman of Blue Finch Films praised the film, calling it “a thoroughly imaginative and original entry to the horror genre which will delight audiences worldwide.”
Blue Finch Films’ acquisition of “The Draft!” reflects their continued interest in Indonesian cinema, particularly its distinctive brand of horror, which often blends cultural elements with universal horror themes. Indonesia has a rich tradition of horror cinema, drawing from its folklore and supernatural beliefs. Recent films like Joko Anwar’s “Impetigore” and Timo Tjahjanto’s “May the Devil Take You” have garnered international acclaim, highlighting the global appeal of Indonesian horror. “Impetigore” was Indonesia’s entry for the Oscars’ international category in 2020.
Earlier this year, Lionsgate acquired the North American distribution rights for Kimo Stamboel’s “Dancing Village: The Curse Begins,” a prequel to the highest-grossing Indonesian film of all time, “KKN di Desa Penari”.
As “The Draft!” joins Blue Finch Films’ diverse international slate, which includes titles like Jean Luc Herbulot’s “Zero,” “Oddity,” the SXSW 2024 Midnighter Audience Award winner, and Adilkhan Yerzhanov’s thriller “Steppenwolf,” it signals a growing appetite for innovative and culturally rich horror stories from Indonesia.
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