Drifter - Drifter(VOD) [Skullface Astronaut - 2020]Drifter is a cheeky and largely entertaining blend of a few horror subgenres. We have a cursed house, bloody slasher tropes, with later on dives into zombie-like possession and a creepy vamp-like creature. The film is the 8th feature-length film from Oregon based writer and director Joe Sherlock, and as we’ve come to expect with a Sherlock production, we get touches of quirky humour and a fair bit of female nudity, that’s often on the fuller or large side of things. Released in 2014 Drifter, and as always Sherlock writes and directs the film, and he also turns up as Lawrence an amusingly quipping cop. And we get a good selection of familiar faces from other Sherlock films- the film is available as either DVD or VOD- I’m reviewing latter. Head by here to find out more about this and Mr Sherlock’s other films.
Things kick off with a middle-aged couple and their blond female friend going into a nighttime house. We find out sooner enough that the very large breasted half of the couple was in a relationship with the guy whose decorating the house and she’s here with her latest catch, oh and also the place is known as the blood house- due to witchcraft, murder and mayhem in the past. The couple strip off & get at the beast with two backs, with the blond-haired friend looking on bored- fairly soon all three meet a nasty and gory end, with throat-slashing & entrails flowing.
Roll on the next morning and cop Lawrence( Sherlock) is on the scene dealing with the clean-up after the killings. In enters our lead character Don(Richard Johnson) a middle-age relator, who has the job of trying to sell the blood house. Just as the cops are finishing off in the house, in slips a ragged and bearded drifter, who from here on is seemingly murdering all those who come into the house.
The just over one hour and fifteen minutes film nicely shifts between atmospheric slashing, amusing character banter with often female flesh on display, and cursed house creepiness that later on adds in zombie and feral vamp touches. The cast is clearly made up of amateur actors/ friends/ family, but for the most part they manage their parts competently enough- and if you like the larger lady, you’ll get more than an eyeful of tame softcore.
Drifter is another enjoyable slice of low budget horror from Mr Sherlock. It may not be as weird and wacky as some of his work- but it’s certainly an entertaining blend of different horror tropes, edged with low key humour, and boatful female flesh. Roger Batty
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