Syfy’s ‘Blood Drive’ Is An Insane, Gore-Filled, Fun Ride – A Review

June 12, 2017

Written by Kelli Marchman McNeely

Kelli Marchman McNeely is the owner of HorrorFuel.com. She is an Executive Producer of "13 Slays Till Christmas" which is out on Digital and DVD and now streaming on Tubi. She has several other films in the works. Kelli is an animal lover and a true horror addict since the age of 9 when she saw Friday the 13th. Email: horrorfuelinfo@gmail.com

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Syfy has really stepped up their original content over the past couple of years. Their upcoming series Blood Drive is great example of that. In fact it is one of my favorite new shows.
In the series, a young cop named Arthur Bailey (Alan Ritchson) may be the last remaining decent cop left after the U.S. has gone to hell thanks to the “Scar”, a huge, deep crack in the country, and a severe drought that has left food scarce, and water hard to get. In fact, people are secretly selling their blood for water. Crazy, right? You might be wondering why anyone would need so much blood, with gas prices insanely high a group of underground racers have modified their rides to run off of blood, human blood.
 
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When Officer Bailey and his partner Chris (Thomas Dominique) get a tip from a snitch (Nathan Lynn), who trades info for water, they stumble across a warehouse filled with freaks and racers. When Bailey accidentally falls into the crowd, Slink (Colin Cunningham), the master of ceremonies for the race, makes a decision to throw him into the race and into the car with Grace (Christina Ochoa) as his partner instead of killing them both. The two have no choice but to race because a device implanted at the base of their skulls will blow if they loose or get too far apart.
For some racers, like Grace, this gore-filled violent race is her only hope. With the prize she can get her sister out of the asylum and set them up for life. Grace, a tough-nosed, loner who can kick some serious ass and do so while looking hot as hell, is not going to let anything get in her way, including killing a few strangers, or being stuck with a new partner.
 
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Christina Ochoa, Blood Drive’s leading lady, is a fantastic actress whose most recent films were Valor and Animal Kingdom. I love to see a strong female character who can take care of herself and handle business. Grace is one of those without a doubt (Thank you Syfy). While we do get a glimpse of her feminine side (for a second) and the love she has for her sister, she’s 100% badass. Even if she is shoving people’s bodies into her motor, she has a good reason. After all, family is everything.
 
Most of the films that I’ve seen Alan Ritchson (interview) in have been comedies, and let me say he’s hilarious in Blue Mountain State, but he kills it in Blood Drive. I’ve been very impressed with his role as Arthur, who is kind of the last Boy Scout in a world gone to hell. He’s a guy you would want on your side, but don’t let the sweet guy appearance fool you, he can get brutal. And when there’s an emergency, he’s not opposed to getting naked and screwing while driving down the road.
 
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Slink (Colin Cunningham), the master of ceremonies, is a great character. He’s mysterious and animated. He’s dark, gritty and so well played. Slink reminds of a Willy Wonka, if Wonka was a dirty, twisted, drug addict with an amazing wardrobe. He hosts the Blood Drive for Heart Industries who seem to be linked to everything that is going wrong in the world. You want to hate Slink, but you just can’t.
 

BLOOD DRIVE -- "The Fucking Cop" Episode 101 -- Pictured: Colin Cunningham as Slink -- (Photo by: David Bloomer/Syfy)

BLOOD DRIVE — “The Fucking Cop” Episode 101 — Pictured: Colin Cunningham as Slink — (Photo by: David Bloomer/Syfy)


 
As for the rest of the cast which includes Thomas Dominique, Marama Corlett, Darren Kent, Andrew Morgado, Sean Cameron Michael, Carel Nel, Brandon Auret, Aiden Whytock, and Andrew Hall, they nailed it! With character names like Ribbone, The Gentleman and his partner The Scholar, and Captain Clowndick you won’t be able to forget them.
 
Arthur’s police partner, Chris, is in the hands of the Heart company. After being tortured, and tested on like a guinea pig by a robot clone, Chris is now an inside man who knows contrary to what he’s been told, Arthur hasn’t given up on rescuing him.
 
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Of course with a show like this the effects and makeup are important. A great show can be ruined by horrible effects. That’s not a problem for Blood Drive. The special effects and makeup are awesome. The blood, body parts, the cars’ engines and so much more are off the charts thanks to special effects artists Delon Baatjes, Damien Doublé and Lakay Mekyle and makeup artists Kerry Skelton, Jessica Veasey, and Juanette Van Der Merwe.
 
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I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Blood Drive, but I was pleasantly surprised. Syfy and Midnight Grindhouse have created a unique, mind blowing, insane, blood-drenched, high-octane series that will have you racing back for more. I’ll admit, it’s fifty-shades of f*cked up, but that is part of it’s charm. Between hot rides, hotter cast, cannibals, freaks and weirdos, violence, conspiracies, sex and enough blood to flood Rhode Island, this show has everything you could want and more. It is fantastic and addictive and is already in the top running for our Top 10 Series of 2017 list. Seriously, it’s that good. I can’t wait to see more.
Luckily, you won’t have to wait long to see it for yourself. Blood Drive, produced by Universal Cable Productions, premieres on Syfy on Wednesday, June 14 at 10/9c 
 

 

 
 

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