69 reviews
In the dystopian retro-futuristic version of 1999, an unprecedented earthquake tore America in half and left " The Scar", in the depths of which are hidden mysteries that will change humanity. From the general chaos and disintegration rises "The Heart" corporation, which takes a global primacy in all fields, from politics and economy, through science, to the media and entertainment. Crime, violence, and the struggle for survival reign on the streets of American cities, while "The Heart" ruthlessly exploits the situation. Alan Ritchson is a member of the privatized police whom the investigation puts in a situation to choose between participating in a brutal cross-country car race for life and death in which, in the absence of oil, vehicles run on human blood, and becoming fuel for one of the vehicles.
During the thirteen episodes of this SF action-adventure, we follow the transformation of a morally correct cop and his imposed race partner from complete opposites into a team that, with a lot of turbulence, successfully overcomes all obstacles. Christina Ochoa is captivating in the role of a post-apocalyptic femme fatale, and Colin Cunningham has become my favorite villain from the very first moment he appeared on the screen. If for nothing else, Colin should be reason enough for you to give this crazy ride a chance. The characterization is excellent and, in addition to the leading trio, brings us many other interesting characters, among which stand out Alan's partner from police days and Christina's younger sister, as well as several very interesting sociopaths and psychopaths who participate in the race.
The series is basically an action-adventure with an SF premise, but it is imbued with dramatic and horror elements. The characters are diverse, mostly eccentric, which provides a handful of black-humored comic-relief moments. The dialogues are nothing special, although they have their brighter moments, and the strongest trump of the series is the visual aspect. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll in all its glory, explicit violence and mutilation at every turn, and the retro vibe of B production of the seventies and eighties bought me from the very beginning. The series is reportedly canceled, but don't let that deter you. The unexpected finale of the first and only season leaves the possibility for the series to continue, but at the same time it rounds the story quite nicely and, in my opinion, any continuation would be redundant.
8/10
During the thirteen episodes of this SF action-adventure, we follow the transformation of a morally correct cop and his imposed race partner from complete opposites into a team that, with a lot of turbulence, successfully overcomes all obstacles. Christina Ochoa is captivating in the role of a post-apocalyptic femme fatale, and Colin Cunningham has become my favorite villain from the very first moment he appeared on the screen. If for nothing else, Colin should be reason enough for you to give this crazy ride a chance. The characterization is excellent and, in addition to the leading trio, brings us many other interesting characters, among which stand out Alan's partner from police days and Christina's younger sister, as well as several very interesting sociopaths and psychopaths who participate in the race.
The series is basically an action-adventure with an SF premise, but it is imbued with dramatic and horror elements. The characters are diverse, mostly eccentric, which provides a handful of black-humored comic-relief moments. The dialogues are nothing special, although they have their brighter moments, and the strongest trump of the series is the visual aspect. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll in all its glory, explicit violence and mutilation at every turn, and the retro vibe of B production of the seventies and eighties bought me from the very beginning. The series is reportedly canceled, but don't let that deter you. The unexpected finale of the first and only season leaves the possibility for the series to continue, but at the same time it rounds the story quite nicely and, in my opinion, any continuation would be redundant.
8/10
- Bored_Dragon
- Nov 29, 2020
- Permalink
Fresh and spoiler free.
Personally I hate grind house. However as some of these reviews illustrate, this is the type of show that is ridiculously needed right now. Something lewd, offensive, stupid, and just plain dumb fun. I gave it a shot expecting it to be dumb and groan worthy, and wanting to see just how awful and lame it was. What I got was a feast for the senses and synapses.
This world is entirely too uptight. This is exactly what needs to be on air right now. Something that pushes boundaries and riles up the sheep.
Sure it is not what it is proudly ripping off, and that is a good thing. Content like this does not hold up well because by its nature its satirical of the modern age and the nearly half century old 40+ yr old inspiration is functionally unwatchable today because it is like watching a preschool version of itself. This is a modernization of it and is not intended for mass market appeal like the doomed to failure Anderson film.
Its not perfect by any measure, but in this ludicrous terrified and twitching PC snowflake world we live in, This is exactly the flamethrower we need. Particularly enjoy the soundtrack thus far and I sincerely hope that they keep it at this level or better.
Its all about the grandeur and spectacle. This is the Romans at the Colosseum feeding Christians to the lions. You have choices. Either cheer along, or be the next to be chucked in. You are not entitled to an apology if you are not entertained from those of us who are.
Personally I hate grind house. However as some of these reviews illustrate, this is the type of show that is ridiculously needed right now. Something lewd, offensive, stupid, and just plain dumb fun. I gave it a shot expecting it to be dumb and groan worthy, and wanting to see just how awful and lame it was. What I got was a feast for the senses and synapses.
This world is entirely too uptight. This is exactly what needs to be on air right now. Something that pushes boundaries and riles up the sheep.
Sure it is not what it is proudly ripping off, and that is a good thing. Content like this does not hold up well because by its nature its satirical of the modern age and the nearly half century old 40+ yr old inspiration is functionally unwatchable today because it is like watching a preschool version of itself. This is a modernization of it and is not intended for mass market appeal like the doomed to failure Anderson film.
Its not perfect by any measure, but in this ludicrous terrified and twitching PC snowflake world we live in, This is exactly the flamethrower we need. Particularly enjoy the soundtrack thus far and I sincerely hope that they keep it at this level or better.
Its all about the grandeur and spectacle. This is the Romans at the Colosseum feeding Christians to the lions. You have choices. Either cheer along, or be the next to be chucked in. You are not entitled to an apology if you are not entertained from those of us who are.
- snexstudio
- Jun 16, 2017
- Permalink
I loved it but I could tell from the outset it was going to be very niche unfortunately. It was no surprise to here it got cancelled even though I loved every minute and second of the show. Its the perfect blend of horror and comedy with a tonne of blood and gore at course.
Wow, I'm already in love in the middle of the pilot. Anyone bitching about this being the "lowest point of television, yadda-yadda..." has clearly no f---ing clue what a grindhouse flick is. Basically this show is the group sex lovechild of Carmageddon, Fast&Furious, Evil dead, Mad Max, '80s buddy-cop movies, Vampire the Masquerade LARP, Judge Dredd and literally everything Rob Zombie ever made. It's an over the top caricature of a distopia, and it doesn't want to be more than that. But AT that, it excels. Hear me out. The basics of the genere are there: 35mm/VHS quality, gore, overacting, etc. But the subtle stuff is where it all comes together: the music, camera, atmosphere is remarkably well done. So if you've ever seen a grindhouse flick, and thought "F--k, It's dumb, hilarious and awesome at the same time", you will love Blood drive. And that scene where the race starts, and Skillet's "Back from the dead" starts to play... I had to rewind it three times, because it's f---ing magnificent.
- Dethronizer
- Jun 14, 2017
- Permalink
Everyone who knows anything about food and nutrition will tell you how bad chili cheese dogs are. But some people, like myself, just love them, and continue consuming them no matter how unhealthy!
It is pretty funny reading reviews from people that talk about how awful and trashy this is, sort of like amateur restaurant critics evaluating a chili cheese dog from a street cart using Michelin standards. Yeah, it gets no stars. But it's still pretty damn satisfying, if you like that kind of thing!
You don't watch a series like this expecting to see Breaking Bad or The Wire. You've got to compare it to other chili cheese dogs, not to truffles and foie gras at the French Laundry. And if you are comparing this show to things like Death Race 2000, it does pretty well.
It is pretty funny reading reviews from people that talk about how awful and trashy this is, sort of like amateur restaurant critics evaluating a chili cheese dog from a street cart using Michelin standards. Yeah, it gets no stars. But it's still pretty damn satisfying, if you like that kind of thing!
You don't watch a series like this expecting to see Breaking Bad or The Wire. You've got to compare it to other chili cheese dogs, not to truffles and foie gras at the French Laundry. And if you are comparing this show to things like Death Race 2000, it does pretty well.
- gun_will_travel
- Jul 27, 2017
- Permalink
This show is wrong is so many ways that it's awesome. Action packed, cruel comedy, and a complete blood bath. This show spares no gore and pull no punches.
This is the best Grindhouse/Slaughterhouse you ever going to catch on T.V.
I was hooked after the first episode, so give it a try before viewing the ratings.
This is the best Grindhouse/Slaughterhouse you ever going to catch on T.V.
I was hooked after the first episode, so give it a try before viewing the ratings.
- xxxNomadicxxx
- Jul 5, 2017
- Permalink
Blood Drive is a show that was probably way overdue. I don't think I have ever seen something work so hard.....to be so bad....and turn out so good. If you've been a fan of the prestige TV of the last few years, think Hannibal, Game Of Thrones, The Wire, Deadwood, The Sopranos you get the picture. Turn off that part of your brain and try this. If you got what Tarantino and Rodriquez were going for with Grindhouse and then the Machete films, then this is a must.
Its carnal, corny, carnage and its it meant to get a laughing WTF out of its viewers.
Its carnal, corny, carnage and its it meant to get a laughing WTF out of its viewers.
- sanjin_9632
- Jun 14, 2017
- Permalink
If Mad Max and Death Race had a baby, this show would be it. This first episode had it all and then some and surely left me wanting more. If only more shows on TV were this exciting. I love all the characters being introduced, especially Slink :) he's worth watching the show just him alone. If you're a fan of Mad Max or even if you're not, I definitely think this show is a must see, brings a whole new meaning to the term, the daily grind!
- smashthecontrolmachine
- Jun 16, 2017
- Permalink
It's dystopian 1999 California Territories. Oil is $2000 a barrel and food is scarce. Julian Slink (Colin Cunningham) operates a cross-country road race with cars that run on human blood. Grace (Christina Ochoa) drives to earn the $10 million prize for her sister kept in a mental hospital. L.A. cops Arthur Bailey (Alan Ritchson) and Christopher Carson (Thomas Dominique) work for private corporation Contracrime. Their investigation leads to the race. Arthur is forced to partner with Grace. Christopher is taken by fellow officer Aki (Marama Corlett) who turns out to be something other than human. It's all tied to the corporation Heart Enterprises which owns everything.
It's outrageous, bloody, pulpy, and sexploitative. It's drive-thru and midnight madness. It's completely convoluted until it becomes a crazy mess. It is fun as long as one doesn't take it seriously. Quite frankly, no one can take this seriously. It is gleefully ridiculous. Ochoa has the body and more importantly, she has the attitude. I'm surprised to be more interested than I expected but eventually, the craziness wears thin.
It's outrageous, bloody, pulpy, and sexploitative. It's drive-thru and midnight madness. It's completely convoluted until it becomes a crazy mess. It is fun as long as one doesn't take it seriously. Quite frankly, no one can take this seriously. It is gleefully ridiculous. Ochoa has the body and more importantly, she has the attitude. I'm surprised to be more interested than I expected but eventually, the craziness wears thin.
- SnoopyStyle
- Jan 15, 2019
- Permalink
All the hype about just passing TV cert is crap, apart from the occasional bucket of blood thrown by the extras off camera nothing in this rates as gore, horror, nor sexy, there's zero surprises, most important there's no gh underplot.
Grindhouse used to man something, and contrary to what other reviewers are saying this isn't it; it's just boring crap that only the simplest of simpletons (with zero idea what gh means) would appreciate.
Saddest thing: cant give it zero stars - and it doesn't even deserve that many.
Grindhouse used to man something, and contrary to what other reviewers are saying this isn't it; it's just boring crap that only the simplest of simpletons (with zero idea what gh means) would appreciate.
Saddest thing: cant give it zero stars - and it doesn't even deserve that many.
- rden-265-215639
- Jun 28, 2017
- Permalink
The first episode was everything I could have possibly asked for. Purely amazing! And Julian Slink is one of the most riveting characters I've ever seen on TV - like Hannibal Lecter, the Mad Hatter and Mystery Man (from Lost Highway) had a baby together.
I can't wait to see next week's episode. I love this show!
I can't wait to see next week's episode. I love this show!
- jayme-16433
- Jun 14, 2017
- Permalink
If you love exploitation films, if you want to watch blood, sex and humor together, if you watch Tarantino style a TV series you should watch Blood Drive.
On the other hand if you don't like blood, dark humor or horror movies/series you should away Blood Drive.
I like Blood Drive, especially its references to 70-80's. It has a great potential. And its need more side stories, side characters.
On the other hand if you don't like blood, dark humor or horror movies/series you should away Blood Drive.
I like Blood Drive, especially its references to 70-80's. It has a great potential. And its need more side stories, side characters.
- demarquisade
- Aug 4, 2017
- Permalink
I see what you were trying to do there: a Tarantino style grindhouse series with blood-fuelled cars is an amusing idea indeed. There are gazillion litres fake blood spilled here and hot girls in daisy dukes and cars. The latter doesn't impress me much, as I was never much of car chase enthusiast and you have to be one to like this. It lacks a confident lead, like Ash in "Ash vs Evil" and (what I can say from two episodes) also the broad humour of it. Until now I felt the casting needed some more charismatic actors to pull this off, but it's early in the game.
- kraftwerk32
- Jun 23, 2017
- Permalink
This show is NOT for everyone and I know a lot of people just won't get it, but as for me, I love it. At it's heart it is a Deathrace type show with all the campy gore of The Evil Dead franchise. If you are expecting to see a "normal" TV show where things are supposed to make sense, reserved acting, straight plots, and modern effects and cinematography, this this is NOT the show for you. If you like grind house movies, The Evil Dead franchise, or the death race movies (especially the original) then give this a shot. It really is a bloody disgusting good time.
- maverickz-33-530388
- Jul 4, 2017
- Permalink
This show is very fun to watch, and I'll bet that the actors and writers have a lot of fun putting it together! Casting was superb!
If you like sarcastic, comedy horror similar to Ash (but much better) with some Road Warrior thrown in, you're really going to enjoy this one. So much is packed into one episode that it feels like a short movie, not a 45 minute show.
If you like sarcastic, comedy horror similar to Ash (but much better) with some Road Warrior thrown in, you're really going to enjoy this one. So much is packed into one episode that it feels like a short movie, not a 45 minute show.
o gotta say after watching a couple of episodes of this show yes it is stupid no it does not make since but it keeps you entertained some how this is full of action car chases gun fights hand to hand combat who really cares about the lack of plot when there is this much going on in the show the villain is just a special brand of evil hes a heartless jackass and completely insane but that's exactly the reason why you love him oh yea one last thing Don't LET THIS BE WATCHED BY KIDS wayyyy too much blood and constant swearing not to mention some sexual content so its rated TV ma for all the right reasons but is awesome to watch some how
- chrisdye-62271
- Aug 30, 2017
- Permalink
Set in a future 1999 where the last decent cop on earth has to race for his life in cars that run on human blood.... YES YES YES !!!!!
This is exactly what the death race remake should have been, violent and with a great dark humor.
Its amazing to see something so edgy get a series and I'm sure it will find an audience. Im also sure some people will find the plot, the blood and the 80's retro vibe too much, but there are plenty of other shows for those folks. This show is for my fellow geeks out there.
This is exactly what the death race remake should have been, violent and with a great dark humor.
Its amazing to see something so edgy get a series and I'm sure it will find an audience. Im also sure some people will find the plot, the blood and the 80's retro vibe too much, but there are plenty of other shows for those folks. This show is for my fellow geeks out there.
- hr-lindberg
- Jun 14, 2017
- Permalink
I can't say I didn't enjoy it. Not one of those shows where one is required to think. It's just cheesy fun. Just enough violence, just enough crazy and more than enough blood. It reminds me of Ash Evil Dead series and Dusk Till Dawn. Some memorable characters like Julian Slink(easily the most memorable one in the series), The Gentleman, Aki and Rib Bone.
However Alan Richtson's character is very annoying. His dialogue is ridiculous at times. Way too naive and clean for a cop in such a dystopian world. I get that he's a part of something that he never signed up for but he takes forever to shed his pacifist ways. Given all that he's encountered by episode 3 it's crazy how he could still think that he's dealing with reasonable people. The fact that he was trying to arrest the cook was such a joke as if he totally forgot that he was in the Blood Drive.
However Alan Richtson's character is very annoying. His dialogue is ridiculous at times. Way too naive and clean for a cop in such a dystopian world. I get that he's a part of something that he never signed up for but he takes forever to shed his pacifist ways. Given all that he's encountered by episode 3 it's crazy how he could still think that he's dealing with reasonable people. The fact that he was trying to arrest the cook was such a joke as if he totally forgot that he was in the Blood Drive.
- tariktterrible
- Jun 12, 2023
- Permalink
If you don't care for Grindhouse then you might think it's silly or gruesome, but this is the stuff grindhouse fans *have been waiting for*. Best thing to come around since Death Proof. If you're a fan of classic muscle cars, hot chicks with weapons covered in blood, and a cast of dystopian future folk resembling what you might imagine if White Zombie ran Burning Man, you HAVE to watch this.
- sfgirl-37617
- Jun 15, 2017
- Permalink
So who greenlit this trash? A terrible, lame attempt at an update of Death Race 2000 (the original is a genuine cult classic, while the semi-remake Jason Stratham sequel (barely worth watching) and the Roger Corman cheap-o Death Race 2050 (not worth watching at all) are slightly better than this silly waste of time. To wit: in 1999 Oil is 2000$ a barrel, so cars now run on human blood (I'd guess the engines are diesel since they'll burn nearly anything). A race is held for ten millions dollars with the various racers being given silly nicknames like the Gentleman and such. The cars engines seem alive and actually eat people, spitting out their clothing. This is really a stupid, lame idea. As good as the SyFy channel show The Expanse is, this is bad. This is Sharknado and Z Nation bad. Stupid idea for a story, poor acting (the guy playing the cop is horrible), and in the first episode, if I heard Dick one more time, I was going to throw up. I won't be going back for any more of this show and will be quite gleeful when it's cancelled.
Indeed this series was a niche piece so probably didn't generate the necessary profit to continue.
But every second of the episodes was good entertainment. Amazing visuals, good acting. I'm sad it's over.
But every second of the episodes was good entertainment. Amazing visuals, good acting. I'm sad it's over.
- StarbucksBatman
- Feb 27, 2019
- Permalink
While this was the premiere episode, it's everything a "grindhouse" should be: - fast cars, faster women, and scary men - blood, lots of it, brush shredder-style - a near senseless plot with dark and grainy film
My only disappointment: sex scene censorship in the form of black masking rectangles. It was probably not that explicit, but I suspect there will be an uncensored release to video at the end of this 13 episode Season 1.
My only disappointment: sex scene censorship in the form of black masking rectangles. It was probably not that explicit, but I suspect there will be an uncensored release to video at the end of this 13 episode Season 1.
When it comes to fun this show takes the cake, imagine a mixture between Mad Max and Dredd (2012) but without the law. That's what you'll get. And the second episode is better than the first with so much material and world built than any other big name show running right now.
The characters are pretty cool, eccentric and different and even if things appear to be random, the show knows exactly where it is going and it has a solid plot.
So ignore all the angry Triggered critics from tumblr and get ready for a great experience.
The characters are pretty cool, eccentric and different and even if things appear to be random, the show knows exactly where it is going and it has a solid plot.
So ignore all the angry Triggered critics from tumblr and get ready for a great experience.
- mrcellfizh-674-290627
- Jun 21, 2017
- Permalink