Syfy trying to reawaken the gory grindhouse cinema via ‘Blood Drive’ series

Syfy is going the bloody distance.

The network has green-lit “Blood Drive,” a 13-episode series set in a near-apocalyptic future about L.A.’s last good cop who is forced to join a cross-country death race with cars powered by blood (no word yet on what blood type gives the best mileage).

“Blood Drive” will also feature the obligatory femme fatale partner, who sees people as fuel.

The show, from executive producers John Hlavin (“Underworld: Awakening”) and David Straiton (“Hemlock Grove”), is described as “a high-octane, over-the-top scripted series in the classic grindhouse movie tradition.” Straiton is also set to direct.

James Roland wrote the pilot for the Universal Cable Productions series and will also serve as supervising producer. Also attached to produce are Fredrik Malmberg (“Conan the Barbarian”) and Mark Wheeler.

“This highly stylized roller coaster ride is a throwback to 1970s grindhouse cinema,” said Syfy president Dave Howe.

“The grindhouse cinema style remains largely untapped in television,” added UCP president Jeff Wachtel. “The combination of gritty action and dark humor can push the envelope in some fun and unexpected ways. ‘Blood Drive’ has all these elements and more.”

Will this series be heaping on the schlock similar to viral success “Sharknado”? Is this an attempt to keep camp alive at Syfy? Perhaps.

It will be interesting to see how grindhouse style action is accomplished over at Syfy; the threshold for violence and gore is a little more lax than on prime time TV, but it’s still not completely devoid of restrictions.

Twitter: @tracycbrown