Dir. Nathan Noyes | Now Streaming On: Shudder | Rating: 4/5

Think of Ru Paul’s Drag Race for absolute weirdos and that’s where we find Dragula. I’m relatively new to drag culture, which is surprising considering how long I’ve lived in metro Boston. This is an interesting introduction to the culture, as it has more of a focus on underground and alternative drag art than what you might see on Ru Paul’s mainstream show. Season 4, the first season to be distributed by Shudder, is my first experience with Dragula. ⁠
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Dragula is a mash up of Face Off, Drag Race, and Fear Factor. Competitors create stunning special effects drag art each week and those who rank the lowest face “extermination challenges,” which include anything from being buried alive to being covered in roaches. ⁠
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I wouldn’t say you need to be a fan of drag to give this show a chance. The Boulet Brothers embody so much of what goodhearted horror communities stand for – the celebration of different voices and folks “on the outside” of society. You do, however, have to be at least willing to sit through reality tv tropes. There is time set aside specifically for contestants to start drama, in addition to the confessional style commentary throughout. ⁠
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One critique is there are often extended intro and outros to every episode that tack on an additional 10-15 minutes to the runtime. These are usually introductions to the week’s theme, but many are so drawn out – I found myself fast forwarding. ⁠
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A critique I have on Season 4 is the feedback provided to one of the performers, South Korean Hoso Terra Toma. Hoso’s art is deeply rooted in their Korean culture, from horror to beauty. I found that many of the elements didn’t “land” with the judges, as they stood so far apart from the typical western views of drag. I hope in Season 5 (already renewed on Shudder!), more international competitors could be included in the lineup, and in turn, more research be put in for judging to consider the cultural elements of drag that isn’t based in a western viewpoint. ⁠

Know Before You Watch: Features swearing, nudity, SFX, flashing lights. ⁠