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

Dragula Resurrection marks the last backdated addition to the Boulet Brothers franchise that I had yet to see. For a while, I put this off because I felt it wasn’t a critical part of the series – but I was so wrong.

Resurrection follows seven of the show’s most popular artists as they grapple with the height of the COVID19 pandemic and compete for a chance to return on Season 4. What makes this such an interesting and strong standalone is that it’s filmed documentary style during quarantine, giving an intimate look at each performers’ artistic process. 

The conversations around identity and queer politics can sometimes become hidden in the traditional seasons of Dragula as the competition and drama take center stage. Resurrection hyper focuses on the origin stories of the artists and the critical intersections of horror and the queer performing cultures. 

This release is digestible and interesting, even for a casual viewer who isn’t ready to commit to 5 seasons of competitive drag. It also features some of my favorite artists from the franchise. Priscilla and Saint have always held a special place in my heart but their commentary on trans activism and police brutality, respectively, are remarkable parts of this special. 

Resurrection, more so than any other Dragula release, speaks to the idea of reclaiming our trauma and owning it as part of who we are. We are stronger because of our innate ability to come back from things that hurt us. 

As the US faces an onslaught of political attacks on the queer community, this release is more poignant now than ever. Stream this now on Shudder, you won’t regret it.

Know Before You Watch: Features horror SFX, some flashing lights, mentions of police brutality.