top of page
Search

Drag. Filth. Horror. Glamour.


Dracmorda Boulet and Swanthula Boulet (The Boulet Brothers)


The Boulet Brothers are known across the drag scene as monstrous hosts to fantastical and nightmarish events, in which the spookiest and ookiest talent around is showcased and celebrated amongst fellow night crawlers and basement dwellers. Forever pushing the boundaries, it was only a matter of time before the dynamic duo found their way onto our television screens. The Boulet Brothers' Dragula can be found streaming on Shudder now (seasons 1-4), including sister shows ' The Boulet Brothers' Resurrection' and 'The Boulet Brothers' Titans'.


For all the Ghouls not in the know, this monster empire allows a lucky ugly to slither away with $100,000 and the title of America's next drag super monster. The aim of the game is to impress Dracmorda and Swanthula Boulet through various challenges and floorshow themes, making sure to hit the four pillars of Dragula (drag, filth, horror, glamour). Taking extra precautions to not land yourself in the bottom and face extermination. But even if you do, it can't be that bad...Right? If you think eating brains, being buried alive and jumping out of an aircraft to your death is PG, then sure!


If you haven't already, sit back and relax with last night's sacrifice leftovers and watch 'The Boulet Brothers' Dragula'. I promise it will only hurt a little bit.


Join me as I share my favourite Dragula challenges, exterminations and of course, the drama.


WARNING: Spoilers ahead for challenge themes, winners and exterminations.


The Makings of a Supermonster



Dragula Season 1 Promotion

The Boulet’s did not go easy on us for season 1, whilst some growing pains are present from the production value, you can't argue that the casting was filled to the brim with devilish talent and charisma. Each monster brought a different set of skills to the show, and it gave the audience the chance to understand this underground scene on a whole other level.


Featuring the following Monsters:

But it wouldn't be drag without a little drama, and Melissa Befierce already had the ghouls talking. Not being traditionally associated with the dark and perverse, Melissa had everyone gagged due to their beauty and glamour background, and the ghouls were not afraid to voice their grievances. Melissa Befierce has one of my favourite transformations throughout the entire series and you monsters clearly thought so too, with Melissa showing up in later Boulet Brothers content. We got to see 'baby queens' such as Loris and Vander flourish into creatures of the night and gain confidence in their haunting abilities, whilst seasoned ghouls such as Frankie and Meatball used their big personalities to bewitch audience members.


As early as season 1, Dragula had a mission to illuminate the dark corners of the drag world so that creatives on the out-skirts didn't get left behind, as drag took the world by storm. Drag fans who already had a baseline knowledge of queer nightlife knew the monstrous queens that delivered fresh horror every time, but only one specific drag aesthetic reached the masses. The Boulet Brothers thought it their "mission" to give the public a more well-rounded view of the drag scene and show just how extreme these monsters were willing to go.


If you find yourself saying " but ghoul, drag just isn't for me!", I'm here to tell you that everything you thought drag was, you need to throw that notion out of the window. Dragula has such a respect for the horror community, and you get to see your fave films and horror content being referenced in new and exciting ways. Oh, and if you like gore or body horror, this is the show for you.



Season 1 Buried Alive Extermination

We are first introduced to the terrifying cast with burlap sacks over their heads, presumably from being kidnapped from their coffins and dragged down into the Boulet's basement. The burlap sacks are ripped off and we get our first look at the ghouls of season1. This cast contains many characters, all representing different aspects of Dragula that the Boulet's are looking for. Each competitor scans the lineup and quickly realises this is going to be a tough couple of weeks.


Now that I have your attention. As you can see, the Boulet’s do not mess around! If you thought this was going to be Ru Paul's best friend race, you were GRAVEly mistaken... Sorry. Creepy crawlies, dirt and a mysterious liquid are all poured into each contestant’s coffin until they knock three times to be exhumed from their own personal hell. This was just the first of many extinctions throughout the season and it certainly got my blood pumping.

But don't worry, the Boulet’s wouldn't just throw them straight into the void without going there themselves. In an interview for Wussy Magazine, the Boulet Brothers reveal that all their extermination challenges are based on shenanigans they have done during their Halloween all night parties. They sure know how to entertain us villains to the fullest degree.

Each extermination is designed to test the commitment each monster has to their craft, and how willing they are to overcome their fears to become a super monster.

But if you're like me, it is all just research on how to torment your neighbour across the hall who stepped on your white sheet as you were floating down the stairs. I don't like the vengeful spirit stereotype just as much as the next ghoul, but every poltergeist has their reasons.


Season 1 reminds me of all out favourite B-movie horrors, the production value is a little lacking and the sets are less elaborate however there is a charm to it that captivates us all. The drag artists that take part are not clean-cut and go leaps beyond what the main stream audience of drag race expect from their slightly spooky queens. Even within the drag horror community, there are so many different variations of what horror means to each drag artist. Dragula shows you that when you think you have seen it all, a new terrifying creature is lurking in the shadows just waiting for their time in the spotlight.





A Monstrous Makeover


From a web series to the most watched programme on Shudder, Dragula has clawed its way to the top. This is reflected in every aspect of the show, whether that means more elaborate opening shorts, heightened exterminations or the glamourous new boudoir, the show was becoming bigger and more grotesque than ever.


To explore the growth of Dragula, I would like to look at season 3 because for me this not only had a vastly improved production but the cast was the most diverse of any drag reality competition show to date. In just three short seasons, Dragula had dared to do what most industry titans could barely comprehend. It seems ridiculous to us now but there was a time that trans drag artists were shunned away from the spotlight, and AFAB queens and kings could only dream of being allowed to compete. Dragula was created to go against societal expectations, even within the drag community, and they weren't going to stop now.



Season 3 Dragula Promo

Season 3 Cast:




Season 3 competitors did not even have time to hang up their cloaks and relax because the show would open with a fright feat. Compacts were handed to each monster and whilst one lucky ghoul would win a glorious holiday, one unlucky ugly would have to eat a chalice of... Live spiders! Unfortunately for Landon they would be partaking in this spider feast. As the chalice reaches Landon's lips, spiders scurry across their face and crawl their way down Landon's neck. But Landon does not show any fear as they crunch and munch on all those tasty little legs, as their fellow monsters watch in awe. This season is not messing around.


An episode I would love to cover is a reoccurring theme in the world of Dragula. This is, of course, the "Drag Monsters of Rock" challenge. The monsters are split into two bands and must prepare a floorshow rock performance, putting an emphasis on how they work together as a band. But that's not all, each contestant must construct and present their own interpretation of rock on the runway, making sure to incorporate Dragula elements whilst doing so.


Band 1 is 'Slag' including Evah, Dollya, Maxi and Priscilla. In rehearsals the performance is not coming together as well as the group hoped and tension between Evah and Maxi is rising. Not so different was 'Koven' consisting of; Maddelynn, Hollow, Yovska , Louisianna and Landon. Rehersals revelaved a blood ritual theme for the band's performance, but due to clashing personalities not a lot was achieved during the practice. However, Hollow Eve talks about an exciting stunt planned for the performance involving Maddelynn removing needles from Hollow's face. A make-or-break stunt to look forward to as the episode unfolds.


'Slag' delivers a well put together performance that leaves the Boulet's wanting more, from looking cohesive as a band and putting on a killer performance. 'Koven' do give us a memorable performance, but it is not in the way I think they intended. Hollow Eve enters the stage with large needles protruding out of their cheeks and it is visually shocking. The blood ritual goes ahead according to plan until Maddelynn comes behind Hollow and pulls the needles out of their face. To the surprise of the Boulet’s and us at home, Hollow begins to exit the stage and proceeds to panic backstage to production. It seems that the group did not practice the timing of the stunt enough and now they were paying the price. As Hollow continued to break character backstage, their bandmates stood awkwardly onstage in confusion. The performance commences once more after tensions blow over, but this did mean that 'Koven' found themselves in the bottom and vulnerable.


Hollow Eve was a big character throughout the show, dividing the cast and audience opinions on their worldview and how they deliver it. Some of the cast felt as though Hollow's passion for feminism and anti-capitalist ideas were hammered into them by Hollow, whether they liked it or not. Regardless, these conversations do need to happen and it is hard to separate the passion behind societal issues that impact us personally. I feel like this passion led to the condescending tone that sometimes came along with Hollow's points when directed at other competitors. What I enjoy is Dragula not shying away from showcasing these ideas unfiltered because it helps others understand how they can negatively impact people around them by the language they use. But it also shows us that our message can get lost when we deliver it poorly, we can be passionate whilst making room for the other voices in the conversation.


The way in which such sensitive topics are brought to the forefront feels a lot more real in comparison to other reality shows. This may come from the nature of the show itself, with the aim being to amplify a niche part of the drag community. Despite what your personal opinions are, it is hard to deny the importance of highlighting overlooked artists. It provides the audience a chance to confront a viewpoint they may have never considered before watching the show. Not only does it make for good TV with drama and thought-provoking performances, but it gives monsters around the world a chance to see themselves represented to the masses.


The challenges in Dragula improve with every season, and season 3 is no exception. Rewatching the show for this blog post gave me all the spooky content I needed to make it through this warm weather. From vampire burlesque, supervillains to Halloween haunts I was so spoiled with horrific sights to behold. The looks delivered by each monster are exciting and imaginative, taking simple themes and moulding them into their own interpretations. Just when you think that vampires are overdone, a Dragula monster is there to remind you they haven't been done like this before.


The Boulet Brothers have achieved what seems to be the impossible within the reality TV realm. Dragula continues to rise in popularity as more like-minded creatures come together to celebrate drag monsters. However, the charm from the first season is still evident throughout each instalment of the show.


A Monster Never Truly Dies


Many unfortunate souls have perished at the hands of the Boulet Brothers, and whilst it's entertaining some of us wish our faves survived another day. Well, you will be glad to know that monsters can come back from the dead. With help from dark forces and wicked enchantments, the Boulet’s have successfully brought back our favourite corpses to compete.




First, we were gifted with 'Resurrection', a special that follows fan favourite monsters as they prepare floorshows to win a spot in season 4. It warmed my little black heart to see how far these drag monsters had come since their seasons, and it made me excited for every floorshow. We get a unique look into the contestant’s home lives and working space due to Covid-19 impacting filming. I won't say too much about this special since it would spoil a lot of exterminations that occur in the show.


Season 4 is visually stunning to watch, and the show feels as though it has settled into a rhythm. Horrifying creations fit for film are in abundance and it has one of my favourite final floorshows of the entire franchise. I find myself going back to this season over and over again with no sign of getting bored anytime soon. The diversity from previous seasons is still present and what it means to be a drag monster is expanded once again. With season 5 being in the works as we speak, I could not be more excited for a TV show if I tried. But can you blame me? Every ghoul loves to see guts, blood, and haunting visions from the beyond.


If you need a new franchise to sink your fangs into, this is the place to start. Dragula has a plethora of content to enjoy to get your spooky fix whilst waiting patiently for Halloween.


As we celebrate pride remember to let your freak flag fly and tune in to watch Dragula for the ultimate spooky pride experience.


Queer. Ghouls. Matter.



Boulet Brothers instagram

Dragula Season 1 on Youtube!







1 commentaire

Ethan Doyle
Ethan Doyle
17 juil. 2023

Incredible, just incredible

J'aime

Subscribe Form

Thanks for submitting!

©2022 by My Site. Proudly created with Wix.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
bottom of page