9 minute read
THE SPOOKY SIDE OF DRAG: THE BOULET BROTHERS
The Spooky Side of Drag
THE BOULET BROTHERS
by Denny Patterson
Photos courtesy of The Boulet Brothers
Step aside charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. It’s time for drag, horror, filth, and glamour to take the spotlight. For more than 15 years, the Boulet Brothers, individually known as Dracmorda and Swanthula, have been changing the landscape of queer entertainment simply by providing a platform where the weird, unusual, and unheard-of are held in the highest regard. Celebrated for their inclusive nature, this powerhouse duo is known for creating legendary and prolific nightlife events. In 2016, the Boulet Brothers opened the doors for drag monsters across the country to showcase their looks and talents in a drag competition series called Dragula. The show opened the eyes of drag fans who thought RuPaul’s Drag Race was the only way to
achieve success as a drag artist. Unfortunately, COVID-19 delayed developments for Dragula’s fourth season, but the Boulet Brothers were still able to give fans a special gift just in time for Halloween: a one-off special called Dragula: Resurrection, where seven past contestants have returned for a spine-chilling showdown. Resurrection is now available on AMC’s Shudder streaming service. OUT FRONT had the opportunity to chat more with Dracmorda and Swanthula about the new special, how Dragula came to be, why queer people tend to turn toward the weird and spooky, and other projects like their Creatures of the Night podcast.
Hello, and happy Halloween! Thank you both for taking the time to chat with me. How have you both been doing during these unprecedented times?
SWAN: Happy Halloween! We have actually been very busy. As you know, the world is changing, and we have just been focused on adapting to this new way of life and figuring out how to still make the content we love to create.
You have a new one-off special on Shudder called The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Resurrection that features past Dragula competitors. Can you tell us more about that and what audiences can expect?
DRAC: Well, as you know, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula is a reality competition TV show that has drag artists from all over the world competing in extreme challenges for the crown of Dragula. We have had three incredible seasons now, and this special has past competitors coming back to compete against each other for the first time to win $20,000 and a spot on season four That means if they win, they will be returning to the main show on the new season.
As far as what people can expect, they can expect to see, what I consider, to be the most creatively, beautifully shot drag that has ever been seen on TV. The costumes, locations, and the way it was all shot is just out of this world. It’s filthy, beautiful, artistic, and the whole thing has an authentic, incredibly powerful message.
How did Dragula form and come to be? Whose idea was it to begin the show?
DRAC: The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula TV show is inspired by a nightclub pageant we produced years ago. It was an unsafe, wild, and fun answer to the tame and “family-friendly” drag that we were seeing on TV. Queer people were rolling their eyes over how mainstream and whitewashed drag had become, so this party was the opposite of that. We celebrated being outcast drag artists and rewarded “ugly” and “monstrous” drag performers. It was unapologetically adult, offensive, unsafe, and wild. We also welcomed all queer people to enter and participate. It wasn’t just cis, white men in corsets walking on our runways. We had drag kings, AFAB queens, nonbinary drag performers. It was just a glorious mix of everything.
How would you say the show has evolved over the seasons?
SWAN: I would say the production value is what has changed the most. Every season, you can see such a jump in the quality of the show, and that is partially because of the budget increase, but it is also partially due to our resistance to resting on our laurels. We put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into making sure each season is more developed than the last, and we will continue to do that. There is so much more to come. We are just getting started.
What can you tell us about season four, and how has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted production?
SWAN: Season Four would have already been filmed, edited, and airing right now if it wasn’t for the pandemic. We are actually glad that it did get delayed because we have been able to focus on making Resurrection happen, and it is something that we’ve wanted to do for a long time, but never thought we would have the time to do it.
What do you hope contestants take away by competing on Dragula?
DRAC: I don’t have to hope it, because I know that every drag artist that has been on the show has come out on the other side stronger, more confident, and a better performer. Being on the show forces growth and supports the competitors in being the best them that they can be.
Drag isn’t just about men dressing up in pretty dresses and wigs anymore. Do you think we are seeing a lot more spooky, weird, alternative drag being represented?
DRAC: It’s actually never been about just that. Drag kings, for example, have been around since Shakespearian times. Also, drag in the 70s and up through the 90s had really radical forms being represented from groups like the Cockettes in San Francisco to the sleazy, rock ‘n’ roll drag you saw in NYC’s East Village in the late 90s. It’s only since you have been seeing drag on modern TV that it has become equated with cis men in dresses.
Queer elements of drag are being erased as well as the adult nature of drag. With the success of Dragula, you are now seeing the gritty side of drag return, and you are starting to see mainstream drag shift more toward that style. I don’t mean personal style as the Boulet Brothers, but I mean the idea that drag kings, AFAB, and trans performers are being taken seriously again. You are now going to start seeing trans competitors and drag kings on other shows. Now that we have shown other production companies that it is not scary, and it won’t ruin your show, they are going to follow suit. That’s great, though; that’s the idea. We love to see it. “You are now going to start seeing trans competitors and drag kings on other shows. Now that we have shown other production companies that it is not scary, and it won’t ruin your show, they are going to follow suit. That’s great, though; that’s the idea. We love to see it.”
I love how diverse and inclusive Dragula is. Was that your goal from the beginning?
SWAN: Before we broke into TV, all our nightlife events were incredibly inclusive by nature, so of course, we wanted the show to be like that from moment one. It was second nature. It was not something we had to consciously try and do.
Why do you think queer people turn to the weird and spooky to make points and share art?
DRAC: Because in the horror genre, queer people, monsters, and people who are different are treated like freaks and villains. When queer people see Frankenstein being chased by “normal townspeople” with torches and pitchforks, they can relate to that on a level. Normal people were always coming for Dracula, the Wolfman, or whoever the monster of the day was. There is a ton of queer subtext in horror films, and queer people have always recognized it. The reason it was like that is because back in the day, the Hays Code forbade homosexuality to be portrayed in film. So, queer filmmakers found ways to sneak queer content into the movies in an undercover way through subtext.
You two are not actually brothers, but partners who have been together for over a decade. How did you two meet, and were you both in drag?
SWAN: We met in NYC at a French, fetish-themed restaurant. We did not do drag at the time. That is something that developed much later.
When did you two discover your passion for drag, and was spooky/horror drag always your aesthetic?
DRAC: I don’t know that it is a passion for drag as much as it is a passion for performance, art, theatre, and horror. We have both been interested and involved creatively in these things since we can remember. Literally, one of my first memories was watching Dracula at night when I was four years old. I was enamored with it.
Who are some of your horror influences?
SWAN: There are too many to name. We both love horror books, films, and comic books, so the list of influences is very long. In a broad sense, I would say the aesthetic of classic horror movies really appeals to us both and influences our personal style.
What is one of your favorite Halloween memories?
SWAN: Well, for the last 20 years, we have been producing the Los Angeles Halloween Ball every year, and that is so magic and special; it trumps everything that came before it. It is our favorite thing to do every year, and I think it is one of the most infamous Halloween events in the country.
What are some of your favorite Halloween/horror
films?
DRAC: Halloween, Dracula’s Daughter, Daughters of Darkness SWAN: Hellraiser, Death Becomes Her, Nightmare on Elm Street 3
You two also host the Creatures of the Night Podcast. How is that going, and what can we expect on future episodes?
DRAC: It is insanely fun. It’s one of the only times we get to speak freely and share our opinions and thoughts in an unrestricted way. We have a lot of fun episodes coming up, and I would say you can look for more “on-location” episodes where we go investigate things at night, going camping in haunted locations, and things like that. We are working on that next.
Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects you would like to mention or plug?
SWAN: Right now, we are just 100 percent focused on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Resurrection. It is truly an incredible film, and there has just never been anything like it. We cannot wait for everyone to see it! To stay up-to-date, follow the Boulet Brothers on Instagram @bouletbrothers and on Facebook at facebook.com/ bouletbrothersdragula, or visit bouletbrothersdragula.com. Episodes of Dragula are available on Netflix and YouTube, and their new special, Resurrection, is exclusively on Shudder. Colorado Health Network Clinical Services
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