Death Drop Gorgeous

Glitz. Glamour. The thrill of applause. For those who have been there, nothing measures up to the experience of performing on stage in front of an adoring crowd. It’s a feeling some would kill for – and in this joyously schlocky romp from the creative team of Michael J Ahern, Christopher Dalpe and Brandon Perras, drag queen rivalries extend beyond merely metaphorical stabbings in the back. It’s not the queens themselves who are dying, however, but rather the young gay men who frequent the club where they perform – and the murderer seems to be draining their blood. This takes slaying to a whole new level.

In a situation like this, everybody is a suspect and everybody has something to panic about. Sleazy club owner Tony Two Fingers (Brandon Perras) is worried about the bottom line. Corrupt cop O’Hara (Michael J Ahern) is running out of places to dump bodies, while his partner (Sean Murphy) is still coming to terms with the fact that they don’t do things by the book. Star of the moment Janet Fitness (Matthew Pidge) wants to get to the top at any cost; bitter old pro Gloria Hole (Michael McAdam) wants her Saturday nights back; and cynical goth Tragedi (Complete Destruction) just seems to want to bring down the mood. The stage is set for carnage.

Following friends Dwayne (Wayne Gonsalves) and Brian (Christpher Dalpe), who find themselves caught up in the middle of all this chaos, Death Drop Gorgeous is a cheap and cheerful ode to the glory of drag which takes in the contribution it has made to cinema. After all, who else really dresses like a giallo heroine these days? Big hair, long nails and fabulous outfits are the order of the day, and Gloria in particular oozes old Hollywood glamour. It’s the Italian genre that comes to the fore in murder sequences which pay due homage yet come up with original (if not always very feasible) deadly deeds.

Though it starts off with not much to distinguish it from the myriad amateur efforts out there, this film quickly picks up the pace. The actors are committed to their roles, the comedy is very effective and that all-important cattiness is well deployed as characters take aim not only at one another but also at real social problems like racism in the gay dating scene. The directors do a good job of managing their large ensemble cast and you won’t struggle to remember who’s who. The pacing is also well managed.

It might initially seem too kitsch and flippant to be worthy of emotional investment, but Death Drop Gorgeous will get under your skin. While familiarity with drag culture or horror cinema will add to your enjoyment, neither is really necessary. If you’re willing to accept the lack of polish and you’re up for fun, this film will show you a good time.