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The Boulet Brothers' Dragula

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The Boulet Brothers' Dragula is an American reality competition television series produced by Boulet Brothers Productions, hosted by the Boulet Brothers.[3][4] The series originally aired on YouTube and has aired on Netflix in the United States, OUTtv in Canada, and Amazon Prime in the United Kingdom and Australia. Starting with season 4, the series moved to Shudder in all territories. The series will become a Shudder exclusive, with all seasons being hosted on the platform.[5]

The Boulet Brothers' Dragula
GenreReality competition
Created byThe Boulet Brothers
Directed by
JudgesThe Boulet Brothers
Theme music composer
  • Swanthula Boulet
  • Adrian Sosa
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes47
Production
Executive producersThe Boulet Brothers

(S2, 3):

  • Brad Danks
  • Philip Webb
  • Anhony Jiwa
Editors
  • Nathan Noyes (S1, 2, 3, Resurrection)
  • KC Lindley (S1, 2, 3, Resurrection)
  • Aaron McMillan (S2)[1]
  • Kevin Alexis Fernandez (S2)[1]
  • Michale Frost (S3)[2]
  • Charles Wright (S3)[2]
  • Jim Bromley (S3)[2]
Camera setupMultiple
Running time36–65 minutes
Production companies
  • Boulet Brothers Productions
  • Ash+Bone Cinema (S1)
Original release
Network
ReleaseOctober 31, 2016 (2016-10-31) –
present
Related
The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Titans

The series is created and hosted by the Boulet Brothers, who challenge a different set of eleven drag artists from around the world to compete in an underground style drag competition each season. The artists compete for the chance to win a cash prize and the crown of "Dragula - the World's Next Drag Supermonster".[6] The show celebrates underground and alternative drag art,[7] and bases each episode's challenges on the four principles of the show "Drag", "Filth", "Horror" and "Glamour".[8]

Competitors on the show are tasked week to week in a variety of challenges ranging from costume creation, special-effects makeup, live performance and acting abilities. Each episode a winner is chosen, and the contestants who end up on the bottom must face extreme "extermination challenges" which test them physically and psychologically to prove they have the punk spirit required by the judges to remain in the competition.[9]

History

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The Boulet Brothers at Los Angeles DragCon 2018

The Boulet Brothers' Dragula is created and produced by the Boulet Brothers and their production company Boulet Brothers Productions. The reality show is loosely based on their club event and nightlife pageant of the same name.[10][11]

The first season of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula premiered on October 31, 2016, and aired as a seven episode pilot series on the YouTube channel Hey Qween!.[citation needed] Later that year, the show was picked up by Canadian network OutTV who ordered a full remastered and expanded version of Season 1, as well as a full second season of the show.[12]

Season 2 premiered on October 31, 2017, and aired on Amazon Prime and WOW Presents in the United States. The season aired on Amazon Prime in the United Kingdom, OUTtv in Canada and SBS Viceland in Australia.[13]

The series' third season premiered on Amazon Prime on August 27, 2019. Dragula became the first American reality television competition to feature a drag king after Landon Cider appeared as a contestant in Season 3.[14] Beginning October 31, 2019, seasons 2 and 3 of the series moved to the American streaming service Netflix.[15]

On October 20, 2020, the show aired a special episode titled Dragula: Resurrection, which brought back seven past contestants to compete for a spot on the fourth season of Dragula. The winner of Resurrection was Saint, who first competed on Season 3.[16] Both the special and the subsequent season streamed on Shudder.

On December 7, 2021, Shudder renewed the series for a fifth season.[17] On September 12, 2022, it was announced that an "all-stars" season titled Dragula: Titans would premiere on Shudder on October 25, 2022.[18] The cast was announced on September 26, 2022, and featured 10 contestants returning from the first four seasons of Dragula.[19] Victoria Black, who previously competed on Season 2 and Resurrection, emerged victorious and was crowned Dragula's first Titan.

On April 25, 2023, The Boulet Brothers' Halfway to Halloween TV special, a related one-off special was released on Shudder, featuring former contestants and celebrity guest stars, including Matthew Lillard and Twin Temple. On December 5, 2023, Shudder renewed the series for a sixth season.[20]

Season six premiered on October 1, 2024, on Shudder and AMC+.[21]

Format

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Each episode opens with a scripted scene starring the Boulet Brothers that introduces the episode's theme and challenge.[22] The rest of the episode is filmed in a reality TV documentary format. The competitors are issued that week's challenge, and must work among each other, work out their interpersonal issues and create their looks and performances for that week.[23] Both the competition and the show's scripted cinematic segments are noted for drawing inspiration from the horror genre.[24][25] The show's influences include films ranging from "Mad Max and Little Shop of Horrors, to folk horror and beach party films."[26]

Each episode features a main "Floor Show" where each of the competitors display their looks and performance on the main stage. The performances and looks are judged, and one competitor is chosen the winner while the two or more lowest scoring competitors are put up for "extermination".[27]

The show features "Extermination Challenges", fear-based physical and psychological tests created to push the competitors to "face their fears" in order to remain on the show. Past challenges have included being buried alive in a coffin, being pierced with gauged needles, skydiving, eating cow intestines, and surviving an evening in an extreme haunted house.[28] The competitor who fails the extermination challenge is "killed off" by the Boulet Brothers in a scripted scene at the end of each episode.[citation needed]

Judges

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The Boulet Brothers serve as the primary judges on the show, and are the only regular judges on the panel.[29] Each episode they are joined by a rotating cast of celebrity musicians, directors, writers and horror alumni including Henry Rollins, Milly Shapiro, Amanda Lepore, Bonnie Aarons, Felissa Rose, Danielle Harris, Rachel True, and Cig Nuetron.[30][31] American horror film director Darren Stein is the only judge to have appeared in all five seasons of the show.

Main judges on The Boulet Brothers' Dragula
Judge Season
1 2 3 R 4 T 5 6
2016-17 2017-18 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023-24 2024
Dracmorda Boulet Main
Swanthula Boulet Main
Landon Cider Contestant Guest Recurring Guest

Series overview

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SeasonContestantsEpisodesOriginally airedWinnerRunners-upPrizes
First airedLast airedNetwork
19731 October 2016 (2016-10-31)20 February 2017 (2017-02-20)Hey Qween NetworkVander Von OddFrankie Doom
Melissa Befierce
  • $10,000
  • The title of "The World's First Drag Supermonster"
2101031 October 2017 (2017-10-31)16 January 2018 (2018-01-16)Amazon PrimeBiqtch Puddin'James Majesty
Victoria Elizabeth Black
  • $10,000
  • The title of "The World's Next Drag Supermonster"
3111027 August 2019 (2019-08-27)28 October 2019 (2019-10-28)Amazon Prime
Netflix		Landon CiderDollya Black
Priscilla Chambers
  • $25,000
  • The title of "The World's Next Drag Supermonster"
4111019 October 2021 (2021-10-19)21 December 2021 (2021-12-21)ShudderDahliHoSo Terra Toma
Saint
Sigourney Beaver
  • $100,000
  • A headlining spot on the upcoming Dragula World Tour
  • A deluxe crown and scepter package from Fierce Drag Jewels
  • The title of "The World's Next Drag Supermonster"
5111031 October 2023 (2023-10-31)16 January 2024 (2024-01-16)Shudder
AMC+		Niohuru XBlackberri
Orkgotik
Throb Zombie
  • $100,000
  • A headlining spot on the upcoming Dragula World Tour
  • A deluxe crown and scepter package from Fierce Drag Jewels
  • The title of "The World's Next Drag Supermonster"
612101 October 2024 (2024-10-01)TBATBATBA
  • $100,000
  • A headlining spot on the upcoming Dragula World Tour
  • A deluxe crown and scepter package from Fierce Drag Jewels
  • The title of "The World's Next Drag Supermonster"

Spin-off series overview

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Season Contestants Episode(s) First aired Last aired Network Winner Runner(s)-up Prizes
Resurrection 7 1 20 October 2020 Shudder Saint Dahli
  • $20,000
  • Return to compete on season 4
Titans 10 9 25 October 2022 20 December 2022 Victoria Black HoSo Terra Toma
Koco Caine
  • $100,000
  • A headlining spot on the upcoming Dragula World Tour
  • A deluxe crown and scepter package from Fierce Drag Jewels
  • The title of "The Ultimate Titan of Dragula"

The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Resurrection

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A spin-off film titled The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Resurrection was released on AMC Networks' Shudder on October 20, 2020. The film was written, co-directed, and produced by the Boulet Brothers. Digital Spy described it as "part-horror movie, part-documentary and part-reality competition".[32] The film featured a competition between contestants from previous seasons of Dragula, with the winner returning for the fourth season of Dragula.[33] The film's soundtrack includes music from Orville Peck and Kim Petras.[34]

Contestants

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Legend:

  Saint won The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Resurrection and returned to compete on season 4.
  Dahli was the runner-up, being the last exterminated. They came back to life in a post-credits scene and returned to compete on season 4.[35]
  Victoria Black made the Top 3, but chose to quit the competition.
  The contestant was exterminated.
Contestants of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Resurrection and their placements
Contestant Hometown Original season Original placement Outcome
Saint[a] Acworth, Georgia Season 3 10th place Winner
Dahli[b] Phoenix, Arizona Season 2 7th place Runner-up
Victoria Black[c] Orlando, Florida Season 2 Runner-up Quit
Frankie Doom West Covina, California Season 1 Runner-up Exterminated
Kendra Onixxx Riverside, California Season 2 8th place
Loris Los Angeles, California[d] Season 1 5th place
Priscilla Chambers Asheville, North Carolina Season 3 Runner-up

Notes:

  1. ^ Saint was referred as St. Lucia on her original season.
  2. ^ The Dahli is referred to as Dahli on the special.
  3. ^ Victoria Elizabeth Black is referred to as Victoria Black on the special.
  4. ^ Originally from Zürich, Switzerland

The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Titans (2022)

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Main article: The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Titans

Reception

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Since its original online airing, Dragula has received positive reviews,[36][37] and was dubbed "Required Horror Viewing" by Fangoria.[8] The series has had consistently high viewership,[38] and its fourth season was the most watched program on Shudder.[39]

The show treats drag as a form of outsider art, and encourages different styles of drag which could be labelled "weird" or unconventional.[40] Carly Maga of horror magazine Rue Morgue identified the rising popularity of Dragula as having a positive impact on drag as a whole, saying that the "rise of horror drag is keeping the art form true to its nonconformist origins".[41]

Vice writer Jeff Leavell reviewed the series as being "loud, weird" and that it "pisses on heteronormativity". He also said that Dragula should not be thought of as "just a show about drag queens who love grotesque, hardcore queer performance art", and that "in its own way, it's encouraging us to stand united, whether you're a supermonster or not".[3]

Adam Zee of Wussy Magazine praised the series for its philosophy towards drag, exemplified by the Boulet Brothers' statement that "We are not here to judge your drag. Drag is art and art is subjective." Zee commented that:

"While it seems simple, this simple idea is what truly distinguishes The Boulet Brothers' Dragula from RuPaul's Drag Race and most other reality competitions. The Boulets place significant value in the artistic merit and anti-establishment traditions of drag. They have directed their focus on drag artistry that is unpredictable, outlandish and disturbing rather than getting queens to conform to show business standards. The only molds contestants must fit into are challenge-based or the loose overarching tenets of Filth, Glamour and Horror. Even then, 2 out of 3 is usually good enough to get by."[42]

Dragula has also received favorable coverage for its inclusion of all genders and types of drag performers in the competition.[43] It was the first televised U.S. show to feature a drag king and an AFAB drag artist.[44][45] The film Dragula Resurrection was praised for foregrounding trans narratives in a "sensitive, understated" manner.[46]

Awards and nominations

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The show was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Hairstyling For A Variety, Nonfiction Or Reality Program and for Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program in 2024.[47] In previous years, it was on the FYC ballot for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program,[48][49] and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.[50][51]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Get Hooked". The Boulet Brothers' Dragula. Season 2. Episode 1. 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "The Lesser of Two Evils". The Boulet Brothers' Dragula. Season 3. Episode 1. 2019.
  3. ^ a b Leavell, Jeff (18 January 2018). "'Dragula' Is Loud, Weird, and Pisses on Heteronormativity". Vice. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  4. ^ Dommu, Rose (27 January 2018). "10 Questions With the Boulet Brothers". Out. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Exclusive: The Boulet Brothers on Dragula season 4 and how "queerness and horror go hand in hand"". Gay Times. 2021-10-25. Archived from the original on 2022-10-29. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  6. ^ "Boulet Brothers crown drag king winner of 'Dragula' season 3". Washington Blade. November 6, 2019. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  7. ^ Goodman, Elyssa (26 August 2019). "Blood, Guts, and Glamour: How "Dragula" Made Drag Dangerous Again". Them. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "FANGORIA | The Boulet Brothers' 'DRAGULA' Is Required Horror Viewing". Fangoria. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  9. ^ Fontelieu, Jason (August 29, 2019). "If you're not watching Amazon Prime's 'Dragula,' you're missing out". The Diamondback. Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "10 Questions With the Boulet Brothers". out.com. 2018-01-27. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  11. ^ Podell, Michael (2016-02-26). "An Interview With Filthy Royalty, the Boulet Brothers". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  12. ^ Networks, Hornet (2017-08-07). "Here's What You Can Expect From Season 2 of the Boulet Brothers' 'Dragula'". Hornet. Archived from the original on 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  13. ^ "Sink your teeth into season two of 'Dragula'". Topics. Archived from the original on 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  14. ^ "'Dragula' Is First U.S. Reality TV Competition With a Drag King". The Advocate. 2019-08-07. Archived from the original on 2020-04-01. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  15. ^ Owens, Paige (2019-11-07). "Boulet Brothers' 'Dragula' moves to Netflix following season 3 finale". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  16. ^ "Boulet Brothers Dragula: Resurrection's Saint talks season 4 prep". Digital Spy. 2020-11-10. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  17. ^ Petski, Denise (December 7, 2021). "'Dragula' Renewed For Season 5 By Shudder". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  18. ^ Rice, Lynette (September 12, 2022). "Shudder Announces Debut Date For 'The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Titans'". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  19. ^ Nolfi, Joey (September 26, 2022). "Boulet Brothers resurrect all-star cast for Dragula: Titans — See the killer returning contestants". EW. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  20. ^ Petski, Denise (2023-12-05). "'The Boulet Brothers' Dragula' Renewed For Season 6 At Shudder". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  21. ^ "Shudder Reveals Premiere Date And Key Art For Season Six Of Emmy-Nominated The Boulet Brothers' Dragula". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  22. ^ "TV Review: 'Dragula: "Drag Monsters Of Rock" & "The Demons Blood" (S3 E03 & 04)". ScienceFiction.com. 2019-09-23. Archived from the original on 2020-08-07. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  23. ^ Dutta, Anisha (2019-10-30). "The Boulet Brothers' Dragula Season 4: Release Date, Cast, New Season 2020/Cancelled?". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  24. ^ Patterson, Denny (2020-10-21). "The Spooky Side of Drag: The Boulet Brothers". Out Front. Archived from the original on 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
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  26. ^ Barquin, Juan (18 February 2022). "Bored of Drag Race? Dragula awaits with open, blood-soaked arms". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
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  28. ^ Villarreal, Daniel (2019-08-09). "One of TV's biggest drag competitions is finally getting a drag king". Queerty. Archived from the original on 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
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  30. ^ admin (2019-11-06). "Boulet Brothers' Dragula Finally Hits Netflix! Start Binging". HorrorBuzz. Archived from the original on 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
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  36. ^ "Dragula is a Truly Horrifying Experience". 2016-11-06. Archived from the original on 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  37. ^ September 2019, Daniel Falconer | 26. "The Boulet Brothers discuss Dragula, drama and bringing horror to the art of drag [EXCLUSIVE]". femalefirst.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2019-09-26. Retrieved 2020-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ Petski, Denise (2021-04-07). "Shudder Acquires 'The Boulet Brothers' Dragula' For Season 4". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
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  40. ^ "Boulet Brothers' Dragula season 4 tension with Drag Race explained". Digital Spy. 2021-11-18. Archived from the original on 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  41. ^ Maga, Carly (2020). "Rise of the Supermonsters". Rue Morgue. No. 189. pp. 20, 21, 22. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  42. ^ "'Dragula' is the Future of Drag and 'Drag Race' is a Tired Ass Showgirl". Wussy Mag. Archived from the original on 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  43. ^ "The Boulet Brothers Have Turned 'Dragula' Into Truly "Combustible" TV". Decider. 2021-11-03. Archived from the original on 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
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  51. ^ Stewart, Matthew (2023-06-21). "2023 Emmy nominations ballot: See the 59 Best Competition Program hopefuls from 'Alone' to 'The Voice'". GoldDerby. Retrieved 2023-08-14.

Further reading

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