The newly released horror cult film DRAG TO DEATH combines the flamboyance and campy sensibilities of drag with the thrills and fright of the horror movie genre in a very, shall we say… “wigged-out” way!  The indie short film was written and directed by, and stars Clover Welsh, aka drag performance personality Lady Clover Honey. DRAG TO DEATH held its premiere public screening at RockBar, 185 Christopher St., New York City, on Wednesday, November 15th, and will have cable TV and streaming presentations on Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s RyanReporting later this November.  

Clover Welsh and Jed Ryan collaborated on the award-winning (Filmesque Cinefest Award for Best Indie Short, and Fresh Fruit Festival 2023 Fruits on Film “Fruit Salad” Award for Best Ensemble Cast) comedy film, MODEST MALE EXPOSURE, which had a focus on attitudes towards male nudity.  Not surprisingly, DRAG TO DEATH had somewhat of a focus on Clover Welsh’s huge, Elvira-inspired breasts.  However, Clover revealed that the female nipples had to be censored out of the TV broadcast version, even though the bosoms were artificial.  (Go figure…!)

While MODEST MALE EXPOSURE featured a large amount of male nudity, Jed Ryan appears fully dressed in DRAG TO DEATH. He plays “Horace”, the grumpy millionaire husband of the protagonist “Shanna Rock”, played by Welsh.  Although his spouse’s promiscuous infidelity gives him reason to be grumpy, his human vulnerability is, ahem… “exposed” when [SPOILER ALERT…!] he become the first one to be horrifically murdered. Ryan recalled, “It was my first death scene as an actor, and my first horror movie. I expressed shock and agony with gushes of blood coming out of my mouth and belly. Ater that tiring scene, it was hilarious to see the label on the fake blood: ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Blood.’! No connection to the margarine company that uses a similar brand name, I guess…!”    

With DRAG TO DEATH, Welsh and Ryan were reunited in a film again with Ryan Wolowski and Anu Singh, who were also in MODEST MALE EXPOSURE.  The cast of DRAG TO DEATH also includes comedian Ike Avelli, singer/actor Tym Moss, performer/author/businesswoman Wendy Stuart, and drag actor Gladiola Gladrags.  All bring their special comedic talents to the murderous plot. The entire cast was in attendance at the movie premiere at Rockbar. Also in attendance that night were a wide variety of New York City personalities, including Ricky Mestre, Mark-Eugene Garcia, JC Augustin, Joe Preston, Cheryl Pierce, Maria Konner, Rose Trentman, Laurie Towers, John Pietaro, Michael Luisi, Joseph Aiello, and many others.

With generous (pro)portions of drag, comedy, and horror, my totally biased opinion is that DRAG TO DEATH will be loved by anyone who is into indie, cult, experimental, and avant-garde (or any combination of the above…) film and video! 

DRAG TO DEATH can next be seen on Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) on Monday, 11/27 at 10 PM EST. Click for weblink:

Manhattan Neighborhood Network

RyanReporting

Verizon FiOS – 36

Spectrum – 67 & 1998

RCN Astound – 85

(Some photos courtesy of Wendy Stuart.)