Horror is a blank canvas. I mean, sure, you could truly say that about any genre. Horror, in particular, dares to make its viewer, listener, or reader look hard at themselves and face some of society’s darkest underbellies. Take the most recent GenreBlast coverage of Take Back the Night, for example. Here is a movie that dares to address sexual assault and suicide in the scope of a monster movie. These are very real things that transpire each and every day. The majority of us aren’t talking about these subjects and because we fail to address them. Chances are we are ignorant of their realities. Much like mental health and suicide, we see the issue but fail to understand the scope of the issue.
Even looking on a larger scale, take Nia DaCosta’s Candyman. DaCosta presents something familiar with the Candyman lore but brings viewers on a journey of racial injustice through the ages. Even the campier side of the genre can bring forth conversation on terrifying and very real subjects. Take a film like Friday the 13th 3D. A film which is very much a product of its time and is goofy by today’s standards. The film explores very serious subjects like trauma and isolation and how both have repercussions on your mental health. Chris, the film’s final girl, explores overcoming fear following a traumatic encounter with Jason Voorhees.
Horror speaks volumes on our reality. Sure there are films that don’t typically have much to say; they just want to give us a good time. That’s perfectly fine. The slasher sub genre seems to be a perfect place to escape. Series like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, and the aforementioned Friday the 13th allows the viewer just to have a good time. Movies are meant to entertain us after all. Every so often you get those movies like Friday 3D that bring both worlds together, giving us a good time and challenging us to look inward and grow. The latest release from directing trio Christopher Dalpe, Michael J. Ahern, and Brandon Perras is Death Drop Gorgeous.
This slasher revolves around a mystery: drag queens at a local club are going missing. This film isn’t going to be for everyone. Despite its slasher roots, the film feels more in line with Troma movies or John Waters. This slasher feels larger than life. I love the idea of John Waters taking on the slasher genre. The closest we have ever seen is Serial Mom, which is a vastly underrated movie. Gorgeous feels like a cross between Serial Mom and Rocky Horror Picture Show, just without the music. Imagine blood in the parts where music would normally be. There is a good deal of waiting for the gags of the film.
However, once you get to them, they truly are satisfying and creative. It sounds strange to appreciate the art of a good death, but Gorgeous has them in spades. The practical effects of this movie are truly top notch. The climax of the film is a perfect example of how well the creators truly used their budget to create a memorable film. Gorgeous is a blast. If you’ve ever been curious about the atmosphere of a drag queen show, Gorgeous is a pretty good welcome into that world. This is where my love hate relationship with this movie comes through.
The movie’s first half is a balancing act. Half of its time is spent attempting to solve this great mystery of who the killer is, while the other half is looking towards the politics of the club and the rivalries between the characters. The latter portion of the narrative feels extraordinarily forced and not developed enough to be a red herring for the killer, which leads to characters that are one dimensional and hard for the audience to connect to. The first two thirds of the movie have so many characters that it almost feels like a revolving door sometimes with these characters. Due to how underdeveloped they are, they feel paper thin.
Overall, Death Drop Gorgeous is a fun slasher with some great kills to its name and a fun atmosphere. I truly wanted so much more from this slasher. The film wastes its time with the interworking politics of its characters and doesn’t spend enough time developing them. Even the drag queen portion of the film feels a little shallow at some points in the film. These are the areas I really wish the film would have expanded upon. It’s gory with tremendous practical effects and, despite its flaws and niche tone, Death Drop Gorgeous is a blast.
Rorschach Rating: 2.5 / 5
Mental Health Moment: It feels weird to write about a mental health moment coming from a straight cis male. While I don’t feel qualified to outright speak on the drag queen aspect of the film, Gorgeous does take on themes of rejection and the fall out of one’s mental health who has been rejected, and that I can certainly speak on. Rejection is one of the hardest things to truly endure. Subsequently it can also feel like one of the hardest things to recover from. Sometimes we have to understand that if there is a source of rejection, and we have the power to walk away, it’s for the best. Rejection can bring us to some truly dark places. It’s how we respond to the rejection that is the important thing. Dare to remove yourself from those individuals or the environment. Sometimes it's easier said than done, but start the process of taking care of yourself. You have value despite whatever rejection has taught you. It’s okay to be you. Please consider our mental health resource library to better understand your value.
If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!
Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. Death Drop Gorgeous is property of Dark Star Pictures. We do not own nor claim any rights.
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