Boulet Brothers

Dracmorda Boulet and Swanthula Boulet, know collectively as The Boulet Brothers, are drag artists, television personalities, writers, producers, podcasters, musicians, and modern day horror hosts.[1] They were featured on the cover of Fangoria as "Horror's New Icons" in 2022.[2] Their projects have included horror themed television shows, live nightlife productions, books, movies, and comic books.[3] Since 2016 the Boulet Brothers have produced and starred in the reality competition series The Boulet Brothers' Dragula, which features contestants showcasing dark, horror-themed drag looks.

The Boulet Brothers
Occupations
  • Drag artists
  • television personalities
  • writers
  • producers
TelevisionThe Boulet Brothers' Dragula
Websitebouletbrothersdragula.com

Outside of their television projects, the Boulet Brothers appear regularly as featured guests, performers and emcees at horror conventions, nightclubs and live events. The Boulets are considered prolific nightclub producers with a career creating legendary nightlife events.[4][5][6] The Boulet Brothers are also widely celebrated in the LGBTQ+ community due to the inclusive nature of their creative endeavors.[7][8]

Television career

The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula
Still from the Boulet Brothers' Dragula

The Boulet Brothers are most known for their reality TV competition series The Boulet Brothers' Dragula.[9] The show is loosely based on a nightlife event of the same name created by the Boulet Brothers and is currently in its fourth season streaming on Shudder. Many of the challenges and themes of the show were inspired by nightlife events hosted by the Boulet Brothers.[10] The show has received international praise for its creativity, talent and diversity.[11][12] The Boulet Brothers serve as the showrunners, executive producers and hosts of the show.

The Boulet Brothers wrote, produced and co-directed a spin-off film titled Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Resurrection, which Digital Spy described as "part-horror movie, part-documentary and part-reality competition."[13] The film was released as an original film on AMC Networks' Shudder streaming service on October 20, 2020.[14]

Other television appearances

Dracmorda and Swanthula Boulet were guests on Behind the Monsters, a docuseries on the history of horror icons such as Chucky, Michael Myers, and Pinhead.[15][16] They were also guests on "Heartbreak Trailer Park", a special episode of the series The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs.[17] In the episode they discussed topics such as love and the horror genre with Joe Bob Briggs.[18]

Podcasts

Creatures of the Night Podcast
Creatures of the Night promo poster

The Boulet Brothers are the executive producers and hosts of Dread Central's (previously Fangoria’s) The Boulet Brothers’ Creatures of the Night Podcast. The show is co-hosted by Ian Devoglaer, the supervising producer of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula. The podcast is a horror variety show styled after a 1940s style radio program. Each episode offers an introductory dialogue, a newscast and discussion of entertainment news, a horror movie review, and listener questions.[19] The show's "Haunting of History" segment revisits famous historical hauntings.[20] Other segments of the podcast include celebrity interviews and literary discussions called "Swanthula's Book Nook". Guests include Rose McGowan, Poppy, Dita Von Teese, Rachel True, Darren Stein, Yvie Oddly, Katya Zamolodchikova, and Lin Shaye. Books discussed include Stephen King's "Children of the Corn", Clive Barker's The Hellbound Heart, and Brian Lumley's Necroscope.[21]

Dragula Live Tour

The Boulet Brothers present the "Dragula Live Tour", a series of live performances featuring contestants from the Dragula series. The Boulet Brothers described the show as "a little bit of filth, and a lot of glamour and a little bit of shock. And maybe get covered in blood a little bit. It’s gonna be a little messy."[22] The United Kingdom leg of the Dragula Season 4 World tour began at Clapham Grand in London in March, and performed in cities such as Glasgow, Manchester, Brighton, Leeds, Nottingham and Birmingham. The United States leg of the Dragula tour began on April 27, 2022,[23] and ended on June 2, 2022.[24]

The Season 4 World tour sold out, and received positive reviews from critics. Chris Selman of Gay Times praised the show, writing that "four diverse and engaging performers, a pair of enigmatic hosts, a rock band routine and an audience challenge to throw in some variety, and impressive production values." He concluded that "this twisted troupe present quite the macabre drag variety show."[25] Alex Warren of Horror Press had similar praise for the tour, writing that it had "otherworldly performances" and "sleek and sexy production values."[26]

Still from the Boulet Brothers' Dragula

Comic books and print publication

The Boulet Brothers got their start in the comic book industry,[27] and they write and produce comic book content. They hosted a special "Halloween Takeover" issue of Heavy Metal (Issue #311) in 2021.[28] Longtime fans of Heavy Metal, they described hosting the issue as a "full circle moment" that tied together their love of comic books, horror and drag.[29] The issue, which was co-edited by Morgan Rosenblum and Steve Orlando, features subversive horror stories written by Orlando, Axelle Carolyn, and Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, among others.[27] "The Vault of Saumagotha – Part Two", one of the stories included in the issue, was co-written by and about the Boulet Brothers.[30] The Boulet Brothers had first announced their intention to work on a comic book with Orlando on the Creatures of the Night podcast in 2020.[31]

The issue was well received for its writing, themes and art.[27] Jeff Robertson of Screen Rant said that the book "unleash[es] their unique blend of seductive and irreverent terror on the unsuspecting public."[32] Steve Holden of BBC News said that "the Boulets remind us of the connection between many of cinema's early monster movies and the suppression of any overt LGBTQ+ representation on screen."[33]

Public image

The Boulet Brothers are noted figures in the queer and horror communities.[34][35] They were featured on the cover of horror magazine Fangoria Vol. 2, Issue #13.[2] Their distinctive style often incorporates colored contact lenses and matching outfits.[36] Many of their looks are inspired by classic horror films, femme fatales, punk fashion, and villains from film, comic books and television series.[37] Rue Morgue's Carly Maga described them as "the unofficial lords of the underworld of drag performance, instantly recognizable by their matching gothic, otherworldly looks; the high-glam drag lovechildren of Anna Wintour, a Cenobite, and the Grady twins."[38]

Music

The Boulet Brothers' released their debut EP titled Time to Die in October 2021. The EP consists of four original songs including "Wicked Love" which was created for The Boulet Brothers' Dragula season 4 Episode 5 challenge. The Boulet Brothers' also released an instrumental Official Boulet Brothers’ Dragula Season 4 Soundtrack in December 2021. The soundtrack features the floorshow music and main thematic tracks used in the fourth season of the show.[39]

Personal lives

The couple do not appear out of drag on television or in interviews and lead private personal lives. They have stated in interviews that they are not brothers but romantic partners who have been a couple for over twenty years.[40]

Filmography
Year Title Genre Role Notes
2014 Transformations TV Themselves Guests; 1 episode
2016–present The Boulet Brothers' Dragula TV Main judges Also directors, producers, and writers
2016-17 Hey Qween! Web series Themselves Guests; 2 episodes
2020 Haus of Horror TV miniseries Themselves
2020 The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Resurrection TV special Main judges Also directors, producers, and writers; 1 episode
2021 Behind the Monsters TV docuseries Themselves Guests; 5 episodes
2022 The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs TV Themselves Guests; 1 episode
2022–present The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Titans TV Main judges

Discography

Soundtrack albums
List of soundtrack albums
Title Album Details
Dragula: Season 4 Soundtrack

Extended plays
List of albums and EPs
Title Album Details
Time To Die
Dragula: Titans Soundtrack
  • Released: December 20, 2022
  • Label: Producer Entertainment Group
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles
List of singles
Title Year Album
"Time to Die" 2021 Time to Die
"Wicked Love"

References
  1. Millican, Josh (August 9, 2019). "Queer Horror-Themed Competition THE BOULET BROTHERS DRAGULA Season 3 Hits Amazon This Month". Dread Central. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  2. "BOULET BROTHERS Signing: Celebrating FANGORIA Issue #13 And DRAGULA Season 4". FANGORIA. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  3. Liner, Lucas (December 3, 2019). "The Boulet Brothers Ink A Book Deal With Literary Agent Connor Goldsmith". CryptTeaze. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  4. Podell, Michael (February 26, 2016). "An Interview With Filthy Royalty, the Boulet Brothers". HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  5. Lecaro, Lina (September 9, 2016). "The Boulet Brothers Keep L.A.'s Gay Nightlife Weird". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  6. "The Boulet Brothers' Queer Horror Empire". WUSSY MAG. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  7. Doonan, Simon (2019). Drag: the complete story. Laurence King Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78627-423-6. OCLC 1153814302.
  8. Mandelo, Lee (June 17, 2020). "Queering SFF: The Weird, Wild Fun of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula". Tor.com. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  9. Lusky, Bridget (November 28, 2019). "Hello Uglies: Dragula's mix of horror and glamor brings new depth to drag". Film Daily. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  10. "10 Questions With the Boulet Brothers". www.out.com. January 27, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  11. "'Dragula' Is Loud, Weird, and Pisses on Heteronormativity". www.vice.com. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  12. "Landon Cider, the First Drag King to Appear On a U.S. Drag Competition Show, Wins 'Dragula' Season 3". Billboard. October 29, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  13. Chase, Stephanie (September 30, 2020). "Dragula confirms Halloween special featuring all-star queens returning". Digital Spy. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  14. "THE BOULET BROTHERS' DRAGULA: RESURRECTION Hits Shudder October 20th". Dread Central. September 29, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  15. "BEHIND THE MONSTERS: New Shudder Docu-Series Celebrates Horror's Killer Icons". FANGORIA. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  16. Rosario, Alexandra Del (August 17, 2021). "'Behind The Monsters': Shudder Orders Horror Icons Docu-Series About Chucky, Michael Myers & More". Deadline. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  17. "Shudder Releases Trailer for Joe Bob's Heartbreak Trailer Park". Horror. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  18. "7 Best New Movies & Shows on Shudder in February 2022". Collider. February 13, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  19. Gidney, Norman (May 9, 2020). "The Boulet Brothers CREATURES OF THE NIGHT Debuts on Fangoria". HorrorBuzz. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  20. "Lockdown Listening: The Boulet Brothers' Creatures of the Night Podcast -". werrrk.com. May 14, 2020. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  21. "Boulet Brothers Launch New Show on The FANGORIA Podcast Network". Dread Central. May 7, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  22. "The Boulet Brothers' Dragula are touring the UK in 2022 with a 'twisted variety show'". PinkNews. February 15, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  23. Strangeways, Michael. "Better Hurry To Snatch Up Those Boulet Brothers Dragula Tickets! | Seattle Gay Scene | Your Daily Gay In Seattle". Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  24. "Creatures Of The Night: DRAGULA LIVE Bites Into The Georgia Peach". FANGORIA. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  25. "The Boulet Brothers bring Dragula Live to the UK in spectacular style at The Clapham Grand - review". GAY TIMES. March 17, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  26. Warrick, Alex. "Ornaments of Gold: A Night at The Boulet Brothers' Dragula World Tour". Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  27. Maveal, Chloe (October 28, 2021). "Heavy Metal's Halloween issue is full of horror, filth, and drag". Polygon. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  28. Maveal, Chloe (July 24, 2021). "Heavy Metal Publishing wants you to know it's still rocking post-pandemic". Polygon. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  29. Kaplan, Avery (October 28, 2021). "PREVIEW: Trick and/or treat with the BOULET BROTHERS HEAVY METAL Halloween Takeover!". The Beat. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  30. Brooke, David (October 27, 2021). "EXCLUSIVE Heavy Metal Preview: Boulet Brothers Halloween Takeover • AIPT". Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  31. The Boulet Brothers (September 22, 2020). "Heroes of Halloween". Creatures of the Night (Podcast). Dread Central. Event occurs at 65 min.
  32. "Boulet Brothers Lead Drag Takeover in Heavy Metal Halloween Issue". ScreenRant. October 29, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  33. Holden, Steve (October 31, 2020). "Halloween: How the Boulet Brothers' Dragula blends drag and horror". BBC News. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  34. Stuart, Gwynedd (August 7, 2019). "How the Boulet Brothers Made Space for Freaky, Femme Energy in L.A.'s Queer Party Scene". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  35. Ciriaco, Michael (May 23, 2019). "Drag in L.A.: The Boulet Brothers Bring Dark Debauchery to Nightlife — and TV". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  36. Goodman, Elyssa (August 26, 2019). "Blood, Guts, and Glamour: How "Dragula" Made Drag Dangerous Again". them. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  37. Goodman, Elyssa (August 26, 2019). "Blood, Guts, and Glamour: How "Dragula" Made Drag Dangerous Again". them. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  38. Maga, Carly (2020). "RISE OF THE SUPERMONSTERS". Rue Morgue. No. 189. pp. 20, 21, 22.
  39. "INTERVIEW – The Boulet Brothers". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  40. Earp, Catherine (September 6, 2018). "Dragula's The Boulet Bros discuss relationship". Digital Spy. Retrieved September 16, 2020.

Bibliography

Further reading
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