EP 11: Starrbooty (2007) vs. All About Evil (2010)
“Life's a Drag!”
STARRBOOTY (2007), RuPaul's feature length revisiting of her 80's short-film character, goes up against drag-legend Peaches (Joshua Grannell) Christ's ALL ABOUT EVIL (2010), starring Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Dekker, Mink Stole, and Cassandra (Elvira) Peterson!
It's a drag-out brawl on this week's episode of CULT and CLASSIC Podcast!
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Host: Nate Wyckoff
Panelists: Jeff Tucker & Amanda Longley
More on Starrbooty (2007):
Starrbooty (2007) is a campy comedy film written, directed by, and starring drag queen RuPaul. The movie follows the adventures of Starrbooty, a glamorously fierce secret agent and undercover drag queen who battles villains, saves the day, and looks fabulous doing it. With its tongue-in-cheek humor and over-the-top performances, Starrbooty celebrates the world of drag while weaving in elements of action and comedy. Only, it kind of doesn’t. Rather, it plays like a vanity project with RuPaul, a star we love, mostly fondling penises and moving clumsily through a plot that barely exists.
Said plot centers around Starrbooty and her mission to stop an evil organization that profits from human trafficking. Starrbooty goes undercover as a sex worker to infiltrate the organization, encountering outrageous characters and hilariously dangerous situations along the way. Defenders of this film suggest Starrbooty is a celebration of queer culture, with a vibrant and unabashedly flamboyant atmosphere. ChatGPT, for instance, says that the costumes, makeup, and set designs are all exuberantly colorful, adding to the film's sense of joy and self-expression. It also goes so far as to claim that RuPaul's portrayal of Starrbooty is mesmerizing, combining sass, confidence, and an unapologetic fierceness that complements the movie's absurd and delightful narrative. RuPaul may be the best player in this exaggerated selfie, but that’s not saying much (which is a shame for onscreen-villain and fabulous performer Candis Cayne).
In summary, Starrbooty believes itself to be a cult classic that embodies the essence of drag culture and delivers a dose of infectious fun. In reality, it’s so bad that it quickly went out of print, and drag icon Chad Michaels left a forced Drag Race screening while stating she refused to watch RuPaul debase herself!
More on All about Evil (2010):
"All About Evil" is a dark comedy horror film released in 2010, and written and directed by JOSHUA GRANNELL, aka drag legend PEACHES CHRIST! The film tells the story of a timid librarian turned deranged filmmaker named Deborah Tennis (played by Natasha Lyonne). After inheriting her father's failing movie theater, Deborah resorts to gruesome acts of murder in order to create her low-budget horror films. Believing that any publicity is good publicity, she quickly becomes the talk of the town as her movies gain a devoted following of fans who unknowingly applaud her real-life acts of violence.
As Deborah's obsession with filmmaking grows, she becomes more ruthless, and her movies become increasingly sadistic and twisted. Alongside her loyal assistant, Charlotte (played by Mink Stole), she completes her homicidal masterpieces and screens them at her theater, which begins to fill up with an unsuspecting audience. Unbeknownst to the patrons, they find themselves unwitting participants in a real-life horror show, as Deborah takes the phrase "the show must go on" to horrifying extremes.
"All About Evil" explores themes of warped ambition, the blurred lines between fiction and reality, and the price of fame. With its dark humor and imaginative cinematography, the film navigates the macabre world of Deborah Tennis, where murder becomes an artistic tool to achieve success. This cult classic highlights the disturbing allure of violence and the madness within the creative process, creating an unsettling commentary on the lengths some are willing to go for recognition in the cruel world of entertainment.