Slay – Tubi Review (4/5)

SLAY (2024) on Tubi is a new LGBTQ+ horror comedy with drag queens and vampires. It’s even better than I ever dared hope. To me, this is a new classic and one I could easily watch again. Read our full 2024 Slay movie review here!

SLAY (2024) is a new Tubi Original and one I would passionately recommend all horror-comedy fans to check out. If you also like drag queens, this movie is a treat beyond words. I mean, it stars RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise alumni Heidi N Closet, Cara Melle, Trinity the Tuck, and Crystal Methyd.

Admittedly, I haven’t watched much of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Not because I don’t enjoy it, but we just always have a genre movie or series we need to review. Maybe that’s why I felt this movie hit all the right spots for me. Even the runtime of almost 100 minutes isn’t too long and that speaks volumes!

Continue reading our 2024 Slay movie review below. Find it on Tubi from March 22, 2024.

Drag Queens (and bikers) versus Vampires

In Slay (2024) on Tubi, the plot really is all about drag queens and vampires. However, it’s also just a truly solid horror comedy with LGBTQ+ characters. And bikers!

The story begins in a fabulous and rainbow-filled Camper Van where four drag queens are on their way to their next booking. Unfortunately, a booking mistake (the Bold Buck instead of Bold Tuck) leads to the drag queens performing for a very different kind of crowd.

They end up in a bar full of bikers and are about to leave when both the owner and what could be the only two (out!) queer people in the small town show up. These two are clearly thrilled to see the drag queens, and they are getting paid, so the show must go on.

Not for long though, as vampires show up to ruin the show. Suddenly, the bikers are quick to look to the queens to save the day. And they oblige, of course. There really isn’t an alternative if they want to survive.

The way the budget is used for the many special effects is brilliant. We’re talking a lot of practical effects and having things happen off-screen. Also, whenever something seems a bit strange, you can be sure that one of the characters will comment on it.

That is how you make a horror comedy work with the budget you have!

To Wong Foo, Queen of the Desert from Dusk Till Dawn

There are so many easy comparisons to iconic movies, and in terms of cult vampyre movies, many of them are directly mentioned in Slay (2024). And make no mistake, this is very much both a horror and a comedy.

The way I think it’s best described is by saying this is The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) meets From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). However, the actual characters also felt very inspired by To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995).

In case you’re not familiar with the two Drag Queen movies, I can tell you that the casts are full of some of the biggest names. They are very much worth checking out!

As always, you have to love the drag queen names, and Slay (2024) is pulling out some great ones. There’s “Mama Sue Flay” (Trinity The Tuck), “Robin Banks” (Heidi N Closet), “Bella Da Boys” (Crystal Methyd), and “Olive Wood” (Cara Melle). Hint: You may want to say them out loud to get the full effect.

Blade is a horror movie mentioned in terms of what outfit, you’ll want to fight vampires in. And Twilight is, of course, also mentioned in Slay as the vampires aren’t as pretty as in that vampire franchise. Disappointing to our drag queens who are already upset that they’re in the wrong place.

Most of the vampires are bikers who are neither young nor fit. However, as it turns out, quite a few of them are more open-minded than you might think. To a point, but still.

With the history of bikers supporting the LGBTQ+ community whenever the Westboro Baptist Church protested in grossly inappropriate ways, it makes a lot more sense than you might think.

Watch the 2024 horror comedy Slay on Tubi now!

The writer and director of Slay on Tubi is Jem Garrard, and I am so happy this movie was made. In fact, I also want to include a statement from writer-director Jem Garrard about why this story was chosen for the horror comedy.

“At a time when hate and intolerance towards the LGBTQ+ community is on the rise, I wanted to write a horror comedy with heart that showcased drag queens and queers as the heroes” and Jem Garrard continued to state that “Drag queens have always been a symbol of resistance and resilience, so seeing them kick-ass against a bunch of blood-sucking vampires felt like a comical, yet pointed allegory.”

All very true, but this doesn’t mean the movie will be good, so I didn’t know what to expect. Fortunately, it is good. In fact, the camp and kitsch style is second only to the gorgeous production quality and awesome one-liners.

Who am I kidding, the fabulous camp and kitsch in Slay is second to nothing! Do not miss out on it.

SLAY is premiering on Tubi on March 22, 2024.

Details

Director: Jem Garrard
Writer: Jem Garrard
Cast: Trinity the Tuck, Heidi N Closet, Crystal Methyd, Cara Melle, Neil Sandilands, Donia Kash, Daniel Janks, Robyn Scott, Richard Wright-Firth, Joe Vaz