Slay – review

Director: Jem Garrard

Release date: 2024

Contains spoilers

US streaming service Tubi has been putting original productions up for viewing and this vampire vehicle is a new one on their service. A simple story – siege of a bar by vampires – the twist to this was the queer storyline that sees a troupe of drag queens caught in the situation and, you know what, it works really well. Drawn for laughs, with underlying acceptance themes, it goes to show that a film doesn’t have to have a massively convoluted storyline to be absolutely engaging, it just has to be done well.

the vampire

The film starts with Rufus (Shane Kruger), a redneck delivery guy, having a pee outdoors with his truck parked up. Something rushes behind him, causing him to pee on his own shoe. He continues urinating and the thing rushes by again. He starts calling it out and then sees a vampire – this vampire has an interesting look; long tufts of hair growing from elongated ears but otherwise bald and a bat like face. Rufus shoots the creature but is got when he goes to check it. Note that it is daytime.

Heidi N Closet as Robin Banks

The vampire rushes off, across the road, and is nearly hit by an RV. The vehicle is driven by Robin Banks (Heidi N Closet), who is the manager of (and performer with) a troupe of drag queens travelling to their next gig. Also with the troupe is Olive Wood (Cara Melle), new member of the troupe and (as we repeatedly see) in creative conflict with troupe leader Mama Sue Flay (Trinity the Tuck). Also in the RV is ditzy but universally liked Crystal Methyd (Bella Da Boys). There is a level of excitement as Robin has booked them a show at a famous drag venue… however, when they pull into the parking area they discover that it is a rough bar and Robin has got the name wrong.

troupe meeting

As they cross the parking lot there is some jibes and returned sass between the troupe and a group of biker types led by Travis (Daniel Janks) – including a takedown of his motorbike. In the bar itself the queens are conspicuous amongst the clientele. At the bar they meet Dusty (Neil Sandilands) bartender and owner. He denies knowing anything about the booking, placing the blame on a staff member who is not there, but then suggests that, as they are there anyway and he has no other act, they should perform. There is a group conflab and the consensus seems to be to leave.

attacking Fatboy

However just then, with uncontained excitement, Jax (Donia Kash, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency) and Steven (Gabriel Harry Meltz) approach them. This is by far the best thing that has happened in their town (and there is an immediate attraction between Robin and Steven). This convinces all except Olive but, when Jax reveals they have seen Olive in competition, she is convinced. They agree to do the show… this leads to a performance to the track WAP and then some fine put downs by Mama when Travis runs his mouth off, before Rufus (who is late with his food delivery to the bar) comes in and ends up attacking (and biting) Fatboy (Joe Vaz, Lost Boys: The Thirst). Rufus is thrown out (and starts attacking patrons arriving in the parking lot) but, of course, Fatboy soon turns.

bitten

The film then has a siege of the bar, with plenty of entry points (and no invitation needed as there is a neon sign welcoming in all and sundry), a small army being created outside and bitten survivors turning. Among the characters we meet, that I haven’t mentioned yet, is sound and lights guy Earl (Warrick Grier) and genuinely funny barfly Shiela (Robyn Scott). There isn’t much lore (staking and garlic kill, one bite turns and they cast reflections) and it turns out that vampiric disposition is determined largely on what sort of person you were before – assholes remain assholes. When a vampire is killed it explodes into dust but, fittingly given the glam, there seems to be some glitter thrown in there.

Mama the Vampire Slayer

There are plenty of references made to other films. The setup is reminiscent of From Dusk Till Dawn and not only do we get a “what do we know about vampires” line, the film is mentioned (referred to as the foot fetish one). There is also mention of Interview with the Vampire, Blade and a couple of Twilight jokes that manage to avoid the all too cliched hate for the film. Simon Bacon has also pointed out that there is a touch of Delphine Seyrig in Daughters of Darkness to Mama's look. It is always good to see a queer facing vampire film, even better when the film works well. The themes of acceptance are well done and though the overarching story (vampire siege, try to survive, learn to work together) is simple, this was genuinely fun with great characterisations and just the right amount of glam and sass. 7 out of 10.

The imdb page is here.