‘Enter the Drag Dragon’ (2023) review: Full of laughs and action

Go in Appearance of the Drag Dragon (2023) I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew it was going to be a wild ride, but I forgot to put my seatbelt on. Lee Demarbre is a Quebec filmmaker known for his crazy films like Jesus Christ, Vampire Hunter (2001) and the Harry Knuckles Saga. If you’re familiar with it, you know what to expect, but taken to the extreme.

MVD Visual has acquired its latest cult gem and released it on a special edition Blu-ray. A drag-fu action/comedy, it’s sure to be a favorite of midnight movie audiences.

Crunch and her long-time best friend Jaws work part of their time as private investigators. Crunch is also a drag queen who knows kung fu and isn’t afraid to use it or her deadly “cock-chucks” against anyone who is after her family or friends. Crunch decides to take on the biggest case of his career and try to recover a missing painting. This proves to be far more difficult than he thought, as everyone is after the same valuable painting. And to make matters worse, the dead have risen and this case could be the death of him.

This description does not apply Appearance of the Drag Dragon Justice because so much happens. Sometimes maybe too much, but it’s always fun. Somewhere between a John Waters film and a Troma one, the jokes fly as fast and furious as the action, and all on a budget of next to nothing.

The main character of Crunch is played by three different actors (Jade London, Matt Miwa, Samnaang Tep and Sam Kellerman), all of whom are drag artists with their own style. It’s a fun gimmick, but each performer also has the opportunity to interpret the character in their own way without losing sight of who the character is. Beatrice Beres as Jaws provides the perfect balance for them to achieve this.

The film pays homage to the martial arts action films of the 80s and 90s, particularly through a character who wears a different black t-shirt every time he appears on screen with the names Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Cynthia Rothrock and more. Everything is thrown into the story: ghosts, androids, zombies, musical numbers and more join in. It can be a bit much at times, but it all works in the end.

The disc includes several extras, including a commentary by director Lee Gordon Demarbre, writer Mark Pollesel, composer John Carroll and stars Sam Kellerman and Natalie Moreno, a 44-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, outtakes and trailers.

It’s an absolute blast from start to finish, full of laughs and action that truly offers a unique experience.

We’re hard-working geeks who love to freak out, but we can’t do it without you! If you enjoyed this article and want to read more like it, please consider tipping our writers. Plus, as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.