All About Evil

Bravo, Grannell, bra-f*****g-vo. Right from the gorgeous open credit sequence of B-movie posters, we see a director aiming for the bleachers. The DNA of All About Evil is dripping with the influences of Hershell Gordon Lewis, Roger Corman, and Jack Hill. But, instead of a flash cheapie, this exploitation production seems to be made for the ages. Like the Wagner Frankenstein’s monster in Litzomania, the film stitches elements of old cult classics together to create a new beast.

There are lots of visual allusions to movies like Spider Baby and Bucket of Blood sprinkled like arterial spray throughout. The practical gore effects walk the line between comedy and horror well, being brutal enough for cringes but outrageous enough for sickie tee-hees. Apparently, some of these scenes had to be cut from the original U.S. release. Grannell also injects the screenplay with some serious commentary about how horror fans’ ghoulish obsessions are misunderstood. Over a decade after it was made, his insights ring truer than ever.

“Over a decade after it was made, [Grannell’s] insights ring truer than ever.”

We also have a fierce drag sensibility running throughout All About Evil. Along with the drag queens who appear in the film, Grannell directs his actresses to perform in grand drag style. Brown is so classic drag queen bitchy as the wicked stepmother that I was looking for an Adam’s apple. But it’s Lyonne who summons up the ultimate drag performance by someone not actually in drag. She draws from old-school drag inspirations of actresses from old black-and-white movies on late-night TV. Lyonne creates the drag version of Dante’s Satan. Grannell rightfully treats Lyonne as the superstar she is, giving us glimpses of the dark residing in the actress that made Freeway 2: Confessions of a Trick Baby the final cult masterpiece of the 20th century. Her ability to unleash firehoses of ferocity is on full display here. She pulls faces that could be on the cover of Famous Monsters of Filmland. This is just more evidence Lyonne is the perfect actress to portray Wendy O. Williams if anyone ever makes a Plasmatics picture.

The transfer is crisp and colorful, a total class act. I would be happy to sign up for the cult of All About Evil, as would any other film weirdo and Lyonne fanatic. Here’s hoping this horror outing will convert a few more followers in the future.