‘Drag,” scripted and directed by Raviv Ullman and Greg Yagolnitz, made its World Premiere as a Midnight entry at SXSW on March 13, 2026, with stars Lizzy Caplan (“Masters of Sex,” 2013-2016), John Stamos and Lucy DeVito onstage after the screening. Lucy DeVito, asked why the film succeeded (when so many do not) correctly analyzed the appeal: “It’s in the writing. It’s on the page.”
PLOT
The plot involves “two sisters with a contentious relationship who decide to rob a rural home in upstate New York. The simple robbery turns into a nightmare when one of them throws out her back and becomes immobilized on the second floor. The night spirals out of control as they embark on a painful journey to make it out before the homeowner returns.” Unfortunately for the two sisters, the owner of the house is a psychotic killer who fashions himself as a pathological Picasso.
“Drag” was shot in Albany in the winter in 21 days but, as co-star Lucy Devito said, “The whole thing should have been a pain in the ass, but every moment was a delight. Playing Lizzie’s sister was the best Everyone believed in the film.”
GENESIS
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- Danny DeVito at the World Premier of “Drag” on March 13, 2026, at SXSW.
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- The trio of females starring in “Drag:” Lucy DeVito, Lizzy Caplan, and Christine Ko at SXSW 2026.
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- The cast and directors and production team of ‘Drag” at the State Theater World Premiere at SXSW 2026.
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- John Stamos in “Drag” at SXSW.
The writer/directors, shared during the Q&A following the screening that the idea of a would-be robber being immobilized by back pain sprang from their own back ailments. They also admitted that having television pilots that were stalled in development hell gave them time to think about writing, preparing and shooting a low-budget indie film. So, they did. “Drag” succeeded where many others have failed.
LIZZY CAPLAN
Lizzy Caplan was asked how she prepared to believably portray a woman with severe back pain, who is dragged around inside a serial killer’s mansion for hours. Her answer? “Show up and pretend your back hurts.” Even that answer, given straight, was funny. Caplan is a veteran actress with both comedic and horror chops in 73 roles. I enjoyed Caplan in “Masters of Sex” for 46 episodes from 2013-2016. She also appeared in 2018’s “Cloverfield,” more horror bona fides. The chemistry between the sisters rang true.
DANNY DEVITO FAMILY AFFAIR
The DeVito family was there in force, with father Danny joining son Jake and daughter Lucy, its co-star, onstage, as all were producers. (Everyone involved produced, it seems.) Father Danny’s reaction to reading the first 40 pages of the script was “Holy shitballs!” He added, “The nail got me.”
Danny DeVito spoke to his desire to support new talent, saying, “We’ve always tried to support new filmmakers with passion. These guys are the best.”
SOUND
The sound design (Patrick Stump) added immensely ratcheting up the tension. Make-up, special effects and stunts, all stunts story-boarded, worked well. Ben Goodman’s cinematography was also spot-on. This low budget indie film held its own in the laughs department and the acting by Lizzy Caplan and Lucy DeVito was top-notch.
“Drag” entertained and amused while also introducing a whole new side of John Stamos to the world, figuratively and literally. Uncle Jesse as a smarmy stone-cold serial killer takes us beyond Stamos’ Beach Boys gigs into uncharted territory that shows snake-like promise for him as a potential villain.
CONCLUSION
As the only working critic in house who, somehow, managed to rip her right thumbnail off at the Austin airport while merely getting a luggage cart (it’s called an “avulsion”) and a one-time active voting member of HWA, the movie amused me mightily. It was right up my alley; the audience seemed to agree. I think it will amuse you, as well. Plus, the ending is not predictable, which is always appreciated.
If still in Austin, check it out when it plays again on March 16 (6:30 p.m.) at the Alamo Drafthouse on Lamar or on March 18 at 9:45 p.m. there.
