Dracula’s Dead Wraps: A Gothic Fever Dream Comes to Life

The cobwebs have cleared, the velvet curtains have drawn, and the final “cut” has echoed through the haunted halls of "Dracula’s Dead", a deliciously chaotic and glamorously gothic short film from the mind of Paul Jacob Presley.

Shot inside a lavish, vintage villa drenched in candelabras and neon lights, Dracula’s Dead plays like a fever dream inside a Lisa Frank coffin. The film is an unapologetic queer horror comedy that pays homage to camp classics and cult midnight movies, think Clue, Elvira, and Death Becomes Her, but soaked in blood, pearls, and lashes.

Behind the velvet rope of this surreal production stood a dedicated and wildly creative crew.

At the helm of the visual storytelling was cinematographer Tom Hernquist (IMDb), whose arresting lighting and dynamic compositions elevated the camp to high art. Known for his work on visually distinctive projects like Buzzkill and Sunshine and Rain, Hernquist brought a rich palette of color and shadow that made every frame of Dracula’s Dead feel like a painting dipped in glitter and danger. His lens dances between absurdity and elegance, giving the film a visual tone that is as unhinged as it is cinematic.

And where there’s blood and body horror, there’s Lo Espinosa (IMDb), the brilliant special effects artist whose work brought the film’s grotesque glamour to life. From oozing wounds to jaw-dropping practical gags, Espinosa Known for her work on Onlyfangs, Gals & Ghouls, and Cuddly Toys, Espinosa has carved a niche blending stylized gore with glam surrealism. Her prosthetic and effects work on Dracula’s Dead strikes a perfect balance between grotesque and gorgeous, making the undead look disturbingly divine. With a track record of cult-favorite shorts and music videos, Espinosa’s fingerprints are all over this latest dark delight. She infused Dracula’s Dead with a tactile authenticity and macabre artistry that rooted its camp in true horror tradition. Her eye for detail and love of the genre made her a key player in crafting the film’s unforgettable visual moments.

Presley, who also wrote the film, brought his signature boldness to the director’s chair, leading a cast of drag icons, local talent, and cryptic creatures with a strong and unique vision.

From hand-sewn purses to explosive blood splatters and gut-bursting gags, every detail in Dracula’s Dead was crafted for peak camp and chaos. The set buzzed with unruly scrappy and creative energy, a fabulous family of misfits conjuring cinematic sorcery between fang tooth touch-ups and snack bowl refills. It was part horror, part haute couture, and entirely practical effect-mayhem.

Now wrapped, Dracula’s Dead moves into post-production, but if the behind-the-scenes photos are any indication, this film is destined to live deliciously on the festival circuit (and maybe even in your nightmares).