Drag: The Bold Home Invasion Thriller with Danny DeVito and Lizzy Caplan That Reinvents ‘Home Alone’
Drag: A Wild New Take on the Classic Home Invasion Formula
When two sisters set out to rob a remote home in upstate New York, they’re hardly prepared for the mayhem that ensues. In ‘Drag’, the fresh, darkly comedic thriller produced by Danny DeVito, the dynamic is immediately upended when one sister, played by Lizzy Caplan, throws out her back in the middle of the heist. Suddenly, the once simple burglary becomes a desperate struggle for survival–not just against discovery, but against their own physical limitations and sibling rivalries.
A Sister Act Unlike Anything on Screen
Rather than your run-of-the-mill crime duo, the sisters in ‘Drag’ defy genre conventions. Lucy DeVito (who stars alongside her real-life father, Danny DeVito) drags her incapacitated sister through a gauntlet of misadventures as they try to escape before the homeowners return. What sets this film apart is its refusal to make the relationship between the women stereotypical. They’re deeply familiar with each other’s quirks and pain points, leading to chemistry that feels authentic, raw, and often hilarious. It’s a vivid portrait of sibling tolerance and love, twisted ever-so-uniquely through a criminal lens.
Breaking the Mold: Women Lead a High-Stakes Home Invasion
Lizzy Caplan herself noted how rare it is to see women given the freedom to be so physically and emotionally unfiltered in a thriller like this. The roles allowed both her and Lucy DeVito to be totally «vanity free»–a refreshing change from the polished heroines of most genre movies. From Caplan barely able to walk, to DeVito physically hauling her across a booby-trapped home, there’s an unglamorous reality to their predicament that both grounds the film and pushes its comedic tension to the max.
A Story Inspired by Real-Life Pain
Behind the script are directors Raviv Ullman and Greg Yagolnitzer, both of whom drew inspiration from their personal bouts with severe back pain. This odd but relatable foundation injects a sense of physical authenticity into every mishap the sisters face. Cast members recounted that reading the script almost induced sympathy back spasms, and the shoot itself balanced slapstick with genuine discomfort, making for memorable on-set stories.
A Cast That Embraces Chaos
Beyond Caplan and the DeVitos, the cast is stacked with familiar faces: John Stamos brings unexpected energy, especially as he jumps out of his sitcom comfort zone into a role that literally finds him in drag. Then there’s Christine Ko–recognized from ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’–who delivers a performance blending physical comedy with razor-sharp timing, aided by expert VFX work that made even the most demanding stunts look seamless.
Family Ties and Creative Risk
Much of the production was a family affair, showcasing the collaborative spirit at Jersey 2nd Avenue, where the DeVitos are always on the hunt for daring, innovative voices. The project stood out from the start with a script so original it demanded to be made–a sentiment shared by the entire team, many of whom were the filmmakers’ first choices for each part. This kind of alignment between cast, crew, and script is rare, and it’s palpable in the film’s tone and execution.
A Critical Hit at SXSW
Premiering to universal acclaim at SXSW, ‘Drag’ has quickly become a festival standout, with its mix of brutal slapstick, heartfelt drama, and nerve-wracking suspense. Rather than relying on nostalgia or simple genre tropes, the film delivers an experience that’s both fresh and viscerally entertaining, leveraging its stellar cast and personal storytelling touch.
At a time when Hollywood is saturated with formulaic remakes and safe bets, ‘Drag’ is a thrilling reminder that risk-taking can pay off–especially when it starts with a bad back, a wild script, and a cast willing to go all-in for the ride.
