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Logline

After a small-town drag queen is murdered, her mystical wig possesses her killer – turning him into a glamorous, bloodthirsty vessel of vengeance, hunting down every man responsible, one fabulous slay at a time.

Synopsis

In a small rural town where drag has never graced a stage, three traveling queens—Miss Tickle, Keri Okee, and Mama Mia—roll in ready to bring a little sparkle to the locals. But before the show even begins, Miss Tickle is brutally murdered, sending a chilling message loud and clear: You’re not welcome here.

Shaken but defiant, Keri Okee and Mama Mia refuse to be silenced. In honor of their fallen sister, they insist the show must go on. What they don’t realize is that Miss Tickle’s signature orange wig carries more than just style—it’s imbued with a mystical curse, transforming one of the town’s most unlikely men, Jimmy, into a glamorous, bloodthirsty vessel of vengeance. Jimmy’s life becomes a catwalk of chaos as he dons his new drag persona and struts through town hunting down every man responsible for the queen’s demise.

With high heels as deadly as knives, Jimmy slices through the town’s perpetrators in sequences that are as absurdly campy as they are horrifying. Along the way, he dazzles, taunts, and even breaks the fourth wall, proving that vengeance has never looked so fabulous. Meanwhile, the surviving queens must navigate a town that has suddenly become both a stage and a battlefield, wondering who will survive and who will end up as glitter-stained collateral.

Snatched is a glamorous, blood-soaked celebration of resilience, courage, and the strength it takes to stand tall, heels and all, against anyone who dares to put you down.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Derek Stusynski — Writer/Director
Derek Stusynski is a writer, actor, and filmmaker originally from the small farm town of Karlstad, Minnesota. Growing up surrounded by cornfields and cattle, he found his escape in community theater, playing roles like Peter Pan and the Scarecrow before realizing storytelling was more than a hobby—it was a calling.

After high school, Derek traded tractors for taxis, moving to New York City to study film at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. He went on to appear in award-winning shorts including Path to Prologue and Eden, as well as on Investigation Discovery’s Blood Relatives and Unusual Suspects. His dark comedy web series The Walking Tedd raised over $16,000 on Kickstarter, showcasing his producing and directing skills and knack for blending humor and horror.

In addition, Derek has over ten years of experience in casting, from real people to actors in commercials and film, working with companies such as Liz Lewis Casting Partners and Food Network’s Chopped.

Now based in Los Angeles, Derek manages a patron community of close to 10,000 people for Rob Has a Podcast, where he produces exclusive audio and video content for their incredible patrons.

Nicholas James Reilly — Producer
NJR started his journey (as so many do) with acting in High School. He left traditional college after booking his first Off Broadway role. He attended conservatory at Circle in the Square Theatre School and post graduation, decided to give LA a try. He enjoyed a progressive career there for 7 years. After studying screenwriting at UCLA, he wrote, produced, and directed his first horror/comedy film Method.

His latest horror/comedy project, Slaycation, features 9 characters in drag. So, a film where a murdered drag queen’s wig comes back to seek vengeance on her assailants?! The Snatched script was clearly right up his alley and he is proud to have spent the time encouraging Derek to not only make this film, but direct it as well.

In addition to the worlds of theatre & film, Nicholas works as a freelance producer & coordinator for Overland Entertainment. Overland’s clients include Tribeca Festival, The Tony Awards, and The New Yorker Festival.

Sam Schweikert and John Redlinger – Cinematographer and 1st AD
Bad & Classic Productions was born from a group of Texas high school friends making videos for the pure love of it. That passion ultimately led filmmakers John Redlinger and Sam Schweikert to Los Angeles, where they honed their craft at the University of Southern California. While at USC, they collaborated on a range of narrative shorts and commercial projects, developing a shared creative voice and ultimately formalizing their partnership as Bad & Classic Productions. The name reflects their dual ethos: the fearless, resourceful spirit of indie filmmaking (“Bad”) paired with the polish and precision of high-end production (“Classic”).

Since then, John and Sam have built a diverse body of work spanning short- and long-form storytelling. From 24-hour film races to large-scale commercial shoots, they bring adaptability, intention, and hard-earned experience to every project. Their narrative films have earned recognition at festivals including Cannes, Palm Springs, and Filmapalooza, along with awards across directing, writing, cinematography, editing, and overall film categories.

In the commercial space, they’ve delivered dynamic content for clients ranging from startups to international wellness brands. No matter the scope or budget, John and Sam approach each collaboration with the same goal: crafting striking, high-quality visuals that elevate every story they tell.

Nina West — Actor/Drag Queen Icon
Nina West is the stage persona of Andrew Levitt, an internationally celebrated drag queen known for her charisma, activism, and trailblazing influence on modern drag culture. Rising from the vibrant Columbus drag scene, Nina became a global sensation after competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11, where she earned Miss Congeniality and cemented her place as one of the most beloved queens in the franchise’s history. Her impact was further recognized when she appeared on the cover of New York Magazine as one of “The Most Powerful Drag Queens in America.”

A dynamic live performer, Nina has headlined stages around the world—from nightclubs to major theaters and festivals—bringing her signature blend of camp, heart, and LGBTQIA+ advocacy to every appearance. She has collaborated with major brands like Pantene, Pepsi, and Lane Bryant, and made drag history as the first person to walk the Emmy Awards purple carpet in full drag.

Deeply committed to community work, Nina founded the Nina West Foundation, which has raised millions for organizations supporting equality, youth, and LGBTQIA+ rights. Whether onstage, onscreen, or in the community, Nina West continues to champion kindness, creativity, and powerful queer storytelling.

Cameron Cowperthwaite — Actor
Cameron Cowperthwaite has had the opportunity of working with some of the most prolific television producers working today, sharing credits with the likes of Ryan Murphy, Jonathan Nolan, Fernando Meirelles, Tina Fey, and Shonda Rhimes. His television career started in 2016 working on Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, which lead to many recurring guest roles on Emmy nominated shows like American Horror Story, Feud: Bette and Joan, Animal Kingdom, Shameless, The Deuce, 911: Lone Star, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. He is most known for playing the role of real life Steven Hicks on Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

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Contact

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