14/08/2012: The Rocky Horror Pictures Show [1975]

So, by accident, I happened to watch the very definition of cult classic on it's 37th anniversary, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It must have been destiny. That's right, I just used the word destiny. Even 37 years later, TRHPS remains the biggest cult classic in cinema, still played in midnight screenings around the world, and with a dedicated fanbase more than willing to dress up in drag and bring props to a theater. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is more than a movie, it is an experience.

That being said, the only true way to experience The Rocky Horror Picture Show is at a midnight screening, complete with a bag of props and a costume. Unfortunately, I have never been privileged enough to live near a theater that still gives midnight showings, and so, have only been able to watch the film under less exciting circumstances. This has only lead me to be more resolved to one day attend a midnight showing and to fully experience this movie as it is now meant to be.

Now, I'm sure for a lot of people, the idea of dressing up rather exoticly (?) and bringing along a bunch of random objects to a movie does not seem like their primary idea of fun. For those of you to whom it does, have at 'er and find the nearest screening. For those of you less inclined, there is nothing wrong with watching it at home first, and then deciding to make your way to a midnight viewing. My first time viewing TRHPS was sometime around the age of 14 or 15, and I remember putting it on the television with the same feeling you get as a child when you put on a horror movie you know you aren't supposed to watch. As far as I can tell, watching Tim Curry dancing around in drag did not scar me as a child.

It's just a jump to the left. and then a step to the riighhtt.

I think it might be impossible for anyone to be unaware of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and what it is about at this point. The movie is the very definition of cult classic, but has grown so big some might argue it no longer even qualifies. Considering it is a horror musical with a group of dedicated fans who dress up attend midnight screenings 37 years later, I think it still qualifies as a cult movie, although the most successful one of all time. For those of you who don't know, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a horror comedy rock musical and an adaptation of a stageplay of the same name. The movie is a parody of B-movies, horror movies and sci-fi movies from the 40's through to the 70's. A newly engaged couple experience car trouble on a rainy night and seek assistance from a nearby castle. There they encounter Dr. Frank-N-Furter who offers them more than they can handle as he creates his own perfect man and his Transylvanian quests dance the Timewarp.

 Even if you have never seen the movie, there is no chance that you have not heard any of the songs from the movie. You should note that my inspiration for rewatching TRHPS again was watching Repo! The Genetic Opera a couple of nights before which, as a rock opera, put me in the mood for this. Watching the two did confirm for me that while a rock opera has no dialogue beyond singing, a rock musical like TRHPS simply bursts into songs about certain topics every so often. There is still plenty of dialogue, but I don't think anyone ever remembers it in comparison to the musical numbers. My favourites include the opening; Science Fiction/Double Feature, Time Warp, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me, and Eddie. Which happen to be the most catchy songs in the movie. All of the songs are accompanied with impressive choreography, or at least, I assume so, knowing nothing of dancing.

The guy from wardrobe might have felt cheated with everyone just wearing their underwear.

  When it comes to the plot, The Rocky Horror Picture Show just gets progressively weirder and weirder and will continue to top itself right to the very end. It starts out parodying old style Universal and Hammer horror films, mainly Frankenstein. Why is it always Frankenstein? Eitherway, we get Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Rocky his monster, Riff Raff and the rest. There is also a hint of Dracula with all the Transvestite Transylvania references. Although, by the end we will learn that it wasn't the Transylvania we were all thinking of as the movie then begins to spoof sci-fi horror movie classics. Overall, the movie mimics some of the styles and imagery from those movies whilst also throwing in it's own cross dressing flare on top.

While the plot might not be TRHPS's strongest point, it is by no means not entertaining. I think the best part of the movie is all of the characters and the casts great performances. Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick do a great job as are heroine and hero, although the later shouldn't consider singing as a long term thing. Tim Curry is the obvious standout as the transvestite scientist, throwing himself entirely into the role. One of my favourites is Columbia, played by Nell Campbell as well as the appearance by Meatloaf as Eddie. The rest of the cast also does a great job, and is actually surprisingly big. As always, some of them went somewhere and some of them didn't but no one is going to forget them after this movie anyway.

Imagine if they had a bedazzler.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is not a movie that anyone will ever forget. It has been playing once a week in a theater in Germany since it was released and plays in other theaters around the world still today. Every movie theater and drive-in worth it's salt should play The Rocky Horror Picture Show at least once a year, and it is only the large commercial chains that never play anything old that don't play this cult favourite. I really wish I had a more independent movie theater near me where I could see this. Also, to ensure this movie is never forgotten it has been added to the National Film Archive, where it can be safely stored until society reforms centuries later and thinks, "What the hell was the world like in 1975?" But hey, at least they will have clear directions on how to do the timewarp. Overall it is simple. If you haven't seen this movie, then do so.

Link:
The Rocky Horror Picture Show IMDb