“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a 1975 musical, comedy, and horror film written by Richard O’Brien and directed by Jim Sharman, who also co-wrote it. The film, based on O’Brien’s 1973 stage play of the same name, has become a cultural phenomenon despite initially being a box office flop upon its release.
The film stars Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Susan Sarandon as Janet, Barry Bostwick as Brad, Richard O’Brien as Riff Raff, Patricia Quinn as Magenta, Nell Campbell as Columbia, Charles Gray as the Criminologist, Peter Hinwood as Rocky Horror, and the late Meat Loaf as Eddie.
We begin as a straight-laced young couple, Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, who get stranded one rainy night when their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Seeking help, they stumble upon a mysterious castle where they are drawn into the wild world of the eccentric and flamboyant Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a self-described “sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania.”
Frank-N-Furter is hosting a party to unveil his latest creation: Rocky, a muscular, artificial man made to satisfy his desires. What begins as a simple request for assistance soon spirals into a surreal, sexually charged experience full of camp, cross-dressing, B-movie homage, and gender-bending madness.
Suddenly, they’re pulled into a lively dance party hosted by Frank’s bizarre guests. The iconic “Time Warp” is performed, featuring wild dancing and the breaking of the fourth wall.
Dramatically descending in a corset and heels, Dr. Frank-N-Furter makes his entrance. He explains his identity and sexual politics in the show-stopping number “Sweet Transvestite.” Tim Curry’s performance is electrifying – a blend of seduction, satire, and subversion.
Frank leads the couple to his lab, where he unveils Rocky Horror, a golden-skinned Adonis built for pleasure. Shortly after, Eddie, a former lover (played by Meat Loaf), breaks free from deep freeze and sings a rock-n-roll number before Frank kills him with a pickaxe.
In separate scenes, Frank seduces both Janet and Brad by impersonating their respective partners in the dark. Both give in, symbolizing their loss of innocence and sexual awakening.
Janet, now intrigued by Rocky, has a tryst with him. Meanwhile, Dr. Scott arrives looking for Eddie, his nephew. Tension escalates as Brad and Janet realize they’re in over their heads.
Frank uses a Medusa ray to turn everyone to stone. He then dresses them in drag and forces them to perform a campy musical finale on a makeshift stage inside the castle.
Riff Raff and Magenta revolt, declaring they are aliens from the planet Transsexual. They kill Frank and Columbia and announce they’re returning to their home world. The castle launches into space, leaving Brad, Janet, and Dr. Scott stunned and disoriented.
The film ends with the Narrator offering a cryptic reflection on humanity’s place in the universe. The film is noted for Tim Curry’s legendary performance, but more so for its transformation from a box office disaster to a midnight sensation in the 1970s. This trend continues to this day, with audiences dressing up for performances, using props, and shouting out callbacks. It is the one film where, quite possibly, the entire audience participates in song and dance, particularly with the song “Time Warp,” making it a truly cinematic experience.
The Other Cinema 