RockyHorrorPictureShow

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Well I’m at a loss here. How do I write a review about a movie like the Rocky Horror Picture Show? I mean everyone has either seen or heard of this one by now. It is one of the most famous midnight movies, having been shown in theaters since it came out in 1975. But I did get the new Blu-Ray for review, so lets get to it.

Our main characters Brad and Janet have just gotten engaged after attending a wedding. They head off to tell their friend and mentor Dr. Scott, but have a flat tire on the way. This forces them to stop and take shelter in a nearby castle where an unusual party is taking place. All sorts of silliness occurs as Frank-N-Furter raises his latest creation, Brad and Janet are corrupted, a zombie rock and roller pops out of the freezer, a big secret about Frank-N-Furter is revealed, and many musical numbers are sung.

It seems like most people either love the Rocky Horror Picture Show or hate it. I personally love the movie. There is always something entertaining happening on the screen (and off if you head out to a midnight screening) that will keep your attention. From the references to the classic horror films that fill the dialogue to the oddball characters I get sucked in every time I watch the movie. Many fans consider the movie to just be a silly good time, and it is. But I don’t think that enough credit is given to the writing. This is an absurd movie filled with over the top characters that somehow still manages to relate to the audience in a weird way. Fans of Rocky Horror all seem to relate or identify with one character or another, which might be how and why the audience participation is so popular.

Another reason the movie is so popular some 35 years after it was released is the music. And yes if you haven’t figured out yet the Rocky Horror Picture Show is a musical (probably the 1st I’ve reviewed for the site) and a damn good one. I challenge anyone to actually sit thru the movie and not have their toe tapping and/or head bobbing along to the music. I also think that the choreography of the dance numbers that go along with the music fit perfectly with the energy that the songs bring to the screen. No matter how great the music is the movie would not have worked without the visuals.

For this review I watched the new Blu-Ray edition that came out for the movie’s 35th anniversary. There are some fun special features on the disc including some audience participation stuff to recreate the theater experience and a nice commentary track with the writer Richard O'Brien. One of my favorite things about the disc is the interviews with the fans that came out to audition for the audience participation component of the disc. If you are a fan of the movie then you really need to pick up this Blu-Ray.

Now having said that I do need to point out that you really haven’t ever seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show until you have seen it in a theater with an audience. I can’t think of another movie that has this kind of community feeling to it. But until you can drag yourself out (heh drag get it?) to the theater the Blu-Ray is the way to go.

3 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer