The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Quivering with antici... 

So I should probably say this up top to make things as clear as possible. I can't watch horror movies. I straight up can't handle them. You scare me once and i'm jumping at my own shadow and being convinced my desk chair is coming to kill me in the dark. So when it's Halloween, what is man to do to enjoy the spooky atmosphere aside from look at skeleton memes? In my case, it's usually watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I means whats more disturbing than Tim Curry in drag or Barry Bostwick in his tighty-whiteys? The answer is both of them in drag.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a masterpiece of cult cinema. It is a literal textbook example, with the midnight showing traditions setting the standard for all that came after. You can draw a straight line from people throwing toast in the air to the plastic spoon lobbing of The Room. Based on the stage musical The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O'Brian (who also wrote the screenplay with director Jim Sharmen) The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a musical love letter to classic Sci-Fi and horror movies of the sixties and seventies as well as an assault on everything you might consider “decent” or “proper” about musicals. Nudity, sexuality, cannibalism, Tim Curry's unnerving ability to walk and dance in a corset, this film takes a look at movie like Carousel and tap dances the other way at high speed.

Not a second goes by without someone stealing the screen, but it's almost always Tim Curry's Dr Frank N. Furter, who take command of every scene he's in and gives 100% on every line, twist and high-kick. And the rest of the cast all delight in hamming it up as much as humanly possible. And just when you think it can't get any better, a half lobotomised Meatloaf rides around on a chopper with a saxophone. The plot doesn't even matter, and it changes direction every couple of minutes but its just so joyous and heartfelt that only the most cold hearted film snobs won't enjoy it.

This film has become far more important and influential than anyone really expected it to. Aside from having some of the best documented and longest running cult film practices, it's almost always having a midnight showing somewhere in the world. Not only that, but the film has become something of a beacon for LGBT+ film fans to rally to and connect. A bisexual mad scientist in heels and suspenders on screen has a funny way of letting people feel free to express themselves, and whilst I watched this movie in jeans and a shirt, I can imagine it must feel quite liberating for gay audiences to watch in costume.

What can I say except this film is brilliant fun? It pays homage to the weird old sci-fi and horror that I find completely adore, its one of the two maybe five musicals I can actually tolerate and its also one of the Halloween staples that I can watch without waking in terror. You should absolutely watch this, either at home or in your local flea pit cinema. Just try and dress warm if you feel so inclined.

...Pation