WRITING

 I have chosen to review The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), directed by Jim Sharman. This musical horror’s cast includes Tim Curry as Dr Frank N. Furter and Susan Sarandon as Janet Weiss, as well as starring musician Meatloaf as Eddie. The film tells the tale of a naive couple- Brad and Janet, who are taken in by Dr Frank N Furter (a mad scientist) and his oddball family/guests when their car is stranded in the middle of nowhere. After that the plot is kind of nonsensical and chaotic with many weird and sexual themes.  As told by the DVD’s back cover it is ‘an “erotic nightmare beyond any measure”’. 

The film tells its story in a rather chaotic way, a way in which at points you could be led to confusion but that I feel is what makes it such a good cult classic. At first the release of the film was deemed not all too popular, that was until people went to midnight showings dressed as their favourite characters. Inevitably creating a tradition and immersive live theatre displays/ experiences. This means it engages the audience in ways no other normal film does.

The musical side of the film has many now popular songs such as ‘The Time Warp’. As in Pop Music movies The Rocky Horror Picture Show stars an already singer, having a go at acting albeit in a singing role- Meatloaf as Eddie, one of the Dr’s weird friends.

I find it interesting that the character Riff Raff is played by Richard O’Brien, who also wrote the original musical as well as co-producing this film. This meant he could probably really see his vision come to life on the big screen. The influences have come from sci fi movies in the 1930s to 1960s which you can see in some of the visuals like laser beams bouncing around.

Throughout this film you see glorious costumes and a vast colour palette, as well as costume changes. Also, versions of different famous paintings appear in the background such as the mona lisa and there are often two characters in the background seemingly recreating the American Gothic painting by Grant Wood. The earliest example of this is when Janet and Barry burst into song at the very beginning and we see a man and a woman holding a pitchfork in front of a chapel door. Then recurring multiple times throughout, creating a big importance in the final few scenes with Riff Raff and Magenta portraying these characters. 

I feel like this film has definitely fulfilled its purpose as it’s the film with the longest ever theatrical release- with it still in cinemas somewhere even now. Most even create interactive and immersive performances. I also thoroughly enjoyed this film and the outrageousness of it is what makes it so rewatchable. I can definitely understand why it's become such the cult classic it is and I genuinely believe that it will still be popular and relevant in decades to come.