Tags:
Film: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Year: 1975
Director: Jim Sharman
Writer: Jim Sharman and Richard O’Brien
Starring: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick
Review:
Now this film is one that I’m biased about. My father introduced me to this at a young age and he was a huge fan. This is a film that I come back to every so often and even though I can see its flaws, it still hold a special place for me. So much so that I put on the music with my wife and daughter, even getting Jaime to finally watch this with me.
Synopsis: a newly engaged couple has a breakdown in an isolated area and must make a call to the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry).
After the credits where we get one of my favorite songs, Science Fiction Double Feature, we start off at a wedding between Ralph Hapschatt (Jeremy Newson) and Betty Munroe (Hilary Farr). Attending this are Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon), who are your typical mid-west couple that are boring. Brad proposes after the ceremony so they decide to go tell a former teacher of theirs. They get lost in the rain and end up at the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter.
This isn’t a film that you need to come in and look at logically. For one thing, it seems to take place in Ohio, as Janet in the car is reading a newspaper called the Plain Dealer. I used to live in Cleveland and know that is the name of one of their newspapers. I find it odd that a castle would be in the middle of nowhere Ohio without it being talked about. This isn’t all that important but wanted to point that out.
At its core, this film is just a version of Frankenstein. Dr. Frank-N-Furter is your Dr. Frankenstein. He is throwing this party to unveil his creation. He has named it Rocky Horror (Peter Hinwood), hence the title of the film. There is a secret about this doctor, which brings the teacher our couple was looking for to the castle as well, Dr. Everett V. Scott (Jonathan Adams). It is revealed that he is originally from Germany, but the way he talks, I’m surprised it was a ‘secret’. There are also aliens in the film, it plays on the science fiction troupes that it references in the beginning song.
The biggest thing for me in this film is really the underlying message of the film. We have two types of people. There is Dr. Frank-N-Furter along with his two assistants, Riff Raff (Richard O’Brien) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn), embody the concept of free love. They will sleep with whomever. During their time here, they have seduced Columbia (Nell Campbell) who also now lives there and helps. Later, we meet Eddie (Meat Loaf) who is hanging around as well.
On the other side, you have Brad and Janet. They have not tasted the forbidden fruits yet and are ‘square’. When they come to the castle, they are at once seduced by Dr. Frank-N-Furter. I think this film has a message of its bad to give into absolute pleasure, but it is also bad to deprive yourself completely as well. There needs to be moderation in what you do.
The film is also paced well in my opinion. It gets right into it and then moves along at a good pace. Now this film isn’t horror in the sense that it is scary. It has elements and ingredients, just not the tone. We get introduced to everyone in interesting ways and it moves through to the end very well. I liked the ending and the reveal that we get. What makes this work is that it gets to each musical number quickly.
Being that this is a musical, the acting in this film isn’t strong, but it also doesn’t have to be. They need to be able to sing. Regardless of his singing, I love Curry in this film. He is a better man than I to appear in the outfits that he does. His singing is just a bonus. Sarandon and Bostwick were both good at bringing their characters to life. I didn’t realize that Bostwick did plays in the past so upon seeing that, this makes sense. I also didn’t know Sarandon could sing. O’Brien kills it as well. Not surprising since he wrote the stage play and helped with the screenplay, it makes sense. I also liked Quinn and Campbell. I had a big crush on both growing up. The rest of the cast round it out well with a shout-out to Meat Loaf, who I believe got his role for doing the original stage play.
The effects of this film are cheesy, but that goes back to paying homage to the sci-fi films of the 1950’s. We get lasers that look fake and there is also the creation of Rocky. This doesn’t bother me as it adds to the charm. The cinematography is good. It has a music video feel, which makes sense. I can see how this became a midnight movie. The characters break the fourth wall and I’m not bothered by it. It does make sense since the criminologist, Charles Gray, is recounting the events to the viewer.
The best part of this is the soundtrack. The songs I have in rotation for Spotify. I get looks when someone has never been in my car and one of them comes on. I’m not ashamed to admit this and I love the score. The story was built around it as the play came first, so I think that it fits.
In conclusion, if you’ve never seen this then I recommend everyone experience it once. I know that it’s not for everyone. It is an acquired taste. I would say that it is better to see it with a crowd and interact with it. The story is a take on Frankenstein, except for the reason why the creature is being made. I do think there are relevant underlying themes and issues. The acting fits for what they needed. It is paced well and doesn’t outstay its welcome. The effects are cheesy, but it is paying homage to films of the past. I would say that it is just well made with the soundtrack is one of the best. As I said, this film isn’t for everyone, but it is a good time.
My Rating: 8.5 out of 10