The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) User Reviews (645)

The...

[Gutza · 8/10 · 7 April 2006]

... quintessential pre-pop outrageous pop art rock opera freak show comedic hall of weirdos with a pumped-up 70s fragrance and sexual innuendo slide-show of parodic impossible-to-predict sci-fi implausible kind of impossibly over the top horror-meets-fantasy in a grotesquely but quite voluntary way of ridiculous and out-of-worldly piece of contemporary art-hinting quasy-minimalist semi-theatrical interpretation of an intentionally petty pulp-like quite erotic and kaleidoscopic, surprisingly accurate in trend prediction movie.

Quite remarkable.

{Note to editors (this should be removed from the posted comment): I'm aware I'm risking my free account with this post, and I could've easily refrained from posting it at all; I do however feel the "review" above is appropriately styled for The Rocky Horror Picture Show. And yes, I also typically hate such "original" adjective lists. But this is no typical movie. Please just dump my review if you don't think it's a good idea after all. Regardless of your decision, thank you for reading this!}

Better To Watch At Home!

[Gazzer-2 · 8/10 · 2 March 2001]

A squeaky-clean young couple, Brad & Janet (Barry Bostwick & Susan Sarandon), get a flat tire on a late rainy night, and decide to stop off at a nearby castle to use the residents' phone and call for help. What they don't realise is that these are no ordinary residents: Dr. Frank N Furter (Tim Curry), with assistance from his servants Riff Raff (Richard O'Brien), Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and their ragtag bunch of fellow Transylvanians, has his own diabolical plans for the evening, set against a kick-butt rock 'n' roll music score....

Call me a twisted "Rocky Horror" fan, but I actually prefer to watch this cult classic movie-musical in the comfort of my own home, rather than going out to one of those midnight theatrical screenings that have made this 1975 film so popular. Oh, I'm sure there's great fun to be had at a midnight showing, but the fact is, you're not going to see or hear very much of the movie itself, what with the audience shouting & throwing stuff at the screen literally every two seconds (think of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" on speed), as well as the live cast performing in front of the movie screen! If you want to really *see and hear* "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" as you would any other film, watch it on video first. Then, when you've got the movie firmly etched in your head, head out to the theater. But NOT before!

Having said that, this movie version of the hit stage musical written by Richard O'Brien (Riff Raff himself), is a ton of great, naughty fun. It wonderfully sends up B-movie sci-fi/horror flicks, with a playful, healthy dose of blatant sexual innuendo thrown in for good measure. Classic, memorable rock 'n' roll tunes written by O'Brien throughout, including "The Time Warp," "Sweet Transvestite," "Hot Patootie"....the list goes on and on. And, of course, you have a spectacular cast, led by Tim Curry, who IS the larger-than-life Dr. Frank N Furter, and a young, attractive Susan Sarandon, who simply lights up the screen as Janet. But everyone else, including Barry Bostwick, Meatloaf, Little Nell, Patricia Quinn, and Charles Gray all make excellent contributons, too.

I love "The Rocky Horror Picture Show": it's very funny, sexy, and brilliantly performed, with great rock 'n' roll music t'boot. But I, personally, still prefer to watch it at home, where I can see the film in peace & quiet without being yelled in my ear, getting soaked, or having rice & toast tossed all around me!

'Foreigners with ways different to our own'...

[Xstal · 8/10 · 26 October 2020]

Dissect, disassemble and reassemble to your hearts content, conjure any number of meanings and misinterpretations, then rewind, warp back in time, remove head from derriere and wallow in this absolute pleasure again and again and again.

"Don't dream it, be it!"

[nick-96 · 10/10 · 18 October 1998]

As an 18 y/o stranded in a small, bible belt town in the sticks of Missouri, I would drive 120 miles every two weeks to St. Louis to the Varsity Theater to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show during the early 80's. For me, it was a chance to live, to breathe free, as anything went; there was no need to conform to any narrow minded conventions, as I felt I had to survive at home. The first time I witnessed Tim Curry flinging open his cape, proudly proclaiming "I'm just a sweet transvestite, from Transsexual Transylvania," I knew I'd found a place to be myself. Even now, some 18 years later, that sight still gives me a thrill. Sure, the plot is ridiculous (on second thought, it had more to offer than 80 percent of the crap coming out of Hollywood then and now) and it is loaded with technical flaws. Still, I consider it the greatest film of all time. How many films draw a crowd of regulars weekly, create a sense of community, especially for people who, more than likely, felt as if they were not a part of any community, as I felt? Over the years, I've seen the film 64 times, and when I'm 80 I plan on getting up on my arthritic legs and doing the "Time Warp."

Morals: Why I love this film

[kleiner_fuchs · 25 August 2007]

I admit I'm too lazy to read through all the reviews here and see if I'm the only one who loves this classic not only for its music, its cast and costumes, or its insane collection of cinematic references. Just in case I'm the only one, I post this comment to perhaps give you a new view to this wonderful film.

Under all its noise and gaudiness, I think the RHPS is profound, touching and tragic.

A German critic (sympathetic to the film) called it "utterly immoral". This is ridiculous, as the RHPS is one of the most deeply moral films of all times.

Why do Brad and Janet let themselves so easily be seduced by Frank N'Furter? Because they never spent a thought on the rules they want to live by. They think, you don't have sex before marriage because that's just the way how decent people should live. Obviously no one has told them that there could be a real understandable REASON for living this way. They have no clue. Trying to live by a moral without understanding the foundation of this moral must lead to tragedy.

Frank N'Furter is a fascinating figure, one of the most memorable villains in cinematic history. There can be no doubt that what he does, to Brad, to Janet, to Rocky, to Eddie, is not only rude, but evil. Not before the "Floor Show" at the end we get a glimpse at the human core in this monster. There he sings about how he wanted to be dressed like Fay Wray when he saw her in "King Kong". I suspect that he not only wanted to be dressed like her, he wanted to BE her -- a longing that could not be fulfilled. Wearing women's clothes tragically didn't made him an angelic figure like Fay Wray, it made him a freak. And it seems to me that all he wanted in the first place was to be loved and be accepted for what he was. When he sings "I'm going home" and imagines an audience, this audience doesn't consist of weirdos like the Transsylvanians who are present when Frank is introduced into the film. Instead they are ordinary old people who friendly applaud his performance. Frank makes you think about how unfulfillable desires can torture people and make them outsiders. I don't think Frank wanted to be an outsider.

For me, the most beautiful scene is when they sing "Don't dream it, be it" in the pool. The other four people in the pool are dressed like Frank; there are no boundaries any more, no distinction between the sexes, no gravity. This is pure bliss, the single truly utopian moment of the RHPS. Makes you want to believe that it could really be possible to be in love with the whole world, caress and be caressed back, without jealousy and pain, beyond time and space, beyond good and evil. Not even Dr. Scott can resist (great performance in his monologue, magnificent actor!).

But is this more than a dream? Could it be real? The scene could go on for ever, I wish it would, but it is short and is abruptly ended by Frank himself when he jumps out of the water and starts singing "Wild and untamed thing". Why? Doesn't he trust his own utopia? Earlier in the film, we have seen how Janet imagines different people replacing the face of her lover, Rocky, during her orgasm. This is basically the same utopia, but here the way it is presented doesn't make it look very tempting, but bizarre and disturbing. I suspect this scene is closer to our reality outside of the cinema, outside of our dreams: When you love with your body but not with your soul all you can hope for is a moment of frantic pleasure, but no real fulfillment.

The ending of the RHPS cannot be mistaken in its moral. Brad and Janet spell it out when they sing the sad last song "Super Heroes". What is left for them from the big party? Nothing but pain and disillusion. They have not been loved, they have been used, and now they are scarred for life. This is not a happy ending.

The epilogue by the narrator is very pessimistic. But are we really "insects", crawling on this earth, without hope, without meaning? I don't think so. We could decide to live a different life. A life without deliberately or thoughtlessly hurting other people. Respecting and accepting other people for what they are. Living not by an empty moral, but by a real one, with love and compassion.

A gem of a musical that started as a smash play in London, then scored a phenomenal success on the midnight "cult movie" circuit

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 7/10 · 7 October 2008]

A middle-class young couple, motoring in the country on their wedding night, have car trouble in front of a huge mansion… Wanting to use the phone, the two approach the house and go in just as its master, Dr. Frank N. Furter, is leading an experiment… His newly made creature, the body-beautiful Rocky, is ready to be unveiled, and the innocent couple is caught up in this strange household filled with the doctor's campy, exotically dressed admirers… Both the wife and the husband are seduced by this garter-belted "scientist."

The film's first half is fast and funny, with virtually every song a memorable one… But the second half tries to do too much and the film loses much of its potency… Nevertheless, the adorable characters make this a delightful entertainment

Best cult movie ever!

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 6 February 2009]

I have this on VHS, and it is one of my all time guilty pleasures. It has a great cast, a catchy music score and unforgettable satire on monster movies, like Frankenstein. If you haven't seen it already, give yourself a treat! I will warn you though, it is extremely silly at times, but that is all part of the fun. And I seriously don't care whether it's poorly made or not and I don't think so personally, all that matters is that it's entertaining, and that is what exactly RHPS is. The cast is wonderful. Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick do a great job as Brad and Janet, although I didn't know they could sing, which really surprised me. Richard O'Brien is solid as Riff Raff and he also wrote the songs. Also solid are Patricia Quinn and Peter Hinwood. The best performance, however, comes from Hollywood's most underrated actor, Tim Curry, who I must say looks hot in fishnets and heels. He has a great singing voice, that is always overlooked. FrankNFurter is a landmark performance, but Tim Curry has also done other great films such as Clue, Legend,Muppets Treasure Island, Blue Money and It. (which has his career-best performance by a mile.) Voiceovers include Captain Hook, Slagar, Hexxus, Drake, Forte, Von Talon and the Mouse King. The songs are so catchy, especially "Time Warp" and "Sweet transvestite" that I actually wanted to dance to the music, but I am a novice at dancing. The complaint about this movie, which is undoubtedly the best cult movie ever, no matter how many times it's been imitated, is the song "Science fiction" which is not in the same league as the more uplifting songs. Still I am happy, and lets do the time warp again! 9.5/10. Bethany Cox.

A Theatre must see

[Bob__Loblaw · 7/10 · 6 August 1999]

The first time I saw this was in L.A. It was at midnight, and the theater was filled with patrons who were dressed in the various characters costumes from the movie. Inside the theater we experienced more fun with the sale of "Virgins". The sale refers to new viewers to Rocky Horror Picture Show. When the movie started there were people in the front next to the screen acting alongside. People in the audience were yelling back in unison to the actors dialogue on the screen. Water, toast, rice and various other inanimate items were used to enhance the experience of the movie. The people with me were laughing as hard as I was through all the stuff going on. I loved it. I had seen it a few more times at various midnight shows throughout the years. Most of the time it was wonderful. But when I saw it at home a year ago I did not have that same feeling, I saw it for the first time with out all the outside enhancements. I finally realized that the movie was really not that good, It had some good songs and some funny characters, but the movie is not that great. It is simple and sometimes almost moronic. In all, This movie MUST be seen with all the extra enhancements to really enjoy it. In the right movie theater, It is a 10. At home it is around a 5.5.

This one passes the vibe check.

[Dominic_25_ · 9/10 · 13 October 2022]

Some movies are just meant to be felt.

The status of this film as a beacon for sexual identity and deviancy speaks for itself. I am glad this film exists and exudes charisma for the sexually repressed to feel seen.

Other than that I really like how much this film loves other films. It's countless references and homages to previous horror films and studios are neat.

As with many musicals that have roots to stage production, you get the feeling that a little bit of magic is lost by just watching this on a TV at home and not experiencing the production of it.

Really glad I got around to watching this cult classic. I now understand why this film is so iconic.

Favorite musical

[aleksanderk-95350 · 6/10 · 4 July 2021]

Very unique film that covers a lot of genres. Mainly a musical, but also has bits of comedy, horror, and sci fi. Tim Curry is the stand out in this film. He kills it in every scene creating this fascinating character. All the singing is fantastic and enjoyable.

If you ever want to torture me, make me watch this again

[Muffin-4 · 1/10 · 28 January 2001]

This is the most supremely awful film I have ever witnessed in my life. The image of Tim Curry looking like he just stepped out of the Mardi Gras is going to haunt me for the rest of my life. I feel violated.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a straight-down-the-middle kind of film goer. I love cult films. I love quirky films. Some people have mentioned Being John Malkovich as a film which is comparable in its weirdness. I loved that movie! But I DO NOT like this.

I have no problem with people being gay, bi, transexual, or transvestite - I don't care if someone is a lesbian vampire who enjoys bondage with camels. It still won't change the fact that this is the most disturbingly hideous and unpleasant film I've ever seen. There was not a single scene in this movie that did not resemble a drug-induced experience. I wept with tears of pain from start to finish. How this movie became a cult classic I will never know.

The Mother of All Cult Films

[mercuryix-1 · 10/10 · 14 September 2005]

Or I should say, the Sweet Transvestite of all cult films!

To those who haven't seen Rocky Horror, don't bother reading reviews about it. It won't mean anything. Don't rent it on DVD which it recently came out on. It also won't mean anything, because it's missing the thing that gave it and the stage play that preceded it life... the audience. By definition, a cult film is meant to be seen by a group. Preferably, a large one.

I saw Rocky Horror 20-something years ago, and wound up playing "Brad" with the players next to the stage. Something I would normally never do. Why? The show's energy sucked me in. More accurately, the audience's energy sucked me in.

The show, with a revved-up audience, is almost like a dialogue between the movie and the people watching it. It celebrates sex, hedonism, even while playing out the danger, violence, and tragedy it can result in. It allows the audience of mostly young kids to exude and rejoice in their sexuality, whatever it is. And without ever taking their clothes off. I think that is the real appeal of the show. There's a joyousness, and a strange innocence, in throwing raunchy comments at the screen, watching the live performers on-stage act out the scenes in racy costumes, and sharing the energy anonymously in the dark with strangers.

The live show with the original actors must have been electrifying. Plays always have more energy than films because of the immediacy of the live actors, and the energy must have been even more intense. I'll always regret not having the chance to have seen it.

The movie itself has been described too many times for me to give a synopsis. I will however say that it is really a collage of feelings, ranging from fear, trepidation, excitement, lust, joyous sexual fulfillment, more lust, tragedy, and a strange sadness at the end. Basically, all the emotions that make life worth living, in an hour and a half. However, the visceral enjoyment of this film, and the emotions it brings, will only be experienced with a large, highly energized audience. If you get a chance, and if you can get your reserved ego out of the way, go to a midnight showing in your area when you know there's going to be a big showing. Don't go expecting a logical, coherent storyline. Its about experience, not narrative. You'll get an experience that you've been missing your whole life. At the end, there is a message here, hidden under all the seemingly blissful hedonism. It takes a long time for it to become clear, however.

I wonder if O'Brian, its creator, was clever enough to have put it there all along?

By the way, there is no nudity or actual sex in the entire movie. For a movie with its reputation, that's pretty amazing. Compared to the slasher/gore fests passing themselves off as film these days, the movie is strangely quaint and innocent. But then, that's what true enjoyment of sensuality should be.

For a cult film, 10 out of 10 stars. It doesn't get any better than this as cult films go.

An LGBT cult item

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 9 October 2015]

Before finally watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show to review I asked a young friend who was visiting me what he thought of it. I offered to give him the DVD when I was finished with it. He said fine, but he thought that The Rocky Horror Picture Show was better as a stage show. God only knows it's revived often enough and has been taken to heart as a cult item with shows in just about every where there's a visible LGBT community. In fact I know at least one person who in Toronto every year plays Dr. Frank N. Furter in a production.

The three leads in fact saw their breakout performances in this science fiction parody which takes its plot partly from the Frankenstein story and from the Island of Dr. Moreau. Having Mary Shelley and H.G. Wells as inspiration gives you a good start.

Young couple Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon get themselves lost and wind up at the home of mad cross dressing scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter played by Tim Curry. If you've seen both those classic films than you have some idea of the story line.

I'll say this if Dr. Frankenstein was gay Peter Hinwood would be exactly what he would dream up for an artificially created man. Whatever happened to him?

The musical numbers performed stylishly by drag performers are staged well. And certainly the pyrotechnics are probably better seen in a live production.

So I guess I'll have to take my friend's comment and judge that for myself.

Probably the worst movie I've ever seen

[MatrixFn · 1/10 · 28 February 2000]

Why anyone would want to waste a couple of hours of their life watching this dribble is beyond me. The plot is stupid and the promised humor is nonexistent. Susan Sarandon must be embarrassed to have been part of such utter crap.

As if the movie wasn't bad enough, the audience participation makes the film absolutely unbearable. I left the theater with a huge headache from all the incomprehensible yelling.

A must miss to be sure, 0/10!

A young naive couple experience a modern Frankenstein.

[taysurfs · 10/10 · 16 September 2005]

Those who gave this gem a low score - Please! Crawl back in your cardboard life and stay there! This film bubbles with zest, wit, subtle humor, raw humor, strange scenes, great songs and a huge host of memorable characters. Most of the characters are drawn as sharply as if a straight razor...well, not straight...as if a razor had been used. Not intended for the super straight part of our culture, which is why it usually plays at midnight shows, but you'll notice that it's been playing steadily for 30 years now, especially along the American coasts, which is a better record that almost anything else you can think of (excluding Gome With The Wind in Atlanta, a single town). I even took my mother to one of the 15 or so theater viewings I've attended. She thought the dressed up audience was a little strange, but she found out why they were so enthusiastic and quite liked the show. It's just a time slip....

Let's do The Time Warp Again!

[Adriane · 17 August 1999]

Oh, come on admit it: we all love this movie and have gone to see it in the theatre. I have only seen it live once, but it was something that I won't soon forget. I still love watching it at home and practice the singing! Tim Curry, Susan and Barry are all hilarious, and the songs will be forever imbedded into your brain. "Damn it Janet, I love you."

Simply bizarre

[charchuk · 7/10 · 28 October 2007]

It's really hard to judge and grade a film like this, not only because the version I saw is a midnight showing with people in costumes, acting out the film, yelling stuff out at every moment of silence (and occasionally during the dialogue), and throwing stuff at the screen, but also because the film is so bizarre. The plot is a strange mish-mash of horror, sci-fi, comedy, and gay musical, and it doesn't always fit together. In particular, the alien stuff at the end has always been one step too far for me. The songs are good for the most part, except for the ones at the end. So really, I like everything about this film up until about the dinner scene, and then it's all downhill from there. But the stuff leading up to that is wildly imaginative, brilliantly hilarious, and a complete riot. But I've still never watched the whole thing at home.

dammit Janet!

[didi-5 · 9/10 · 19 October 2003]

Moving on from the riotous cult stage show which was born in a small studio theatre in the early 70s, this movie version is a well-cast, outrageous romp showcasing the absurdity and sci-fi obsession of Richard O'Brien's inventive musical.

The small cast - the wonderful Tim Curry as Frank 'n Furter (the sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania'); Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon as the odd science students Brad and Janet; Patricia Quinn as Magenta ('a domestic'); Little Nell as Columbia ('a groupie'), Jonathan Adams as Dr Scott; Meat Loaf as Eddie; Richard O'Brien himself as the handyman Riff Raff; Peter Hinwood as the muscle man Rocky, created by Frank in a spoof on Frankenstein; and Charles Gray having a great time as the Criminologist - are all really good, and the songs are terrific, from the madness of 'The Timewarp' and 'Sweet Transvestite', to the ethereal 'There's a Light' and 'I'm Going Home', by way of the rocky 'Whatever Happened To Saturday Night?' and the film-reference heavy 'Science Fiction Double Feature'.

Great, great fun and the floor show sequence in particular, showcasing Frank's obsession with Fay Wray and the RKO cheapies, is exceptional, with its statues in basques and its huge swimming pool. Trash, yes, but classy trash, and most enjoyable.

Revolution

[rwncopeland · 7/10 · 27 November 2020]

Went into this thinking it was a horror film and I definitely had a shock. The film holds a very special meaning, which in 1975 wouldn't have been accepted, you could say it's revolution. It was something that people could watch and feel accepted and then express themselves. I've got to say though, the story was really crazy, like if I was to explain it you'd think I was joking.

You could tell it was very cheap, but I was surprised to see some really interesting shots that were very experimental, in fact there was a lot of technical aspects that were very experimental. I thought it was really cool how the narrator was telling the story directly to us, breaking the fourth wall. The music was really fun, and I'm glad I finally got to see the "Time Warp" song. I didn't even know it was in this film, so I had a lot of surprises in this viewing.

Definitely go into this knowing nothing like how I did thinking it was a horror.

You'd better believe that Susan Sarandon can sing!

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 23 September 2005]

Well, everybody knows that "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is probably the ultimate cult classic; at this point, "RHPS" isn't even really a cult movie anymore, due to its prominence. The plot (or whatever it is) of course has Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) and Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) going to a castle run by the bizarre Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a "transvestite from transsexual Transylvania". Mostly, the movie seems like a big excuse to be weird, and they do just that to great effect. And who ever would have guessed that Susan Sarandon, now known for serious roles, could do such a cool job singing? So, was "RHPS" trying to tell us anything? Who cares? It's just so neat that you just have to sit back and enjoy. And enjoy you will, even if you think that nothing good came out of the '70s (I, for one, don't hold that opinion).

As a movie, it has some fun songs and good camp until it becomes tiresome

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 27 November 2014]

Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) are a sweet innocent newly-engaged couple. Their car gets a flat in the rain. They stop at the mansion of transvestite Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) where they meet various weird characters like Riff Raff (Richard O'Brien) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn). The Doctor creates golden boy Rocky Horror (Peter Hinwood).

There are obviously two ways to rate this movie. My first encounter with the movie is when some people put up a viewing party. I didn't know what they were talking about. It was only about 10 people but it was a lot of fun. Needless to say that most of it had nothing to do with the movie. I would give that experience a 9/10. I'm sure watching it in a midnight madness theater would be a 10/10. However that's not really the movie as much as it's the audience participation. The movie itself has some great songs. Its intended camp and craziness is quite compelling. However it wears out its welcome after about an hour. It gets tiresome as it becomes obvious that the film has nothing to offer other than being bizarre.

Straightforward review

[tavives · 5/10 · 30 October 2020]

Look, I realize the cultural significance of this movie. I have gone to midnight shows no less than 50 times. I love the events, the silliness, the costumes, the partici............PATION. It's all very enjoyable and I will probably never stop going to and joining in. If I rated it solely on that, no doubt....solid 10

BUT....

When it comes right down to it, this is really a horrible (and horribly made) movie. The script is bad, the music is bad, the story is bad, the special effects are BAD, All the "artistic" aspects of a movie are, for the most part, bad and even the moments that are good are done in such a cheap, amateurish way that it is difficult to compliment them. And no, I'm not going to concede that it is all intentional.

The acting is really bad (perhaps this part actually is intentional) with the only performance of any note being Tim Curry and that is only because he completely invests himself in it.

I also realize that we're talking 45 years ago, when it was still quite common for studios to produce crap - see Bog (1979) - but I have to ask how this ever got green-lit as a theatrical production. No, I never have seen a stage production, but I can't help but wonder why anyone would have thought it would make a good adaptation to film.

Nevertheless, that this is a culturally significant movie cannot be ignored. After 45 years of nightly midnight showings across the globe and countless home video viewings as well, its impact is incalculable. Not bad for a lousy film.

Science Fiction Double Feature!

[mdm-11 · 9/10 · 22 May 2005]

We-e-e-elcome to the Late Night Double Feature Picture Show! This Cult-Classic mixes elements of "Bride of Frankenstein" with "Forbidden Planet", "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and other classic Horror Flicks. This is a brilliantly conceived original, unsurpassed by any similar effort.

The heroes, a newly engaged young couple, are stranded with car trouble on a rainy night, looking to use the phone at the "Frankenfurter Mansion". They are in for a turbulent ride! There are some great song & dance numbers here, most noteworthy the "Time Warp" and the numbers involving "Eddie" (played by a then unknown Meatloaf). Tim Curry is delicious as the bisexual satyr-like Frankenfurter, who sees his young visitors as fair game for seduction.

The action is fast paced with one thrill after another. It's quite understandable that some fans have watched this film every Saturday at Midnight for the past 30 years. Get a bag of rice, toast, a squirt-gun, surgical gloves, etc, and have yourself a Rocky Horror Picture Show Party!

Cult Classics Does Not Mean Great

[LeonardKniffel · 6/10 · 29 April 2020]

This odd film is what has become known as a "cult classic." To understand why, you have to know that it was something of a flop when it first came out, but it got picked up at late-night screenings on college campuses and audiences started dressing up as characters in the film, throwing rice and toast at the screen during appropriate moments, talking back to the characters, and just generally turning the screening into a party. What the partying did was make hard rock, sadomasochism, and homoerotic innuendo palatable to the movie-going public. Still, knowing the great roles that were to follow, it's fun to watch the young Susan Sarandon as the innocent ingénue. ---from Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association. 2013

I didn't like it & don't understand it's reputation.

[poolandrews · 3/10 · 5 September 2008]

The Rocky Horror Picture Show starts late one stormy night as Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) & his fiancé Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) break down near Denton the small town where they live, the approach a Castle to ask for help & are invite din where they find a Transylvanian transsexual transvestite named Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) who also happens by an alien scientist & his unusual guest's & servants as Brad & Janet experience an outrageous night they will never forget...

This British American co-production was co-written & directed by Jim Sharman & after having seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show last night for the first time in a very long time I am baffled as to it's cult status & why it's so highly regarded. I suppose the main thing that stands out about The Rocky Horror Picture Show is that it is a musical & people burst out into song every so often, the biggest single problem I have with this film is that none of the songs expect the popular & somewhat catchy Time Warp number are that good. None are overly memorable or catchy, I just thought they were very dull songs that didn't inspire me at all. While something like Grease (1978) has three or four instantly recognisable songs which have worked themselves into popular culture the same cannot be said for The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The story itself is secondary to anything else but if you want to examine it there's not much here to keep one entertained, character's & plot are basic & certainly didn't do much for me. The film borrows most of it's influence & ideas from other films, just listen to that opening 'Science Fiction Double Feature' song which is littered with name-checks & references.

The film does look good with some nice colourful cinematography & some nice sets but it's merely window dressing to try & cover-up what I think is both quite a poor film & musical. The film does have a bit of energy & it's quite often rather bizarre but I am not sure that's enough to justify 100 minutes of your time. The costumes are outrageous & there's plenty of cross-dressing going on but these days it comes across as silly rather than daring or shocking.

With a fairly modest budget of about $1,200,000 the film does look nice & is well made. Shot on location & in the studio here in the UK. The acting & singing is alright but I can't bring myself to be any more positive than that.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a film with a strong cult reputation that I can't fathom out at all, what it boils down is that I didn't like it & it's as simple & straight forward as that. An acquired taste to say the least. A sequel Shock Treatment (1981) reunited the writer's, director & some of the main cast & character's.