The Rocky Horror Picture Show (25th Anniversary Edition)

Upon its release in 1975, the film was an astounding flop. But a few devotees persuaded a New York theater to show it at midnight, and thus was born one of the ultimate cult films of all time. The songs are addictive (just try getting "The Time Warp" or "Toucha Toucha Touch Me" out of your head), the raunchiness amusing, and the plot line utterly ridiculous--in other words, this film is simply tremendous good fun. The downfall, however, is that much of the amusement is found in the audience participation that is obviously missing from a video version (viewers in theaters shout lines at the screen and use props--such as holding up newspapers and shooting water guns during the storm, and throwing rice during a wedding scene). Watched alone as a straight movie, Rocky Horror loses a tremendous amount of its charm. Yet, for those who wish to perfect their lip-synching techniques for movie theater performances or for those who want to gather a crowd around the TV at home for some good, old-fashioned, rowdy fun, this film can't be beat. --Jenny Brown

For the uninitiated, "Rocky Horror" tells the story of two clean-cut American youths, uptight Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick of "Spin City") and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon of "Dead Man Walking") whose car breaks down on a dark, deserted road in the middle of a storm--the classic beginning to many horror movies--and who seek help at a nearby castle. Castles, as Rocky fans know, don't have phones! What this castle has instead is a cross-dressing mad scientist Frank-N-Furter Tim Curry, in perhaps his finest performance), two very creepy servants, Riff-Raff (Richard O'Brien, who wrote the musical) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and various other hangers-on, including lovers Columbia (Little Nell) and biker Eddie (Meat Loaf). Brad and Janet walk in on a party celebrating the creation of Frank-N-Furter's muscle-bound boy-toy "Rocky." Bed-hopping chaos soon ensues, until the servants reveal their true identities and take control.

Punctuating this wacky plot are some of the wildest rock-musical songs ever written. In addition to the classic "Time Warp," there's O'Brien's salute to cult-classic B-movies, "Science Fiction Double Feature," Meat Loaf's "Hot Patootie," and Sarandon ode to sexual self-discovery, "Toucha Toucha Touch Me!"

So much for the "Rocky virgin" portion of the review... What makes the DVD so exceptional is the chance to experience "Rocky Horror" at home nearly like you would in the theater. The DVD has the option of turning on the audience screen comments as well as another option for viewing members of the Rocky Horror Fan Club performing select scenes before returning to the main movie. For those less familiar with audience participation, the DVD can prompt when to throw toast, toilet paper, rice, etc., light a match, put your newspaper on your head, etc.

The second disc contains fascinating interviews with cast members, where fans can find out about their reaction to starring in this cult classic. Meat Loaf's description of not realizing what "Rocky Horror" was going to be about and running out of the theater when Tim Curry entered wearing fishnet stockings, spiked heels, a merry widow, and a leather jacket and singing "Sweet Transvestite" is hysterical. Patricia Quinn talks about how her fondness for the opening song, "Science Fiction Double Feature" made her want to take the role even though she hadn't read the rest of the script. What? Don't remember Quinn singing that number? In the stage versions she did, but the song got reassigned in the film version--and Quinn makes her feelings about that QUITE clear. Sarandon makes the interesting observation that "Rocky Horror" probably kept a lot of art house theaters in business over the years, since they could count on good revenue from the midnight movie, even if the latest regular-hours offering flopped. In Bostwick's interview, however, the actor sounds a bit like William Shatner giving his anti-Trekkie diatribe on "Saturday Night Live."

The only disappointments on the DVD are that the outtakes really aren't that interesting and actor bios aren't provided. I would have liked to see what else the "minor" cast members did after Rocky, but that information is limited to a few lines in the companion booklet. Also, some of the audience-participation comments are nearly impossible to understand because fans are talking over each other. But then that's part of the modern-day theater experience. Even Sarandon noted in her interview that talking back to the screen has gone from the more unison catechism approach to a loud free-for-all.

What seemed so risqué and shocking a few decades ago seems much more innocent today, but it was great when it all began and it's still great! If you've never ventured into the theater to experience "Rocky Horror," this is the best way to experience it at home.


Hysterical, totally weird and tacky   July 6, 2000
Shelley Gammon (Kaufman, Texas USA)
110 out of 128 found this review helpful

This is a movie you either love or hate. I first heard of this movie when I saw "Fame" ... when I saw the kids in the movie watching this in the theater, it not only looked stupid, but the whole environment of people throwing things at each other in the theater seemed a little scary... and what's with all the midnight theater showings?

I finally had to find out what the big fuss was about and so I rented it on video and watched it at a friend's house. The beginning moves pretty slow, but you will soon be either taking the video back (without rewinding) to the store, or you'll be doubled over in laughter during the few minutes your jaw isn't hanging open.

Tim Curry is absolutely hilarious and perfect for his role... an outerspace Transexual from Transylvania (a planet, not the country - I think)... Dr. Frankenfurter.

Despite the slow parts here and there, the music is great and funny to boot. Where else can you see Susan Surrandon walking around in her underwear and Meatloaf riding a motorcycle with stitches all over his head like Boris Karloff? This is a cult classic, but not just because it's weird and twisted... it's also a musical and a comedy. The soundtrack is great just by itself, good beat, peppy tunes, clever (albeit not mainstream) lyrics.

If the idea of seeing a man walking around wearing lipstick and a garter belt makes you want to scream and take a bath, then this isn't the film for you... you'll feel like you need an exorcism afterwards!

If you like a good laugh, good music and a movie like you've never seen before, this is worth a shot.

After seeing this in the safety of my friend's home, I saw it a couple of years later in the theater. It was an interesting experience I can say I've been through, but that's about it... the movie is enjoyable by itself, just watching it on your tv. The closed captioning makes the DVD worth the cost immediately, so you don't miss any dialogue or lyrics... but this DVD includes hilarious out-takes, previously deleted musical numbers AND terrific THX sound!

If you are already a nostalgic fan of this film, this is a must-have DVD.

The film includes simulated violence (you see Frankenfurter swing a pick-axe at someone, later he's covered with blood).... and the themes are adult in nature and should not be viewed by children.


Not For Everyone, But Definitely for Me!   June 19, 2000
21 out of 23 found this review helpful

So maybe this isn't exactly award-winning material. So what? "Rocky Horror" isn't meant to be some uptight, emotional, stuffy piece; in fact, it goes out of its way to be just the opposite. It's a satirical piece that makes plays on corny sci-fi late night flicks, drippy musicals, and corny Frankenstein-type horror [ex. Doctor Frank N. Furter, for example?]

The movie is packed with get-up-and-dance rock tunes, overdone acting that seems just right, and a wildly ridiculous plot. Tim Curry is simply brilliant; from his authoriative-yet-plaintive cries of "Oh Rocky!" to his flashy and utterly corny performance of "Sweet Transvestite." The best scene for me is right after he transduces Janet, Brad, Doctor Scott, Rocky, and Columbia, sighing heavily, "It's not easy having fun...even smiling makes my teeth ache.." before biting his finger in melodramatic anguish. Other good performances include that of Susan Sarandon, who scores high as the naive and inexperienced yet curious Janet.

"Rocky Horror" isn't for everybody. Some may write it off as "sick" while others may view it as pointless. True, it took me a while to realize the whole point of the movie and piece together bits of the plot for myself, but this movie is all in good humor. So, to all you people out there who
a) refuse to see "Rocky" after hearing 5 or 6 people complaining about its disgusting content
b) have seen it once and, after deciding that it was "pointless," and turned the movie off immediately...

This I say to you...
"Maybe Rocky Horror isn't really to blame. So, I'll remove the cause..... But NOT the symptom!"


A Classic Among Classics ... Only Crazier   February 2, 2006
Chris Pandolfi (Los Angeles, CA)
23 out of 26 found this review helpful

If one were to ask a film critic what they consider to be the greatest movie ever made, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" would most likely not be a popular answer. If you look at this madcap rock 'n' roll musical from a purely cinematic point of view, it's easy to understand why: an amateurish attempt at a story, less than stellar performances, virtually nonexistent production values, and some of the cheapest special effects ever captured on film (even for the year 1975). When caught up in technicalities and a longing for mainstream purity, then one would have a perfectly good argument for "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" being one of the worst movies ever made.

But if one were to ask a fan of the film why they love it so much, I guarantee you that their reason has nothing to do with production values or mainstream desirability. Quite the opposite--it's a film that's shunned by most audiences. This hasn't stopped it from becoming one of the most successful cult films ever made, grossing to date over $100 million (this is over a thirty year period, mind you; it's initial release was a disaster). This is because "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is not just a motion picture. It's a pure social and cultural experience, one that has liberated numerous people labeled by society as "misfits" or "outcasts" with its message of, "Don't dream it, be it."

It's also a ritual that warrants midnight gatherings on Fridays and Saturdays dressed as one of the film's characters. The fun is enhanced through the use of props (such as rice, water pistols, and toilet paper, all of which are used on cue) as well as by the act of shouting vulgar lines back to the screen. This trend of audience participation has remained a staple in "Rocky Horror"'s successful history and only adds to its appeal. Can you imagine how uninteresting it would be to view this film in the privacy of your own home?

Above all else, it's an opportunity to have fun, allowing for (and often encouraging) the release of the party animal within us all. Only at a "Rocky Horror" showing would no one blink when seeing an audience decked out in fishnet stockings, glittering corsets, and pasty makeup plastered on their faces. Everyone is uninhibited and no one cares what others may think. What a great excuse for a year round Halloween party.

"Rocky Horror" is also about the music, with some of the most classic songs ever recorded, including the show stopping "Sweet Transvestite," the delightfully sappy "Dammit Janet," and "The Time Warp," the film's signature song (which prompts the audience to get up and dance along with it). In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the very fabric of the film's greatness depends on the music. And why not? The oddball mix of science fiction, horror, sex, and comedy just aren't enough; all that can be seen in plenty of other cult films. Give us something more, something that would leave a lasting impression on the ones who took the time to see what this movie was all about. Through music, "Rocky Horror" does that, and does that well.

Of all the performances in this film, Tim Curry as the transvestite mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter is the most memorable. His decadence and sexual overdrive hits us like a ton of bricks and never lets up. (And who really wants it to?) In the tradition of Frankenstein's Monster (who has just come out of the closet), Frank actually creates a muscle man named Rocky for the sole purpose of "relieving his tension." The Middle American, wholesome young couple Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) couldn't be more out of place in the world Frank lives in, which makes the situation they're in all the more entertaining. Things only get weirder when you throw in a houseful of servants with quirks of their own, such as hunchbacked butler, a voyeuristic maid, and a tap dancing groupie. Top that off with the film's sinfully twisted story about the night that Brad and Janet spend in Frank's castle, and you have all the ingredients for a cult classic.

Like such offbeat films as "Forbidden Zone" and "Pink Flamingos," "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is a film that is experienced, not seen. From its humble beginnings as a London stage play to the creation (and initial failure) of the movie we all know today, "Rocky Horror" has given story creator and Riff Raff portrayer Richard O'Brien a godlike status among fans. The film is pure camp from start to finish: fun, cheesy, and entertaining. Whether you've seen it 1,000 times (some have actually seen it more than that) or are seeing it for the first time (which would label you as a "virgin"), it remains to this day a very unique piece of celluloid history.

Well, what are you waiting for? Pop in the DVD. Don your garter belt, spiked heels, and party hat. Get your water pistols, newspapers, and lighters. And above all else, let's do the Time Warp again!


Let's Do The Time Warp Again!   October 29, 2002
Gary F. Taylor (Biloxi, MS USA)
14 out of 16 found this review helpful

From absolute disaster to international success, few titles have had the roller-coaster ride of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. Originally a low-budget English stage show, it exploded into mainstream popularity and became one of London's longest running musicals--but then died a quick and very painful death in New York. As an afterthought, the American company played a limited engagement in Los Angeles and once more the show was a smash hit and soon became a motion picture--which received mixed reviews and proved a box office dud. That probably would have been the end of it, but the film suddenly and unexpectedly emerged as a cult movie phenomena and ascended to international acclaim.

The story is well known. All-American Brad Majors and Janet Weiss become engaged and rush to tell their mentor, Dr. Everett Scott. But they take a wrong turn, have a flat, and suddenly find themselves captives of a bisexual transvestite from outer space who is intent on making the perfect boy-toy lover from scratch. Although the material was considerably softened for the screen, even today it remains surprisingly sharp, and the film contains numerous references to the classic Hollywood horror films that inspired it. The cast, most of whom played in the stage versions, is truly astonishing. Tim Curry was little known when the film was made, but he shows tremendous talent in the role of Dr. Frank N. Furter, the bisexual transvestite from outer space; his performance is a remarkable combination of broad farce, sensuality, and dark wit. While Curry is certainly the show's centerpiece, the rest of the cast is equally effective. Both Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon are beautifully cast as the goody-goody Brad and Janet; Richard O'Brien (who wrote the stage show), Patricia Quinn, Little Nell, and Meatloaf all give memorable turns as the mad doctor's bizarre associates; and character actors Johnathan Adams and Charles Gray offer considerable drop-dead wit in supporting roles. Only Peter Hinwood seems out of his league, selected more for looks than talent--but strange to say, this actually works in the context of the film.

If you've only seen this film at an audience-participation showing, you're in for a surprise: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is wickedly funny, something you're likely to miss when every one in the audience is screaming at the screen. Although the material was toned down for the movie--song sequences were rearranged, lyrics rewritten, and script and characters softened--the whole thing still has plenty of bite. The story, of course, is intrinsically subversive; the script has a uniquely British sensibility; and the songs are catchy, bouncy, and frequently have lyrics that are very clever in an underhanded sort of way. This double DVD release offers two versions of the film: the American release and the British, the latter of which is slightly different and includes the song "Superheroes." It also includes a version that offers "prompts" for audience participation and a version that shows the audience in action. There are also a mixed bag of videos, interviews, and the like. I was not greatly impressed with the bonus package--it seemed to me that it was all pretty obvious stuff--but most fans will find something to enjoy. Whatever the case, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW has a lot more going for it than cult status; it's a good film in its own right. Recommended.