Rocky Horror Picture Show 1998 Horror Movie Review

If a musical sci-fi satire about an alien transvestite named Frank-n-Furter, who is building the perfect man while playing sexual games with his virginal visitors, sounds like an intriguing premise for a movie, then you’re in for a treat.  Not only is The Rocky Horror Picture all this and more, but it stars the surprising cast of Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick (as the demure Janet and uptight Brad, who get lost in a storm and find themselves stranded at Frank-n-Furter’s mansion), Meat Loaf (as the rebel Eddie), Charles Gray (as our criminologist and narrator), and, of course, the inimitable Tim Curry as our “sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania.”

  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