First Take Classics: The Rocky Horror Picture Show- don’t dream it, be it

SYNOPSIS: A newly-engaged couple have a breakdown in an isolated area and must seek shelter at the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-n-Furter.

45 years of absolute pleasure, Fox say in the marketing materials for this latest reissue to keep your local cinema open in the absence of Bond, Soul and Wonder Woman. It is a classic, there is no doubt about it, so to see this film where it belongs on the big screen was a real bucket list experience.

Jim Sharman’s direction perfectly mirrors that of the stage show for which this film is based upon- parodying the science fiction B-movie and adding elements of those classic Hammer horror films together with some old fashioned rock and roll to create a Frankenstein monster (if you will) of a musical experience that feels truly designed for the big screen. Like the stage show, it comes in at a tight 1 hour 40 minutes (even though one song was cut overall) that is packed with laughs and shocks, this is testament to his work on the script with the show’s creator- we’ll talk about him in a minute, don’t worry. Peter Suschitzky’s cinematography is relatively decent, Richard Hartley’s incidental music does the job, but on a technical level, the real star of the show is the work of another Richard, one better known to British TV audiences as the former host of Channel 4′s The Crystal Maze. Yes, ‘Reckless Rick’ himself has another talent to his name - Rocky Horror is truly Richard O’Brien’s baby, and the songs he wrote back in 1973 still feel as well put together as they did back then.

That brings us into the casting. Leading the piece is Barry Bostwick and a young Susan Surandon as teenage couple Brad and Janet (insert your obligatory taunts here, Rocky fans), supporting them is Patricia Quinn and Mr O’Brien himself as siblings Magenta and Riff Raff (reprising their roles from the original stage production), Charles Gray does a sterling job as the narrator (even though his outfit prevents you from seeing his neck, had to mention that detail), as well as roles for ‘Little’ Nell Campbell, Meat Loaf, Peter Haywood (as the titular Rocky Horror) and Jonathan Adams. However, we had to mention the last cast member on his own, and it is obvious why: it’s the legendary Tim Curry. Do I need to say any more than that? To go from stage to screen takes some doing, especially with a role like Frank-n-Furter, but he nails it.

But what makes Rocky Horror work, and I hinted to it with that cast, is the audience participation that was popularised in the 80s, and propelled this film into cult status. While Covid has prevented audiences from shouting along to numbers like Damnit Janet, or partaking in the film’s most iconic sequence The Time Warp, whenever you see this film in a cinema, you are really taken for a ride that’ll make you shiver in antici… pation. 

THE VERDICT

Having seen this film hundreds of times at home, as well as seeing the stage show live in Liverpool back in 2013, there is truly only one way to see this movie as it was intended - on the big screen. That audience interaction is unlike anything else. But if you’ve never experienced it, it may be laughable at points, but you’ll leave the film with a big grin on your face no matter what.

RATING: 4/5

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is playing at selected cinemas over the October half-term break, check your local venue’s listings for more information.