31 Days of Halloween Films #6: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Lowdown: Tim Curry throws a weird fucking party to unveil his newest boy-toy creation, all set to music. There’s some other stuff going on but honestly that’s all you need to know.
The Breakdown: Rocky Horror…quite simply THE midnight/cult movie. Impossible to resist, almost everyone has at least tried to watch Rocky Horror. It’s a different type of entertainment for sure, but there aren’t many Halloween films as fun as this one. You’ve got the cliched Frankenstein’s monster subplot, complete with Igor-like assistant. There is, of course, the irreplaceable Meat Loaf as a rock n’ roll biker boy. Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick ham it up as the all-American naive couple. TRHPS has a lot going for it, and while I can understand the hatred this movie incurs amongst a lot of cinephiles it remains, year after year, a staple of my spooktastic October festivities.
The cheese on display in this movie can be summed up in its’ most intriguing character: Dr. Frank N. Furter, played immortally by Tim Curry. This is Curry’s defining role, in a career full of standout performances. Somehow, Curry’s brashness and bravado shine through, creating genuine moments for the character despite the ridiculous nature of what he does. His energy level being ramped all the way up to 11 does wonders for the role and makes the film. Richard O’Brien is also noteworthy as Riff Raff, the Igor clone with a hidden agenda. Plot and strength of script really are not what this film is remembered for. Rocky Horror’s legacy is directly tied to its’ phenomenal music.
Rocky Horror has one of my all time favorite movie soundtracks. Almost every tune is a toe-tapper, from the legendary Time Warp to Rose Tint My World. For a film that is SO bad it’s good, the music is surprisingly strong, almost eclipsing the movie itself. As a musical, Rocky Horror fires on all cylinders. Oftentimes, musicals feel contrived because no matter what is going on on-screen, the characters have to stop at some point to sing plot details or inconsequential catchphrases. Rocky Horror relishes these moments, and because of the absurdity of the plot all the dance numbers really fucking work. There’s a sense of fun that pervades the film but it really shines through music.
The Comedown: I’ve always had a soft spot for Rocky Horror, I admit it. The hilarious premise of an alien invasion/sci-fi sendup through song is just a great idea to me that I think was executed with some serious movie magic. This film shouldn’t work. It’s got a horrible script, mostly stale caricatures in its’ lead actors and a meandering plot that doesn’t say much about our lead characters. Yet, somehow, Rocky Horror is still the longest running midnight movie? What does that say about us as a movie watching community? I don’t know. I’m not a doctor. I do know, however, that I enjoy watching Tim Curry run around in a leather bustier, singing about how much he loves dressing in said bustier. Sue me.