If there’s a film that’s baffling in how it has earned an audience over the years, even a cult one, it’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show. One of the longest running films in theatres, Rocky Horror has an appeal that isn’t about the film itself. It’s about people performing to the movie and generally entertaining themselves instead of actually being entertained by the film. It’s the same with The Room; it’s not about being entertained by the film, which is admittedly a huge turd of a movie.
It’s about entertaining those who show up to watch the film, not actually watch the film.
A musical from the 1970s, Rocky Horror has a fairly simple premise. Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon) get a flat tire during a storm. Seeking help, they discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a transvestite scientist, and his wacky band of servants. Shenanigans ensue with one of the more famous soundtracks in cult movie history leading the way.
Rocky Horror has managed to be successful because of people’s involvement, not because it’s a good movie. It’s a terrible, rancid film that’s famous for being a bad midnight film than anything else.
For all the crappiness that the film actually is, this DVD has an amazing treasure trove of extras. There’s a lot about the film, from the midnight screening phenomenon to both versions of the film, that the most ardent fan of the film is going to be entertained for a long time. This may not be a great film, not even a mediocre one, but it’s a historically important one and the DVD extras tackle the film’s historical importance fairly well.
20th Century Fox presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show (40th Anniversary Edition). Directed by Jim Sharman. Written by Sharman and Richard O’Brien based on the musical “The Rocky Horror Show” by Richard O’Brien. Starring Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick, Susan Sarandon. Run Time: 100 minutes Rated R. Released on DVD: 9.22.2015
