The Weird, Campy Cult Classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"

The Rocky Horror Picture Show has long been staple of off-the-beaten-path cinema for cinephiles. It was a cult movie before anyone was defining what a cult movie was. Overlooked in its own time but picking up attention through midnight movie screenings, the film began to take on a life of its own. You really don't watch the film so much as you experience it, and the experience today for the film has become infamous; featuring people performing the film in front of a screen that's simultaneously projecting the movie. The crowds at these screenings have seen the films dozens of time; there are ritualistic reactions assigned to viewing the film, and many prepare jokes to yell out at exactingly planned moments.

Now I didn't see the film in this manner as I've been told that its best to watch Rocky Horror on your own to get a sense of its casual ridiculousness before roping yourself into a screening. This isn't just due to the nature of these screenings but also because the film is fucking weird, and honestly pretty bad. It's one of those films that's so bad that it almost becomes kind of good. There's no point in grading it really (I think I'd give it a B-). It should be a D but there's so much endearing weirdness and headcase-like antics that it almost transcends its badness to become something that you have to see at least once.

To put this into a better context, Brad and Janet (Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon), a recently engaged couple that's squarely straight laced, stumbles upon a castle filled with transvestite aliens from Transexual, Transylvania. They're lead by their charismatic leader Dr. Fran-N-Furter (Tim Curry balls-to-the walls committing to the role with delightful results) who is doing experiments to create the perfect lover ... or something. It's kind of hard to follow, unfolding with the logic of a bad drug experience.

Oh, and there's music. All original music written for the film. Most well-remembered is the gloriously goofy "Time Warp Jump", which explains a dance to do to it! The music isn't bad but is so silly that it's hard to take seriously. Though it really is best to not take the film seriously as it never seems to take itself serious (Much of this is intended as parody of B-movies and sci-fi).

It's campy and fun but drags in lots of places. It's more interesting as the phenomena and experience its become than an actual movie. But there's still no denying that it's a certified cult classic no matter its shortcomings, and there's certainly never been anything quite like it before or since.