The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Overview

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a transgressive, irreverent, and gloriously bizarre musical comedy-horror film that quickly outgrew its modest box office beginnings to become the ultimate cult classic. Based on the 1973 British stage musical by Richard O’Brien, the film is a madcap tribute to B-movies, sci-fi serials, glam rock, and sexual liberation.

Though initially panned or misunderstood, Rocky Horror found new life in midnight screenings and participatory fan culture, fostering a uniquely interactive relationship between film and audience that has persisted for decades. At its core, it’s a celebration of individuality, gender nonconformity, and sexual freedom, all dressed up in fishnets, glitter, and rock and roll.

Plot Summary

The story begins on a dark and stormy night when squeaky-clean couple Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) find themselves stranded with a flat tire. Seeking shelter, they arrive at a mysterious castle owned by the flamboyant Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) — a self-described “sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania.”

Inside, Brad and Janet are drawn into a surreal world of sex, science fiction, and rock music. Frank has just completed his greatest creation: Rocky, a musclebound, blonde Frankenstein’s monster designed for pleasure. As the night unfolds, the castle's bizarre inhabitants — including the sinister butler Riff Raff (Richard O’Brien), the eerie maid Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and the exuberant groupie Columbia (Nell Campbell) — engage in a series of seductions, betrayals, and musical numbers.

The plot gets increasingly surreal, culminating in revelations about the castle's extra-terrestrial origins, Frank’s tragic demise, and a surreal closing chorus: “Don’t dream it, be it.”

Characters and Performances

Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter

Curry’s performance is the heart and soul of Rocky Horror. In his film debut, he delivers an iconic turn that blends camp, danger, charisma, and raw sexual energy. His presence dominates the screen — whether strutting in stilettos or crooning the film’s showstopper, “Sweet Transvestite.” Curry’s Frank is both monstrous and magnetic, seducer and victim, villain and tragic hero.

Susan Sarandon as Janet Weiss

Sarandon brings vulnerability and transformation to the role of Janet, who begins as a prudish damsel and ends as a liberated woman. Her performance is earnest and fun, with standout moments like “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me.”

Barry Bostwick as Brad Majors

As Janet’s uptight fiancé, Bostwick plays the perfect foil to the film’s chaos. His slow descent from conventional masculinity into comic impotence is handled with charm and self-awareness.

Richard O’Brien as Riff Raff

O’Brien, who wrote the original musical, is haunting and otherworldly as Riff Raff — equal parts servant, voyeur, and eventual usurper. His performance, especially in “Time Warp,” is wonderfully macabre.

Supporting Cast

Patricia Quinn (Magenta) and Nell Campbell (Columbia) bring visual flamboyance and personality.

Meat Loaf appears briefly as Eddie, a rock-n-roll rebel who is violently dispatched — but his number “Hot Patootie” is a scene-stealer.

Charles Gray as the Criminologist narrator adds dry, absurd gravitas.

Music and Soundtrack

The film’s rock-infused musical score is a cornerstone of its appeal, mixing glam rock, doo-wop, and Broadway in a way that feels fresh even today.

Standout Songs:

“Science Fiction/Double Feature” – A nostalgic homage to 1950s sci-fi films, setting the tone for the homage/parody blend.

“The Time Warp” – The film’s anthem; a rollicking dance number that helped define audience participation culture.

“Sweet Transvestite” – Tim Curry’s explosive entrance; unforgettable and genre-defying.

“Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me” – A satirical seduction number that’s both sexy and hilarious.

“I'm Going Home” – A surprisingly poignant ballad that hints at the film’s emotional core.

The soundtrack became a cult classic on its own, especially on college campuses and among theatre kids, punks, goths, and queer communities.

Direction and Visual Style

Jim Sharman directs with a balance of chaotic energy and stagecraft, keeping the film’s theatrical roots visible. The set design is pure B-movie horror — lightning, fog, elaborate laboratories, and Gothic decadence.

The cinematography is deliberately inconsistent — lighting ranges from lush to intentionally garish. This reinforces the film’s camp sensibility, where aesthetic excess is part of the charm. Terry Ackland-Snow’s production design creates an atmosphere that’s both ridiculous and alluring.

Themes and Subtext

Sexual Liberation and Identity

Rocky Horror gleefully defies heteronormative expectations. It was radical for its time (and still bold today) in its celebration of bisexuality, androgyny, kink, and queer pleasure. Frank-N-Furter’s character embodies a polymorphous sexuality that breaks binaries.

Parody and Homage

The film parodies 1950s sci-fi, horror, and teen exploitation films while still revering them. It’s full of Easter eggs for genre fans and critiques moralistic storytelling.

Transformation and Fluidity

Characters evolve — sometimes unwillingly, sometimes joyfully. The film’s motto, “Don’t dream it, be it,” speaks to self-discovery and embracing one’s true desires.

Community and Outsiderness

Its legacy lies in the community it created — where misfits, outsiders, and queer folks found each other. The participatory culture surrounding midnight showings made the film less of a passive experience and more of a safe space.

Cult Status and Cultural Legacy

Although it flopped in its initial release, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was revived by fans and theatres hosting interactive midnight screenings — complete with costumes, call-backs, props, and live shadow casts. This tradition has endured for over four decades, making it the longest-running theatrical release in history.

It paved the way for films and musicals like:

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Repo! The Genetic Opera

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Its themes of identity, defiance, and community have made it especially important within the LGBTQ+ community, where it functions as a campy rite of passage.

Conclusion

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is more than a movie — it’s a movement. A glitter-soaked, gender-bending, fourth-wall-breaking celebration of queerness, theatricality, and self-expression. What began as a niche musical parody became a rite of passage for millions, a cultural safe haven for the weird and wonderful, and a timeless testament to the power of being unapologetically yourself.

A dazzling, defiant cult classic that turned midnight cinema into a sanctuary and continues to inspire generations of outsiders to dance, sing, and live out loud.