The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
★ — The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Adapted from Richard O'Brien's stage musical, which had been running in London since 1973, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a modest Anglo-American co-production shot at Bray Studios in Berkshire, with a budget of around $1.4 million. Australian director Jim Sharman had staged the original London production, so his involvement here was a direct continuation of that collaboration with O'Brien rather than a typical Hollywood adaptation. 20th Century Fox took a punt on the material, and the gamble looked like a failure at first, with a troubled initial release and poor theatrical returns. The film found its real life on the midnight movie circuit through the late 1970s, building a participatory audience ritual that turned it into one of the longest-running theatrical releases in cinema history, eventually grossing over $170 million worldwide. Tim Curry's performance as Frank-N-Furter remains his most iconic role, and the film gave Susan Sarandon one of her earliest significant credits.
For some reason... this film makes my skin crawl. I can't stand it. I get it, it’s a classic. A cult phenomenon. A midnight movie staple. But holy hell, this could not be further from my taste if it tried. From the moment the screen filled with fishnets, I knew I was in for a long, glitter-drenched nightmare. The singing is over the top. The acting is deliberately absurd. The plot is a bizarre, surreal mess that asks you to check logic at the door, and then throw confetti on it. Maybe I’m just not in on the joke. Or maybe I’m the joke. Either way, two hours of this musical madness felt like punishment. I respect the legacy. I respect the fans. I just couldn’t stand the movie.
Rating: ★ | Year: 1975 | Watched: 2025-07-17
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Disney Plus · Now TV
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Physical: Amazon UK
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