The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Directed by Jim Sharman. Starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O’Brien, Patricia Quinn, Peter Hinwood, Jonathan Adams, Charles Gray, “Little Nell” Campbell. [R]

Film version of the same-named schlocky, camp-tastic West End musical became the midnight movie fixation, an initial-flop cult classic of such long-lasting appeal for its rabid fanbase that, decades later, it had become one of the biggest box office smashes of the 1970s. A spirited fusion of sex, science fiction, horror, humor, and rock & roll, we follow virginal, white bread couple Brad (Bostwick) and Janet (Sarandon) to the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Curry), a “sweet transvestite [mad scientist] from Transsexual, Transylvania”, just in time to witness the debut of his latest creation: the blond, Adonis-like plaything known as Rocky Horror (Hinwood). A funky, kinky, kitschy romp, grounded by the deadpan interruptions from “expert criminologist” Gray, defining psychological states one minute and explaining the steps to the “Time Warp” dance the next. The energy level dissipates in the last half-hour, leading to a finale that feels more inconsequential than it should, but how could it not slow down a few paces when all the best songs (“The Time Warp”, “Dammit Janet”, “Sweet Transvestite”) are front-loaded? Fearless Curry is a pouty, purring delight in what remains arguably his signature role. Rock singer Meat Loaf appears in one scene to belt out “Hot Patootie (Bless My Soul)”, then immediately (and literally) gets the axe. Richard O’Brien, the original playwright and co-writer of the screenplay adaptation, plays the doctor’s assistant, Riff Raff. Followed by a sequel without the participation of any of the three principals: 1981’s Shock Treatment.

76/100