Allan Major
- Mar 8
- 7 min read

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975 Reviewed

The Rocky Horror Picture Show detonated in theaters back in 1975, a glorious supernova of glitter, fishnets, and absolute debauchery. It painted the silver screen with sci-fi camp and a rock 'n' roll spirit, etching itself onto the brains of a generation with songs that still send shivers down spines. But what's it like to watch this cultural atomic bomb in today's world? Is it just a faded relic of a bygone era or does it still rock our worlds? Let's dive in.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975 Key Takeaways

Embrace Your Inner Weirdo: The film is a riotous celebration of individuality and self-expression. It encourages letting go of inhibitions and embracing your authentic self, no matter how strange or unconventional.
Question Societal Norms: Rocky Horror playfully skewers traditional gender roles, sexual mores, and societal expectations. It challenges the audience to think beyond the boundaries of what's considered "normal."
Don't Dream It, Be It: A core message of the film is to stop fantasizing and start living out your desires. Rocky Horror is a call to action to be bold and embrace your passions.
Community is Everything: The film's cult following and interactive midnight screenings emphasize the power of community and finding a place where you belong, no matter how unconventional you may seem.
B-movies & Camp Culture Can Be Awesome: Rocky Horror pays homage to the campy style and absurdity of classic horror and sci-fi films. It celebrates the joy of finding entertainment in even the most outrageous and low-budget productions.
Music is Powerful: The film's soundtrack is packed with iconic, catchy songs that burrow into your brain and get you moving. It's a testament to the power of music in driving a movie's energy and staying with you long after.

Woman with a look of terror on her face watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show. — She thought it was just a movie. She was dead wrong.

Picture this: Brad and Janet, a wholesome, oh-so-square couple, find themselves stranded on a lonely road in the middle of a downpour. Thunder cracks and a dark castle looms – the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. It's one stormy night that'll strip away their inhibitions and expose them to the sweet sins of Transylvania.

Let's talk Frank-N-Furter. Forget your run-of-the-mill mad scientists – this transvestite Dr. Frankenstein is something else entirely. Played by Tim Curry in his career-defining role, Frank commands the screen like a glam-rock tyrant. It's a performance that crackles with sexual energy, dripping with decadence, and just about steals the show. Susan Sarandon as Janet and Barry Bostwick as Brad are perfect as the wide-eyed innocents corrupted by Frank's mad world, though Janet's transformation into a pleasure-seeker is where Sarandon truly shines.

The rest of the cast is an unforgettable parade of misfits. Riff Raff, the hunchbacked butler, and his sister Magenta slither around with an unnerving creepiness. Then there's Columbia, the tap-dancing groupie, and the ex-delivery boy Eddie, played by a whirlwind of energy named Meat Loaf. And, of course, we can't forget Rocky, the muscle man Frank conjures up as a twisted plaything, played by Peter Hinwood. Sure, he's not big on dialogue, but his golden physique speaks volumes.

Directed by Jim Sharman, Rocky Horror is a wild, colorful beast. It's part lurid fever dream, part rock concert, and part satirical love letter to classic horror films. The dialogue bounces from witty to outrageously silly, and Richard O'Brien (who also played Riff Raff) wrote songs that burrow into your brain and refuse to leave – "The Time Warp" alone is a pop culture phenomenon, a ritual passed down through generations.

A man in a dimly lit theater recoils in his seat, eyes wide with terror as a scene from The Rocky Horror Picture Show plays on the screen. — The screen wasn't the only thing sending shivers down his spine...

The Critic Reviews and User Reviews Are Mostly Positive For This 1975 Classic.

This movie revels in its own weirdness. It's the kind of film where a stuffy criminologist (played by Charles Gray) narrates the mayhem with a deadpan delivery, somehow making the insanity feel even more absurd. It pokes fun at old monster movies, throws in some madcap musical numbers, and winks knowingly at the audience at every turn.

But what IS The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Honestly, trying to neatly categorize it is like wrangling a greased-up eel. Part musical, part B-movie homage, part glittery bacchanal – it's a full-bodied experience, not just something you passively watch. It's a cult movie in the truest sense, a film that sparked a whole culture of its own. Midnight showings have turned into interactive events filled with costumes, props, and shadow casts acting out scenes alongside the screen. It's audience participation taken to a whole other dimension.

So, here's the burning question: does Rocky Horror still hold up in an age far removed from its 1975 origins? I say a resounding yes, but with an asterisk. It's a film to be embraced for its flaws, loved for its campy, over-the-top style, and celebrated as a testament to embracing your inner freak flag. Some of the humor hasn't aged well, the plot gets drowned out by the spectacle at times, and it might feel positively tame to younger audiences raised on hyper-stimulation. But there's a timeless magic in its brazen spirit and infectious energy, a sense of liberation in its full-throated cry for pleasure and self-expression.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a spectacle, a party, and an enduring testament to the power of being unapologetically yourself. It's a film that invites you to lose yourself in its chaotic embrace, to let out your inner weirdo, and to give yourself over to absolute pleasure. If you're up for the ride, buckle in – this one's going to be a bumpy journey to Transylvania that you won't soon forget.

And that is The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975 Reviewed. Another great classic horror movie.

Stay tuned for more great horror movie reviews.

If You Liked the Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975 You Might Also Like These Films

Pink Flamingos (1972): An outrageously grotesque film by John Waters. It follows a woman named Divine, known as "the filthiest person alive", who competes for the title with a truly despicable cast of characters. Warning: this one's renowned for its shocking, stomach-turning scenes – truly not for the faint of heart.
The Little Shop of Horrors (1986): A hilarious musical horror-comedy about a meek florist who discovers a strange plant with an appetite for humans. Features Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, and a killer soundtrack with doo-wop and Motown influences.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988): This title says it all – alien clowns invade a small town, using bizarre weapons like popcorn guns and cotton candy cocoons to wreak havoc. It's absurd, low-budget, and gleefully strange with surprisingly creepy special effects for its style.
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988): Cassandra Peterson stars as horror hostess Elvira in this comedy packed with cheesy puns and innuendo. Upon inheriting a spooky mansion, Elvira encounters wacky townsfolk, a scheming uncle, and plenty of supernatural goofiness.
Death Becomes Her (1992): A dark comedy about two rivals (Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn) who drink a potion for eternal youth, leading to disastrous, body-horror consequences. It's gloriously campy with over-the-top performances and groundbreaking special effects for its time.