The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

I've seen Rocky Horror live and on stage something like a dozen times, and have owned it on DVD for about a decade.  I recently picked up a second copy though, because i wanted the movie it came with - the sort of sequel Shock Treatment - and it felt apropos to give it another viewing and this bonus review on the blog.

Now this is a 40-year-old film and a fairly well known one at that, so you've probably got a pretty good idea of what it's about, but just in case, I'm going to give a brief summary.  Oh, and it's a musical.  You should probably know that too, since some people are monsters don't like musicals.

Brad and Janet are a naive young couple who have recently become engaged.  They set off to tell the happy news to the man who originally introduced them, but have car trouble en route.  Fortunately they saw a castle a mile or so back, and they walk through the rain in hopes that someone will be home, and will allow them to call for help.

Someone is indeed home, but it is certainly no-one they would ever have expected.  Dr Frank N Furter is a flamboyant cross-dressing scientist who is on the verge of creating life itself.  Why?  So he can create the perfect male specimen to be his lover, of course!  Brad and Janet soon find themselves swept up in Frank's hedonistic and self-absorbed circle, which both intimidates and tempts them.  Will their relationship survive the night?  For that matter, while they?

Mix two parts 1950s SF cheapie with three parts omnisexual bedroom farce, then garnish liberally with simple-but-catchy songs, and you've got a pretty good summary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  It certainly won't be to all tastes, but if that sounds like your thing, and you've somehow never managed to see it, you should check it out.