Tim Curry (center) with Nell Campbell (left) and Patricia Quinn (right) in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Photo courtesy of IMDB/20th Century Fox)
While many Halloween staples such as “Hocus Pocus,” “Beetlejuice,” or even slasher films like “Friday the 13th” are thrown into Halloween movie marathons each year, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has carved out its own place among these greats. Over 50 years after its release, the film continues to draw audiences into its world, inspiring fans to dress as characters during midnight screenings as a cultural tradition.
The cult classic follows Brad and Janet, a newly engaged couple who decide to visit their old science professor and friend. But after a flat tire leaves them stranded during a stormy night, these two seek shelter in a mysterious castle. There they encounter Dr. Frank-N-Furter played by Tim Curry, an eccentric scientist who challenges Janet and Brad’s perceptions of romance and societal expectations.
The longevity of the film reflects its evolution from a simple Halloween movie to shared cultural experience throughout generations. Yet its appeal is beyond the culture created by fans. Rather, the film’s theatrics and unconventional characters that celebrate individuality enhance its legacy.
At the center of the film’s absurdity is Dr. Frank-N-Furter whose extravagance distinguishes him from classic horror villains. Rather than conforming to society’s expectations, Dr. Frank-N-Furter chooses to embrace his individuality as an alien who doesn’t hide from his sexuality.
Dr. Frank-N-Furter and fellow Transylvanians (Photo Courtesy of IMDB/20th Century Studios)
As the film unfolds, it is revealed that Dr. Frank-N-Furter is an alien from the fictional planet “Transexual” in the galaxy of “Transylvania.” Brad and Janet have actually stumbled upon his annual Transylvanian convention where he gathered fellow Transylvanians to celebrate his new scientific achievement of Rocky, an artificial man that resembles pure perfection. However, his castle is not only a laboratory but a spaceship that will soon return his friends back to Transylvania.
Rather than becoming a science fiction set piece, Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s home becomes one where people are allowed to express themselves and embrace their individuality. In fact, the celebration of individuality has led to queer audiences resonating with Rocky Horror, leading it to become a symbol for queer culture.
“The character of Dr. Frank N. Furter is portrayed as a heightened version of both femininity and masculinity,” Oscar Appleyard-Keeling wrote in an article for The Bristorian. “He is physically masculine, using he/him pronouns…while simultaneously subverting gender expression norms by wearing lingerie, make-up, and pearls.”
Through Dr. Frank-N-Furter, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” challenges audiences to not conform within society’s views of gender and identity. Instead, the film encourages audiences to celebrate self-expression and to embrace their own identity rather than viewing masculinity and femininity as conflicting ideas.
This celebration of identity explains why audiences connect with this cult classic, many seeing themselves through Frank-N-Furter and his fellow Transylvanians. Midnight screenings have now become a place where fans can embrace their identity where queer culture and individuality is welcomed.
While the film’s celebration of individuality has contributed to its cult-classic status, its unconventional approach to horror has set it apart from normalized Halloween films. With its blend of theatrics, musical performances, and campy humor, Rocky Horror completely changes the expectations of what makes a great Halloween classic.
Susan Sarandon (left) as Janet Weiss and Barry Bostwick (right) as Brad Majors (Photo Courtesy of IMDB/20th Century Studios)
“A perfect illustration of camp’s depth is The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” Medium said about the film and ‘camp’ style. “As Rocky Horror shows, to label a work camp is to say that… it reveals truth. Camp uses artifice to challenge assumptions and to expose the pre-existing artifice that goes unnoticed in society.”
As Dr. Frank-N-Furter forces his guests to dress in drag to create a perfect specimen through unexplained science, Rocky Horror exemplifies the idea of camp. His creation of Rocky is presented through musical numbers rather than scientific reasoning as these bizarre situations are turned into theatrical spectacles. This use of humor is rarely found in horror films but Rocky Horror does not simply want to be another horror film. Rather, it aims to create an identity of its own.
Camp is also frequently used in relation to the queer community, becoming a word used to describe ideas that “challenge social norms and hierarchies by intentionally being different and bold,” according to the National Archives. The first recorded use of the term was in 1871 to describe Fanny Park and Stella Boulton, two performers who would challenge gender norms through their dressing, reflecting gender as being interchangeable. Just like Dr. Frank-N-Furter, these two were able to change society’s perception of what gender truly is.
The film, however, does not depend on conventional horror theatrics to appeal to audiences as its purpose is not to be another Halloween film. Rather, it evolves the idea of being camp to further express queer culture. The theatrics and humor that are used to describe being camp are further pushed to new boundaries with musical numbers and even drag influences to challenge societal conformity. Camp is no longer being used to describe the queer community but rather to create a community that embraces individuality rather than simply labeling it.
While the film may not follow conventional Halloween classics, it establishes its own place among the greats. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” paves its own legacy by creating a community of queer culture where being different is embraced and accepted rather than abhorred.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Arsema Mulushewa at Arsema.Mulushewa@colorado.edu.
