Imagine its 1975. Out of some closet-vault explodes a film based on a
musical - but not just any musical. A musical called The Rocky Horror
Show. Strange, you may say, but nonetheless true. Its story tells the
tragic yet tantalising tale of a Dr Frank N Furter and his crew who are
holding a convention of sorts in a castle in the middle of nowhere only
to be interrupted by a terribly sweet, newly engaged - somehow stranded
in a storm at this far-away castle - couple named Brad and Janet. Its
narrated by a Narrator named simply that but from the start you realise
all is not as it seems and never will be again. For one day, across
distant and not so distant lands, it is foretold that people will break
out into a dance as this film still screens late - very late - in the
eternal night. They call this strange gyration... The Time Warp........
You will do the time warp again? Won't you?
I envy the person who hasn't seen this classic. Its amazing how magical
this film remains almost 30 years after its initial release. It remains
a rare incredible gem full of joy and yet so sincerely clever. One of
the best examples of this film's brilliance is its subversion of the
hero/villain relationship. Nobody is who they seem in this film and the
roles turn every character inside out. Dr Frank N Furter switches wildly
from camp queen to vicious leader to crumbling diva. Tim Curry's
performance remains a spunky, full throttle embrace of absolute
pleasure. The songs remain rollicking, engaging and even beautifully
melancholic - especially Frank's final tunes in the film. "Don't dream
it, be it" is so sad and yet so brilliant a final coda for the film.
This is a dream made cinematic. Long may it live to do the time warp
again and take us back to our first corruption/eruption.
musical - but not just any musical. A musical called The Rocky Horror
Show. Strange, you may say, but nonetheless true. Its story tells the
tragic yet tantalising tale of a Dr Frank N Furter and his crew who are
holding a convention of sorts in a castle in the middle of nowhere only
to be interrupted by a terribly sweet, newly engaged - somehow stranded
in a storm at this far-away castle - couple named Brad and Janet. Its
narrated by a Narrator named simply that but from the start you realise
all is not as it seems and never will be again. For one day, across
distant and not so distant lands, it is foretold that people will break
out into a dance as this film still screens late - very late - in the
eternal night. They call this strange gyration... The Time Warp........
You will do the time warp again? Won't you?
I envy the person who hasn't seen this classic. Its amazing how magical
this film remains almost 30 years after its initial release. It remains
a rare incredible gem full of joy and yet so sincerely clever. One of
the best examples of this film's brilliance is its subversion of the
hero/villain relationship. Nobody is who they seem in this film and the
roles turn every character inside out. Dr Frank N Furter switches wildly
from camp queen to vicious leader to crumbling diva. Tim Curry's
performance remains a spunky, full throttle embrace of absolute
pleasure. The songs remain rollicking, engaging and even beautifully
melancholic - especially Frank's final tunes in the film. "Don't dream
it, be it" is so sad and yet so brilliant a final coda for the film.
This is a dream made cinematic. Long may it live to do the time warp
again and take us back to our first corruption/eruption.