I rewatch Rocky Horror Picture Show every year around Halloween. Because of the General Chaos, I haven’t gotten to it til right now. And for this blog’s inaugural Rocky Horror write up I present: a collection of thoughts I had while watching the movie for the [number not found]th time.
Is Brad an asshole for proposing at a friend’s wedding? Point to no: he did have the decency to wait til everybody left. Point to yes: the proposal sure is a lot about the friend’s wedding.
The interstitials with the criminologist are surely a reference to something I have never seen. One day I will watch it on accident and come to a glorious realization.
Why is this drive happening during the Nixon resignation. Surely I am missing a joke here.
Janet’s paper is the Plain Dealer. Rocky Horror takes place in Northeast Ohio. Probably Trumbull County. This sort of thing would happen in Trumbull County.
Riff Raff: is hot, unfortunately. Like. We accept Magenta is hot, at this point. But Riff Raff is. It brings me no great joy to say. Also hot. (Editor’s note: the author of this text also has a thing for Otis Firefly in House of 1000 Corpses and the dad in Love Lies Bleeding and therefore cannot be trusted.)
Columbia’s Time Warp costume is the coolest costume in the whole movie and yet hasn’t quite reached icon status like some of the others. Is it because you’d have to bedazzle a bunch to make it?
The ‘folk dancing’ line is what cements this movie as a parody, for me. It is a perfect riff on the weird morality plays in old movies and also, makes me laugh every time.
One of the best things about this movie is that the song lyrics have little to do with basically anything. What does ‘Sword of Damocles’ have to do with anything that’s happening? Nothing much! But sure am glad it’s here.
Speaking of: Meatloaf didn’t need to be here but I sure am glad he is. Does the ‘Hot Patootie’ sequence make sense? No! But this is not a movie for making sense. It is a movie for fun and looking at beautiful men, and Meatloaf sure was beautiful. Remember the ‘I’d Do Anything For Love’ video? Yeah.
The Transylvanians are delightful. I love that they have little new years noisemakers. Inspired prop choice.
Both Brad and Janet sleep with Frank but Brad’s the only one who you get the sense that he fell in love with the guy a little. Janet’s just horny, Brad is Mooning.
The bit in ‘Touch-touch-a-touch Me’ where everybody’s face cycles through saying ‘creature of the night.’ I have always interpreted this as Janet sleeping with everyone in the castle. A bit of cinematic shorthand.
Columbia and Magenta’s little bedroom is adorable. Oh to be holed up with an older woman watching voyeurism television. Making fun of people together. The dream.
I want Brad’s little blue bathrobe.
If I ever date again it has to be somebody who finds a Riff Raff and Magenta couples costume funny and not scandalous, upsetting, or like, evil.
I love that there’s no indication aliens are happening til Dr. Scott shows up. Like we switched movies halfway through.
The Dr. Scott being revealed as Dr. Von Scott is, again, a really funny reference to old sci fi always having secret Nazis. Something I know about because of: The Muppet Movie. From where much of my life knowledge derives.
Frank’s leather jacket. Yes.
The dinner scene. I’ve been to that thanks giving.
What IS rock and roll porn? Does the song know? I doubt it.
The cannibalism reveal delights me every time. How have we gone from cannibalism gags in corny comedy musicals to it being too Taboo to even mention.
The ‘you’re a hot dog’ bit is so, so stupid, and I love it so, so much.
Something that’s never discussed about the movie is how good it is at parodying sci-fi technobabble.
I am so glad the medusa beam makes sure the people it statue-fies have their dicks and/or titties out. That’s true dedication.
The floor show makeup is fascinating.
Brad’s solo in ‘Rose Tints The World’ fascinates me. What is going on with that man. I want to poke him with a stick.
The titanic life raft in ‘Don’t Dream It, Be It’: again, makes me laugh every time.
There is something so sad to me in how Columbia runs to the spot light before “I’m Going Home.” This is why the best comedies have elements of tragedy.
Fucking. Brad. Upset that Frank is dead and having to be reminded he did, in fact, kill a guy and feed him to them. There’s no dick that good. Dude’s besotted.
Tune in next year for more Thoughts On Rocky Horror.
Signing off,
Marlowe
Marlowe Writes 