The Rocky Horror Picture Show review – the campfest that became a cultural colossus

As the all-singing, all-conquering horror-schlocker celebrates its 50th birthday, the genuine one-off retains all its raucous, raunchy, riotous joyThe Rocky Horror Picture Show is now 50 years old, a B-picture horror-schlocker campfest extravaganza based on Richard O’Brien’s original stage musical from 1973; it has carried on as an international theatrical touring phenomenon ever since. That live show, with the vital element of regular audience participation and dress-up, may in fact now have a bit more energy and point than the movie itself, which (whisper it) perhaps suffers a few longueurs.The undoubted star is the sonorous and feline Tim Curry playing Dr Frank-N-Furter, a vampirically queer alien sex god, proselytising here on Earth for borderless pleasure and describing himself as a “sweet transvestite transsexual from Transylvania”. Dr Furter toys with the affections of the many followers and servants at his giant castle in middle America, including his butler Riff-Raff (played by O’Brien) and tearaway Eddie (played by Meat Loaf). Dr Furter is actually focused on his Frankensteinian project of creating Rocky Horror (Peter Hinwood), the ideal hunky blond male to service his needs. Even Dr Frankenstein didn’t actually want to have sex with his monster. Continue reading...

Comments

Culture

Highest 2 Lowest review – Denzel Washington is surprisingly one-note in Spike Lee’s generic kidnap thriller

Independent

Comments

Culture

Highest 2 Lowest review – Denzel Washington is surprisingly one-note in Spike Lee’s generic kidnap thriller

Eddington review – Ari Aster’s brilliant, blood-soaked skewering of modern America

Sorry, Baby review – A star is born in Eva Victor’s remarkable depiction of assault and survival

The Life of Chuck review – Stephen King adaptation is a treacly mess with a dancing Tom Hiddleston

Previously unheard Beatles tracks to accompany new Peter Jackson documentary episode

Games of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn pulls out of Strictly Come Dancing due to ‘unexpected medical reasons’

Raye at All Points East: Full line-up and set times for festival

Meet Alien: Earth's breakout star Sydney Chandler

Former Strictly Come Dancing boss issues defiant defence of scandal-hit show

‘I cast Celebrity Big Brother – Gary Lineker wanted an eye-watering fee’

Watch out Stephen Graham – Richard Gadd’s brutal BBC thriller pulls no punches

Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn quits Strictly Come Dancing ‘with heavy heart’

Last One Laughing UK season 2 cast announced with one iconic comedian set to return

All Points East announce ‘one hell of a replacement’ after Doechii pulls out

Iconic rock band warn they’ll ‘never play many cities again’ in devastating tour update

BBC stands by Doctor Who after uncertainty over series future

Eamonn Holmes forced to apologise for using racial slur on GB News

Celebrity Traitors full-line up and launch month revealed

Nip/Tuck star Dylan Walsh and family involved in major car crash

Previously unreleased Beatles tracks to feature on new Anthology 4

A Matter of Time by Laufey review: Is this my album of the year?

Netflix fans ‘already hooked’ on new Suranne Jones thriller as all episodes drop

BBC boss finally shares major Doctor Who update after cancellation fears

‘I’ve seen a sneak peek of BBC’s Celebrity Traitors – I’m already spellbound’

Inside The Fortune Hotel host Stephen Mangan’s family life with his actor wife

‘I played ITV’s £250,000 gameshow – I didn’t know it would be so stressful’

We finally know when everyone’s favourite guilty pleasure is returning to Netflix

Previously unreleased Beatles tracks to feature on new Anthology collection

Wynonna Judd’s daughter Grace Kelley accuses mother of ‘covering up’ stepfather’s sexual abuse

Orlando Bloom shares view on Johnny Depp’s Pirates of the Caribbean return

What kids don’t want you to know about Gen Alpha culture

Tyla has conquered the world — now South Africa's popiano queen takes London

‘I’m even more excited for this new reality show than Celebrity Traitors’

Ilona Maher could be the next big WWE superstar but alarm bells are ringing

‘Insanely good’ crime thriller quietly added to Netflix soars up the chart

British rising star ‘screen tests’ to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond

Director of Netflix’s smash hit K-Pop Demon Hunters drops hints about sequel

Dawson’s Creek cast reunite for cancer awareness after James Van Der Beek diagnosis

Hulk Hogan’s daughter Brooke claims 911 tapes will shed new light on wrestler’s death

Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd reveals physical transformation ahead of new BBC show

Gemma Collins announces ‘unfiltered’ reality show about IVF journey and extravagant wedding plans

Suranne Jones says Hostage role showed her the brutal reality of political life

Eamonn Holmes uses vile racial slur as Kerry Katona describes her cosmetic surgery

17 weirdly underrated performances by great actors

Jack White says Trump is ‘masquerading as a human being’ in response to White House calling him a ‘has-been loser’

Strictly Come Dancing start date confirmed for 2025 season – and we don’t have long to wait

‘I learnt to dig every little thing’: Jeff Bridges on cancer, the Coens, and the Covid that nearly killed him

Duolingo apologises after app calls JK Rowling ‘mean’ in German lesson

Vienna to host Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Channel 4 defends Bonnie Blue documentary after graphic show was branded ‘disturbing’

Bridgerton isn't a romance, it's a workplace drama - Shonda Rhimes

Celebrity judge Frank Caprio dies aged 88

Austin Butler reveals diva behaviour of co-star he ‘couldn’t look in the eyes’

Suranne Jones: How the punky soap star became one of Britain’s greatest actors

South Park viewers react to ominous Donald Trump twist in latest episode

Robbie Williams admits he would open for Oasis years after famous Britpop feud

Shonda Rhimes explains why she views Bridgerton as a ‘workplace drama’ – and when it will end

Andy Nyman: ‘People worry about getting cancelled – The Producers doesn’t care about any of that’

Bonnie Langford among stars announced for Paddington The Musical

Strictly Come Dancing’s George Clarke just ‘let slip’ a massive spoiler