The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a movie I have never watched until last weekend. There is a Rocky Horror Picture Show themed party room at Convergence every year, but I never knew what the references were. My friend was shocked I had never seen this movie and ultimately, she pulled the DVD from her collection and made me watch it. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the ultimate horror-themed musical.

Throughout the movie, the unnamed narrator tells the story of the newly engaged couple Brad Majors (played by Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (played by Susan Sarandon). They hit a flat tire and stumble upon a massive mansion. Brad and Janet are invited inside and are immediately introduced to Dr. Frank-N-Furter (played spectacularly by Tim Curry) a transvestite from Transylvania. Brad and Janet see Furter create a human named Rocky (played by Peter Hinwood) who becomes Furter’s lover. There’s sex, music, murders, and generic chaos as the story unfolds.

I’m typically not a fan of musicals, but The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an exception. I like the references to various horror films. An example of this would be when Rocky is created as a mad scientist experiment by Furter. The music is catchy and I didn’t know the rockstar Meat Loaf was in this movie.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an important musical for its time. Released in 1975, this movie has men dressing up in drag along with sexual liberation seen by Janet when she hooks up with both Rocky and Furter. Androgyny is also highlighted amongst several characters. It doesn’t surprise me that The Rocky Horror Picture Show has a cult following or how this attracted the LGBTQIA+ community to the film.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is so fun. I can’t believe I waited so long before watching this. It’s the perfect blend of sexuality, horror movies, and musicals. It’s fitting I watched this right before the Halloween season. I’m going to have the soundtrack on repeat for weeks.