Wild and Untamed Things: Why a Cult Classic Still Resonates After All These Years
It’s midnight somewhere.
And that means that somewhere there are a bunch of people, dressed in fishnets and garish makeup, sitting inside a movie theater shouting at and singing along with the actors onscreen. Because it’s midnight, and that means it’s time for The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with it, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (AKA Rocky Horror)is a campy Rock and Roll musical from the 1970s. It’s structured like a classic horror movie, with the All American couple of Brad and Janet seeking help from the inhabitants of and old, decaying mansion called the Frankenstein Place. There, they fall under the spell of self-proclaimed “sweet transvestite,” Dr. Frank N Furter. The plot escalates from there, with some sex, some murder, and a few musical numbers.
The aspect of Rocky Horror that cements its “cult” status is the culture of audience participation that’s built up around the film. Theaters host midnight showings where audience members shout “call backs” at the screen and a costumed cast acts out the movie while it plays behind them. If you didn’t go home with rice in your hair, you weren’t at Rocky Horror.
There are many theories as to why something that is, objectively, a really bad movie has managed to stay so popular and be so well loved. My theory is that it has to with sex. Specifically, the way the movie portrays sexual desire and queer sexuality.
I, and many of the people I know who consider themselves Rocky Horror fans, encountered it when we were fairly young (as pre-teens and teens). When you’re that age, you are generally getting the full brunt of the “sex is something that is inappropriate for people your age to be thinking about or doing but I know you’re thinking about it anyway so I am going to shame you if there is even a hint that you might be thinking about or doing it” messages. And heaven help you if your sexuality or gender identity was something other than straight or cisgender. Then it was shameful AND it was weird, and you should not discuss it because it makes the grown-ups uncomfortable.
So, imagine being that age and suddenly watching a movie where those messages are turned on their heads. Frank’s first song (“Sweet Transvestite”)is the best demonstration of this. He enters, struts to his throne, and flips off his Dracula-esque cape, revealing one hell of an outfit. If you’re not familiar with the number, I suggest watching it here so you’ll have a better sense of what I’m talking about. Frank is completely unashamed of his identity and his desires. In fact, he’s proud of them, and celebrates them. And, importantly, his gender non-conformity is coded as something sexy and appealing, rather than freaky and gross.
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Around Halloween, people flock to screenings of Rocky Horror, so here are some thoughts on why this cult classic still resonates with people.
