By Sofia Montoya-Deck //
What screams Halloween more than a human experiment gone awry, floating red lips and a time-warp dance?
The “Rocky Horror Picture Show” first hit theaters on Sept. 26, 1975, and nearly 50 years later has maintained its designation as a cult classic.
The film, which parodies the story of Frankenstein, follows sweethearts Brad and Janet as they stumble upon the eerie mansion of transvestite scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter.
Those attending “Rocky Horror” screenings should be prepared for a participatory experience. Movie-goers are often encouraged to dress up as characters from the film, participate in yell-back lines and throw props at the screen.
“Rocky Horror” defied many gender and sexuality norms in the film industry at the time of its 1975 release. “As a straight cis person, I feel like ‘Rocky Horror’ was ahead of its time,” said Lisa Marcus, a French professor and co-director of the Honors Program.
“The film opened up possibilities beyond the heteronormative couple for whole generations of Americans and made those options visible in a way no other film had done at the time,” she added.
Marcus also commented on the groundbreaking nature of the characters’ gender fluidity, cross-dressing and hidden desires of straight couples. “These were all revolutionary, and I think they made the film into the cult classic it still is today,” she said.
While “Rocky Horror” has contributed to the visibilities of LGBTQ+ identities, it remains debatable whether such representation is supportive. “I’ve spoken to LGBTQ+ folks who believe very strongly that ‘Rocky Horror’ made it possible for them to be who they are without apology, and that it helped others to understand gender diversity as well as sexuality,” Marcus said. “Other LGBTQ+ folks feel equally strongly that ‘Rocky Horror’ fetishizes their identities in ways that lead to persecution and othering, and they object to it on those grounds.”
An argument for the latter opinion would be the movie’s ending, in which Frank-N-Furter and the other transvestites are revealed to be aliens from another planet, which could be interpreted as a comparison of LGBTQ+ identities not being accepted by Earth’s society.
Furthermore, Frank-N-Furter’s self-identification as a transvestite may not be considered as accepted in today’s society as other terms such as “cross-dresser” or “transgender.”
Despite mixed opinions, it is undisputed that “Rocky Horror” has remained a cult classic. “The experience remains unique and still retains its shock value even after almost 50 years,” Marcus said.
The “Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be screened by Hood’s Queer Student Union in Hodson Auditorium on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
A musical adaptation will be performed at Frederick Community College in collaboration with the Maryland Ensemble Theater from Oct. 31-Nov. 2.
Warehouse Cinemas offers a singular screening on Halloween night at 9 p.m. In past years, Warehouse has given attendees a “Rocky Horror” goodie bag with props such as a newspaper, noisemaker, party hat and instructions on when and how to use each one.
For those willing to travel longer distances for the experience, some locations, such as Northwest DC’s Landmark’s E Street Cinema, go all out with their “Rocky Horror” productions. E Street has a shadow cast, the Sonic Transducers, perform alongside the film at each showing.
At a point in the movie where Brad and Janet are stripped down to their underwear, the Sonic Transducers invite the audience to do the same and join them in an “underwear run” around the theater.
Additionally, those watching the film for the first time are stamped with a large “V” on their foreheads upon entrance to identify them as a “Rocky Horror” virgin.
As Halloween approaches, the ongoing screenings of “Rocky Horror” highlight its lasting impact on audience members who embrace its celebration of self-expression.
“I think it’s the cheerful irreverence of both the film and the traditional audience responses that remain both entertaining and validating for a lot of spectators, both straight and queer,” Marcus said. “What could be more fun than an evening of raucous shouting at the screen, complete with props and actors in outrageous costumes?”
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