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I loved going to “Rocky Horror” when I was in college, but watching on home video just wasn’t the same. I’m probably committing heresy but there’s a reason why this sci-fi, horror, B-movie satire, rock musical didn’t really make it big until theaters started showing it as a midnight movie and fans started attending in costume and talking back to the screen. The 25th anniversary DVD, with several audience participation options, really is the next best thing to being there.For the uninitiated, “Rocky Horror” tells the story of two clean-cut American youths, uptight Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick of “Spin City”) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon of “Dead Man Walking”) whose car breaks down on a dark, deserted road in the middle of a storm–the classic beginning to many horror movies–and who seek help at a nearby castle. Castles, as Rocky fans know, don’t have phones! What this castle has instead is a cross-dressing mad scientist Frank-N-Furter Tim Curry, in perhaps his finest performance), two very creepy servants, Riff-Raff (Richard O’Brien, who wrote the musical) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and various other hangers-on, including lovers Columbia (Little Nell) and biker Eddie (Meat Loaf). Brad and Janet walk in on a party celebrating the creation of Frank-N-Furter’s muscle-bound boy-toy “Rocky.” Bed-hopping chaos soon ensues, until the servants reveal their true identities and take control.Punctuating this wacky plot are some of the wildest rock-musical songs ever written. In addition to the classic “Time Warp,” there’s O’Brien’s salute to cult-classic B-movies, “Science Fiction Double Feature,” Meat Loaf’s “Hot Patootie,” and Sarandon ode to sexual self-discovery, “Toucha Toucha Touch Me!”So much for the “Rocky virgin” portion of the review… What makes the DVD so exceptional is the chance to experience “Rocky Horror” at home nearly like you would in the theater. The DVD has the option of turning on the audience screen comments as well as another option for viewing members of the Rocky Horror Fan Club performing select scenes before returning to the main movie. For those less familiar with audience participation, the DVD can prompt when to throw toast, toilet paper, rice, etc., light a match, put your newspaper on your head, etc.The second disc contains fascinating interviews with cast members, where fans can find out about their reaction to starring in this cult classic. Meat Loaf’s description of not realizing what “Rocky Horror” was going to be about and running out of the theater when Tim Curry entered wearing fishnet stockings, spiked heels, a merry widow, and a leather jacket and singing “Sweet Transvestite” is hysterical. Patricia Quinn talks about how her fondness for the opening song, “Science Fiction Double Feature” made her want to take the role even though she hadn’t read the rest of the script. What? Don’t remember Quinn singing that number? In the stage versions she did, but the song got reassigned in the film version–and Quinn makes her feelings about that QUITE clear. Sarandon makes the interesting observation that “Rocky Horror” probably kept a lot of art house theaters in business over the years, since they could count on good revenue from the midnight movie, even if the latest regular-hours offering flopped. In Bostwick’s interview, however, the actor sounds a bit like William Shatner giving his anti-Trekkie diatribe on “Saturday Night Live.”The only disappointments on the DVD are that the outtakes really aren’t that interesting and actor bios aren’t provided. I would have liked to see what else the “minor” cast members did after Rocky, but that information is limited to a few lines in the companion booklet. Also, some of the audience-participation comments are nearly impossible to understand because fans are talking over each other. But then that’s part of the modern-day theater experience. Even Sarandon noted in her interview that talking back to the screen has gone from the more unison catechism approach to a loud free-for-all.What seemed so risqué and shocking a few decades ago seems much more innocent today, but it was great when it all began and it’s still great! If you’ve never ventured into the theater to experience “Rocky Horror,” this is the best way to experience it at home.

Review by Gary F. Taylor
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From absolute disaster to international success, few titles have had the roller-coaster ride of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. Originally a low-budget English stage show, it exploded into mainstream popularity and became one of London’s longest running musicals–but then died a quick and very painful death in New York. As an afterthought, the American company played a limited engagement in Los Angeles and once more the show was a smash hit and soon became a motion picture–which received mixed reviews and proved a box office dud. That probably would have been the end of it, but the film suddenly and unexpectedly emerged as a cult movie phenomena and ascended to international acclaim.The story is well known. All-American Brad Majors and Janet Weiss become engaged and rush to tell their mentor, Dr. Everett Scott. But they take a wrong turn, have a flat, and suddenly find themselves captives of a bisexual transvestite from outer space who is intent on making the perfect boy-toy lover from scratch. Although the material was considerably softened for the screen, even today it remains surprisingly sharp, and the film contains numerous references to the classic Hollywood horror films that inspired it. The cast, most of whom played in the stage versions, is truly astonishing. Tim Curry was little known when the film was made, but he shows tremendous talent in the role of Dr. Frank N. Furter, the bisexual transvestite from outer space; his performance is a remarkable combination of broad farce, sensuality, and dark wit. While Curry is certainly the show’s centerpiece, the rest of the cast is equally effective. Both Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon are beautifully cast as the goody-goody Brad and Janet; Richard O’Brien (who wrote the stage show), Patricia Quinn, Little Nell, and Meatloaf all give memorable turns as the mad doctor’s bizarre associates; and character actors Johnathan Adams and Charles Gray offer considerable drop-dead wit in supporting roles. Only Peter Hinwood seems out of his league, selected more for looks than talent–but strange to say, this actually works in the context of the film.If you’ve only seen this film at an audience-participation showing, you’re in for a surprise: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is wickedly funny, something you’re likely to miss when every one in the audience is screaming at the screen. Although the material was toned down for the movie–song sequences were rearranged, lyrics rewritten, and script and characters softened–the whole thing still has plenty of bite. The story, of course, is intrinsically subversive; the script has a uniquely British sensibility; and the songs are catchy, bouncy, and frequently have lyrics that are very clever in an underhanded sort of way. This double DVD release offers two versions of the film: the American release and the British, the latter of which is slightly different and includes the song “Superheroes.” It also includes a version that offers “prompts” for audience participation and a version that shows the audience in action. There are also a mixed bag of videos, interviews, and the like. I was not greatly impressed with the bonus package–it seemed to me that it was all pretty obvious stuff–but most fans will find something to enjoy. Whatever the case, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW has a lot more going for it than cult status; it’s a good film in its own right. Recommended.

Review by Carrie Margulies
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“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is my favorite movie in the whole wide world. The songs are timeless and most of the performances are truly classic. Anyone who thinks Tim Curry should have won the Oscar for his performance in this film, raise your hand. I think so, too!I really do like this DVD, but I would actually only recommend it to people who have never seen the movie before. I will explain. As everyone knows, the thing about “Rocky Horror” is the audience participation. If you just watch the movie by yourself in your living room, it is fun, but not as fun as hearing people shout witticisms at the screen. With this DVD you can watch the movie by yourself, and take in all the madness..but you can also experience the live aspect with the feature that allows you to hear the callbacks and see a live “Rocky” cast performing. I think that’s an excellent and necessary feature of a DVD version of such a film.Now, purists such as myself might be a little disappointed at this DVD. The “hilarious outtakes” and such are not different than those which were featured on the 20th Anniversary laserdisc. It kinda nullifies having to buy the DVD, but if you really really want to, it’s not a bad idea. Hearing Richard O’Brien and Patricia Quinn’s (Riff-Raff and Magenta, respectively) running commentary is worth the price of admission, so go ahead and splurge.