ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW / SHOCK TREATMENT

I can't possibly recall how many times I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I've seen the stage show, the audience participation screenings and watched it countless times at home... It is a timeless cult classic that (for me) gets better with age. I watched it recently with a couple of Rocky Horror virgins and the excitement of seeing Frank N Furter's grand entrance was as thrilling for me now as it was the first time. I looked over to my viewing companions to see looks of confusion at what was unfolding. I tried to recall my first time and it was probably something similar. The movie is madness from start to finish and where I used to think the stronger musical numbers were during the first half (Time Warp, Sweet Transvestite etc) I now consider the final act to be the most powerful with amazing numbers like Don't Dream It and I'm Coming Home.... after umteenth viewings, still amazing!!

And then there's the grossly underrated sequel, Shock Treatment. Richard O'Brian considers it an "equal" but at the time of it's release the audiences didn't agree and the movie flopped big time. Fortunately audiences have wised up (built their thighs up?) and embraced Shock Treatment. The movie follows the further exploits of Brad and Janet who are newlyweds. During a recording of a local tv show, they find themselves trapped in a warped and surreal television world which is controlled by an evil executive. Just like Rocky Horror, the movie makes little sense while at the same time making a world of sense (ya with me?). I've also seen this movie more times than I care to remember and I think the songs are definitely as strong as the first movie. The characters are great and aside from Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon & Barry Bostwick all of the original cast return along with some welcome new players like Jessica Harper, Cliff De Young, Barry Humphries, Ruby Wax and Rik Mayall. Cliff De Young was the original choice to play Brad Majors in Rocky Horror but he was unable to commit... and so he steps into the role in this follow up and relishes every line. I love this movie and suggest that people persist with it. It's stranger and harder to take then Rocky but when it sinks in, its fantastic!!! 

FYI... Richard O'Brien wrote a 3rd movie to round it off as a trilogy. It was titled Revenge Of The Old Queen which takes place back on the planet Transexual and focuses on Frank N Furter's mother. Janet arrives with Frank's lovechild and the story goes from there. The script is floating around online but 20th Century Fox own it and are never likely to produce it. How RAD WOULD THAT BE THOUGH????

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