The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a cult classic for many a great reason, and some a little, ah, risqué reasons, too. Possibly an awkward first date idea and definitely rated R, the Midnight Movie experience is inappropriate in the extreme—and a lot of fun!
Released in 1975, the movie itself is a Burlesque parody of classic Hammer Horrors—B horror movies that had unintentionally funny elements. It was originally written as a live show called The Rocky Horror Show. If you’ve never been to the midnight experience, however, you’re in for a treat: this experience transcends both movie and theater. Movie film critic Roger Ebert called it more of a ‘long-running social phenomenon’ than a movie, a fact that helped its tradition go from art-house to grind-house style (fancy terms that mean it went from a slightly pretentious joke movie to one that was appreciated and even obsessed over by the masses, according to The Cult Film Reader).
It developed a cult following in New York that turned into a ritual, which developed ‘counter-point dialogue’ – when people yell things between the dialogues of characters in response to what’s been said. It eventually evolved into both audience participation and a shadow cast that performed the movie on a stage in front of where the movie is projected, mouthing the lines with the dialogue and responding to the audience in-character. It’s a big interactive experience unlike any other you’ll ever see.
And, thankfully, the cast at Houston’s historic River Oaks Theater, the last historic movie theater being used for its original purpose in Houston, is more than up to recreating those iconic New York cult movie scenes once a month! The Royal Mystic Order of Chaos is a refined cast that grew out of the original ‘Beautiful Creatures’ performers in 2012, one of the longest running casts in Texas. They rotate characters so it’s never the same show twice! But since the experience relies on the audience shouting and having a great time, you couldn’t recreate any one show. Oh, and did I mention alcohol is sold at the concession stands?
All in all, The Rocky Picture Horror Show is a memorable great time—and even if it scares you a little—you should check out this historic Houston staple! And get excited—show ‘virgins’ are treated, ah, extra special.
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