Halloween is my favourite holiday, and for all the horror
lovers, no Halloween is complete without a movie marathon of all the classics. At
the top of my list is The Rocky Horror
Picture Show, a 1975 film adaptation of a British rock musical stageplay. For
the readers who are not familiar with this movie, if you enjoy kitschy, loud
and somewhat offensive musicals, I suggest you become acquainted. Apart from The Rocky Horror Picture Show being a
cult classic, I have recently come to realize it contains many semblances with
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
The Rocky Horror
Picture Show may be seen as the comedic version of the original Frankenstein, wherein Dr. Frank N.
Furter brings life to a creature (named Rocky) for his own personal pleasure,
but soon finds he is unable to control his creature’s lust. Both Frankenstein
and Frank N. Furter bring creatures into the world over whom they are powerless.
While there are many finer themes in the novel which are
somewhat lost in the film, there is one idea which remains equally present in
both: It is never wise to extend one’s boundaries past what is capable. Frankenstein and his modern day counterpart
pay dearly for exploring the forbidden realms of creation. Victor’s monster
kills those closest to him, while Rocky betrays his creator and seduces various
others into his bed. Exactly like in the novel, The Rocky Horror Picture Show ends with the destruction of both
creature and creator.
This twisted and comedic film mirrors the Frankenstein novel but in a contemporary
light; updating themes to suit the trends of the day.
It shocked me how many years I had been watching this film
without making even the slightest connection to the Frankenstein novel, to which
it undoubtedly owes its roots.
Who doesn't love kitschy, loud and offensive? Dr. FNF's name gives a good sense of the tone of this revision!
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