Rocky Horror Picture Show

Blu Ray Review

By Jessica Dwyer

No one put the cult in cult classic quite like Rocky Horror.  There’s really nothing more I can say about the beauty that is Tim Curry in fishnets and high heels or Richard O’Brien and his gaunt lunacy.  35 years is a lot of time (warp) and the movie and the music still stand up.

So for the 35th anniversary 20th Century Fox has released the film on Blu Ray and it is quite possibly one of the best I’ve seen.

The packaging is in a book filled with some beautiful shots of the actors and Curry in particular in glammed out glory.  The Blu Ray is packed too with not the least of which is a beautiful, clear presentation of the film.  So clear in fact I noticed things I’ve never seen before on the darker regular DVD’s and VHS copies.

Within the Blu Ray is the ability to watch a ShadowCast in the bottom right of your screen while the movie plays (just like in the theater).  There’s a callback track in the top right that tells you what you should be shouting.  There’s a prop box in the bottom left so you don’t have to ruin your living room and that you can activate to throw rice, toast, shoot water, etc at the appropriate times.  Commentary tracks by O’Brien and Patricia Quinn, deleted scenes, a Rocky-oke (kareoke) feature, alternate endings, just TONS of stuff and featurettes too.

There are only two issues I have with the release.  One is the fact that (and this may just be my player but it’s a pretty new one) the load times are insane.  The disc is packed with content and it shows.  It also seemed to get confused a couple of times on what it was trying to do.

The other problem was I was hoping that the 25th Anniversary Special would be included on the disc.  I loved that thing, not the least of which was due to this (click the picture to see the video):

There were other performances too.  But damn Giles.  Anyway, that was a neat special and would have been a great addition to an already awesome release.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 35th anniversary edition is awesome fun and just in time for Halloween.  Frank-N-Furter and the gang look absolutely beautiful.  This is one that you need to pick up.   MSRP $34.99 and worth it.