So I've just rewatched it after years of not seeing it and thought it would be cool if we talked about it here. I've only ever seen the vhs tape so if there is any scenes in like the DVD or bluerays that I'm not aware of I can't comment on.

Gonna rewatch it in a bit, it's rewinding now and maybe look up some lyrics later. Thought I put this up early so everyone can see and comment.

I'll put my thoughts down below and you don't have to comment today. If you watch it a week later and want to talk about feel free to. I would just really love to get y'all opinion on it.

Edit just realized I put This in main instead of movies, sorry. I'll see about cross posting at least.

  • D61 [any]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Haven't seen this in forever, but it was the first time there were queer coded characters in something I watched on TV (this would be on during the week of Halloween in the USA southern state that i grew up in oddly enough) where their queerness wasn't a joke, punchline, or for color. It was Brad, Janet and the Professor who were the outsiders and their clothing and mannerisms singled them out more in the story than the other characters.

    • Wmill [he/him,use name]
      hexagon
      ·
      3 years ago

      :leslie-feinberg: mentioned how the safest times to explore gender and sexuality were during Halloween btw. Yeah noticed how much those three were the oddballs in this all.

        • wtypstanaccount04 [he/him]
          ·
          3 years ago

          Reading the part in the book about how for some the one time a year they could be themselves was at a drag show :transshork-sad:

        • Wmill [he/him,use name]
          hexagon
          ·
          3 years ago

          I think I remember reading this in the book Trangender Warriors by :leslie-feinberg: . Also thanks for confirming this part.

  • RedArmor [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    RHPS is good and a classic and I love it. When I hear “Tim Curry” I think of his role in this first.

    • invalidusernamelol [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      He's fucking phenomenal in this movie. I really don't think it would have been such a cult classic without his performance.

    • Wmill [he/him,use name]
      hexagon
      ·
      3 years ago

      Ngl that sounds so cool, wish I could go to one of these show in the future. Covid though.

  • ciaplant667 [he/him,fae/faer]
    ·
    3 years ago

    My parents let me n my brothers watch RHPS when we were young chilluns. First time seeing a non-heteronormative person, ‘‘twas pretty cool. All the music does slap fucking hard, and it’s just so fucking weird. That being said, Frankenfurter does sexually assault Brad and Janet, has a literal sex slave, and does some casual murder, so I can definitely vibe with the criticism that the film’s not so great for queer visibility and acceptance.

    • Wmill [he/him,use name]
      hexagon
      ·
      3 years ago

      Yeah that scene left me feeling like uh... and the way Frankenfurter was controlling everyone was really off putting. Starting to wonder if I should tag this post NSFW or with a CW for these things. Tried not to mention it so as not to spoil the plot but I can put it.

  • Wmill [he/him,use name]
    hexagon
    ·
    3 years ago

    Gonna use a big word but I think the movie is about confronting hetronormativaty. Brad and Janet both start very tradcath and different in the ending. The music slaps. I like how representative the Transylvanians were but had to admit the main cast I found super white, no offense to white comrades btw. More thoughts coming but gonna watch again.

        • Wmill [he/him,use name]
          hexagon
          ·
          3 years ago

          Thank you comrade but I'm just gonna look for a dvd copy or something. I'm horrible with files and don't know how to use them but thanks again, and :sankara-salute: for this.

          • invalidusernamelol [he/him]
            ·
            3 years ago

            You just download it and click it lol, it's an avi so literally anything will play it. I think you can even watch it in your browser

  • PouncySilverkitten [none/use name]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Thanks, mom, for letting me watch this movie when I was ten. I have really great memories of being a tween and blasting the soundtrack (borrowed from the local library) on repeat. Watched it again last Halloween with my boyfriend, who had never seen it, and was impressed again by the detail and sense of humor. It’s fun to see how quickly Brad and Janet lean in to sexual liberation, despite their token protests.

    I’ve only ever seen it once in the theater and, funnily enough, I had a shitty time. There was one guy in the audience who had apparently memorized every dumb joke you could possibly call out at any given moment, and he recited them all until the movie became just a backdrop to his nasal running monologue.

    • Wmill [he/him,use name]
      hexagon
      ·
      3 years ago

      Yeah Brad and Janet struck me as super tradcath in the beginning. That love song and then pivoting to the rain scene with them arguing and evening frustrated with each other was I think a cool touch to show traditional life is a farce.

      Can imagine their relationship either wouldn't last after the film or maybe they be more open to experimenting with relationships. Admittedly I'm entering fanfic territory lol.

      Sucks to hear about that annoying dude. At least I'm sure it couldn't be me since I've only ever seen it on vhs.

      • PouncySilverkitten [none/use name]
        ·
        3 years ago

        The whole wedding scene at the beginning is sexist (“She got hers and tonight he’ll get his!” or whatever is written on the car), and Brad spends the whole time looking uncomfortable. Janet is mostly interested in the ring he gives her (“It’s nicer than Betty Monroe has!”). Their relationship is definitely... something.

        I like that the workers in the church are played by Tim Curry et al. And that immediately after the wedding, they start setting up for a funeral.

        • Wmill [he/him,use name]
          hexagon
          ·
          edit-2
          3 years ago

          Some of that went by me ngl, couldn't pause since vhs but yeah. I didn't notice Tim Curry tbh but more my fault. I was taking notes at first before I stopped to enjoy the film.

          • PouncySilverkitten [none/use name]
            ·
            3 years ago

            Oh yeah, I think there’s plenty of background stuff there that you can miss if you aren’t looking for it. It’s not a deep movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it was made by people who cared about it.

            This is also reminding me that I’ve never seen the sequel (if you can call it a sequel), Shock Treatment. Opinions on that one seem to be... mixed? I’m not sure.

    • FidelCashflow [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      that guy in the theater is right. You went to a lame showing.

      The whole audience is supposed to be in costume and doing it as well. Also spoons.

      • PouncySilverkitten [none/use name]
        ·
        3 years ago

        See, the joy is in lots of different people participating in calling stuff out, not everyone being drowned out by one nerd who has to say every single thing you possibly can.

  • Multihedra [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    This doesn’t contribute to discussion of the move but

    it’s rewinding now

    is a phrase I never thought I would see again and totally brought me back to the 90s, amazing.

    That said, since I feel guilty not commenting on the move itself, a little theater in my area would screen it every year, people would dress up and I gather it was a great time. I kinda feel like I went once but I really am not sure if I did

    • Wmill [he/him,use name]
      hexagon
      ·
      3 years ago

      Yeah having to rewind felt kind of odd but cool at least until it broke. From what I gather from others here it's an experience worth going to. It cool to comment on the tapes btw. I know I did even if it made me feel old.

    • Wmill [he/him,use name]
      hexagon
      ·
      3 years ago

      Well if you ever feel like writing it I know I'd read it all. Sounds interesting but if you don't feel up to it now I understand.

  • Wmill [he/him,use name]
    hexagon
    ·
    3 years ago

    ATTENTION EVERYONE!!! This Post was supposed to go into movies but I messed up. I'll link the movies one so mingle or something. https://hexbear.net/post/84568