“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” revival blasted onto television screens for the first time last Thursday, Oct. 20. Clearly trying to be in keeping with the original, director Kenny Ortega made a lot of choices that preserved the initial shock of a show about “transvestites” that would have made huge waves in the 70s. At the same time, some changes, like the addition of a “live” audience and a new intro, completely dumbed down the experience.
First thing’s first, Laverne Cox’s performance was out of this world. She maintains everything that was great about Tim Curry’s Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter through her recreation of his facial expressions, mannerisms and even the intonation of his voice in some lines. Keeping this in mind, she also makes the performance her own with her wild entrance and high energy.
Adam Lambert also did well in the resurrection of Eddie, which lasts about three minutes before he is killed again. He pulls off the good ol’ rock and roll attitude with sass as he dances around Frank ‘N’Furter’s lab, making both men and women swoon.
The costume design really worked in favor of the new portrayal. Columbia’s cotton candy-inspired outfit somehow out does her initial glittery-gold getup. Riff Raff, while regrettably not a humpback like in the original, looked way more Hollywood with his black and white wig, which was much more attractive than the half-bald-half-Legolas look of the old Riff Raff.
The set design substantially improved in the new version as well as it was more intricate and flashy. It also helped that there was more lighting in the 2016 version so the audience could actually see the set.
Ortega’s nods to the original film, while mainly functioning to serve the die-hard fans, are killer. Both the joke about Meatloaf at dinner, a reference to the original actor who played Eddie, and Tim Curry playing the narrator were much appreciated. It also helps that Tim Curry was easier to understand than the original narrator.
Aside from all of that, the films falls flat in almost every other way.
The entire appeal of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is that it is a film that not only mocks aspects of society like gender norms and horror films, but it also mocks itself in the way that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. In watching the newer version, it seemed as though they were trying so hard to recreate the campiness of the original that they lose this aspect. It was like watching a tribute band that was just slightly off-key.
Ortega “updated” the music by adding more production and guitar riffs. It was cool that there was a live band in most scenes, but this took the magical, more minimalistic feel from the movie. It was a huge disappointment seeing as how the music is truly the glue that holds Frank ‘N’ Furter’s insanity together.
There were also a lot of little things that took away from the enjoyment of the movie. It was less edgy. Multiple times, I turned to my friends who were watching it with me for the first time, and I told them they should watch the original because it was a lot more shocking. As much as I loved Cox, one of the things that made Rocky Horror so hard to watch for the more heteronormative audience members was that Frank ‘N’ Furter was a dude in fishnets and a corset.
Also, when Frank ‘N’ Furter “medusas” the other characters, they don’t turn to stone and instead, they freeze on the spot. Medusa, the gorgon, turned people to stone, and therefore, medusa-ing should turn people to stone. Apparently, Ortega didn’t get the memo.
When it comes down to it, if you want to watch the “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” watch the original. A revival is fun and brings new attention to an old classic, but it wasn’t the same experience.
2.75/5 stars
Fox Network's remake of the 1975 cult classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show" aired last Thursday, Oct. 20, starring Victoria Justice, Brad McCarten and LaVerne Cox.
Transgender actress LaVerne Cox played Frank-N-Ferter in the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" reboot, debuting on Fox on Thursday, Oct. 20.
