The (Drag) Queen of Cult

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – A Review

Director ~ Jim Sharman

Producer ~ Michael White

Writers ~ Richard O’Brian (original screenplay), Jim Sharman (adapted)

Starring ~ Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O’Brian, Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell, Jonathan Adams, Peter Hinwood, Meat loaf

This is probably the quintessential cult film; flopped at the box office, insanely devoted fan following, bizarre story and outrageous characters. Based on the musical by Richard O’ Brian, it is one of the strangest films I have ever seen and I loved every minute of it.

The plot follows a young, engaged couple, Brad and Janet, who knock on the door of Frank-N-Furter’s castle when their car breaks down in the pouring rain. They get quickly sucked into the crazed madness of Transylvania, losing their naïve innocence along the way. The film plays homage to old sci-fi and horror B-movies, and is a celebration of the ‘unconventional conventionalists’ of the world. The plot is a jumble most of the time and the acting is over the top but there is something hypnotic in its lack of boundaries and gaudy trashiness. The film’s messages about acceptance, through its very liberal views on sexuality, praises people’s differences in an unpretentious, joyous way and is one reason why this film has such a huge fan base. Tim Curry’s role as Frank-N-Furter has become iconic, and many of its songs, such as ‘Time Warp’ have stood the test of time.

The main reason that this film achieved such a large following was because of the decision to screen it at midnight during the 70s after it had performed so badly upon its initial release. Audience members began dressing up, talking back at the screen and throwing things during performances turning the film into a phenomenon. After years of wanting to go to a live viewing, I finally got the chance for my friend, Tom’s, birthday. Me, him and his boyfriend, Josh, got all dressed up and we took ourselves down to Leicester Square to finally get the full 'Rocky Horror' experience. We went to the Prince Charles Cinema, joining a host of eccentrically clad fanatics to watch the film. 

And it was incredible. The yelling, the singing along, the crazy, crazy costumes, the sheer unadulterated fun, all made it a night that I will never forget. I recommend it to anyone, as whether you are a fan of the film or not, I dare you not to have an amazing time. 

Favourite Quotes ~

Magenta: I'm lucky, he's lucky, we're all lucky! 

Frank: A mental mind fuck can be nice.

Magenta: I ask for nothing! 
Frank: And you shall receive it, IN ABUNDANCE! 

Frank: So come up to the lab and see what's on the slab. I see you shiver with antici...pation. 

Frank: It's not easy having a good time! Even smiling makes my face ache!

Dr. Everett Scott: This sonic transducer, it is I suppose some kind of audio-vibratory-physio-molecular transport device? 

Who do you blame when it all goes wrong?

Reservoir Dogs (1992) – A Review

Director ~ Quentin Tarantino

Producer ~ Lawrence Bender

Writer ~ Quentin Tarantino

Starring ~ Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Michael Madsen

Quentin Tarantino is considered by some to be a great cult director, but Reservoir Dogs is probably the only one of his films that actually qualifies as ‘cult’. It was Tarantino’s independent debut as both a writer and director, and is a brilliant low budget display of how great a filmmaker he is, even when you take away the opulence of his later work.

The film focuses around the events leading up to a jewelry heist and after it all goes horribly wrong. The team, each named after a colour to conceal their identities, try to figure out who was the ‘rat’ amongst them that alerted the police. The narrative jumps between the events before and after the robbery in a non-linear fashion intersected with unrelated scenes where they discuss Madonna and appropriate tipping etiquette.

Tarantino’s script is funny, in a very blunt way, and contrasts brilliantly with the lavish violence. The violent scenes in the film are also cleverly filmed, as the anticipation is built up and then usually the camera cuts away before the really gruesome acts are performed. The balance between the tension that is built up in these scenes and the snappy dialogue keeps your eyes peeled to the screen. It is a rapid, stylistic, gangster inspired piece of cinema and rightly established Tarantino as an upcoming writer/director to watch.

Favourite Quotes ~

Joe: You don't need proof when you have instinct. 

Mr. Blonde: Torture you? That's a good idea. I like that.

Mr. Pink: You kill anybody? 
Mr. White: A few cops. 
Mr. Pink: No real people? 
Mr. White: Just cops. 

Joe: Cough up a buck you cheap bastard. 

Mr. Pink: Do you know what this is? It's the world's smallest violin playing just for the waitresses.

Joe: Mr. Brown, Mr. White, Mr. Blonde, Mr. Blue, Mr. Orange, and Mr. Pink. 
Mr. Pink: Why am I Mr. Pink? 
Joe: Because you're a faggot, alright? 

Mr. Blonde: You kids shouldn't play so rough. Somebody's gonna start cryin'. 

Murder - a new extracurricular activity?

Heathers (1988) – A Review

Director ~ Michael Lehmann

Producer ~ Denise Di Novi

Writer ~ Daniel Waters

Starring ~ Winona Ryder, Christian Slater

‘Heathers’ is a dark twist on your typical high school film, which mocks the stereotypical cliques within an American high school in the 80s. The top clique at this school is the 'Heathers' which central character, Veronica (Winona Ryder), is a part of; alongside three other girls all called Heather. Veronica is different from the ‘Heathers’ in more ways than just her name. She longs for her old, less popular life and hates the deliberate cruelness displayed by the leader, Heather Chandler (Kim Walker). Veronica is instantly attracted to bad boy J.D. (Christian Slater) and they enter into a destructive relationship that quickly turns into a killing spree. They bond over their mutual disdain for the ‘Heathers’ and with J.D.’s coaxing, they begin to kill each of them off, disguising the deaths as suicides.

The tone is highly satirical, keeping the film away from becoming too frightening or even disturbing. The script is cleverly written, and the acting great, making it difficult to judge J.D. and Veronica for their actions. Additionally all the characters are very aware of the teenage clichés that they each fall into, adding to the sardonic tone of the film. I enjoyed the film for its tongue-in-cheek view of the plight of middle class teenagers whose life problems are really just incredibly shallow. The entire concept of the film is centered on the fact that ultimately these high school problems that we encounter at that age, are in fact insignificant and pointless. The way that this is demonstrated in this wonderfully black comedy is both enjoyable and interesting to watch. I recommend it to any fan of the ‘John Hughes-esque’ high school films of the 1980s as a refreshing take on the genre.

Favourite Quotes ~

J.D.: Chaos was what killed the dinosaurs, darling.

J.D.: People will look at the ashes of Westerburg and say, "Now there's a school that self-destructed, not because society didn't care, but because the school was society." Now that's deep. 

Veronica: It's one thing to want someone out of your life, but it's another thing to serve them a wake-up cup full of liquid drainer. 

J.D.: The extreme always seems to make an impression.

J.D.: I like it. It's got that what-a-cruel-world-let's-toss-ourselves-in-the-abyss type ambience.

Veronica: If you were happy every day of your life you wouldn't be a human being. You'd be a game-show host. 

Veronica: Dear Diary, my teen-angst bullshit now has a body count. 

Buy the ticket, take the ride

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) – A Review 

Director ~ Terry Gilliam

Producers ~ Patrick Cassavetti, Laila Nabulsi, Stephen Nemeth

Writers ~ Terry Gilliam, Tony Grisoni, Alex Cox, Tod Davies

Starring ~ Johnny Depp, Benicio del Toro

This film is a drug-induced, psychedelic experience with Johnny Depp perfectly cast in the lead role as manic sports journalist Raoul Duke. Panned for its lack of structure and development, it has gathered a considerable following of people who love its creative visual style and captivating madness. It is a surreal rollercoaster of a film perfectly suited to Terry Gilliam’s detail rich directing style. The two protagonists’ hallucinations manifest themselves in grotesque and occasionally repulsive scenes that leave the viewer confounded at times. However there is something so intoxicating about this film, in all its bizarreness.

It follows Raoul and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo (Benicio del Toro) as they travel back and forth from Vegas to cover various assignments and get as high as possible on whatever drug they get their hands on. Whilst many people have labeled it a pointless film that glorifies excessive drug use, I tend to disagree with that. I believe that the two men exemplify the notion of the ‘American Dream’, with their over-indulgent natures and constant search for the ‘high life’. As they travel around seemingly pointlessly, looking for the ultimate escape they represent a flawed society that excessively consumes to try and fulfill a meaningless existence.  The film isn’t trying to celebrate Raoul and Dr. Gonzo's behaviour but actually use them as a comment on the American public.

Whether or not you see this aspect of the film, it is still fascinating to watch for cinematography and to listen to its awesome soundtrack with music from Jefferson Airplane and The Yardbirds (two of my personal favourite bands), amongst other great songs. It isn’t necessarily one of my favourite films but it is definitely one that has stayed with me longest. It makes you think, and above everything, is unique in its strangeness. Worth a watch for anyone who thinks they can handle the ride.

Favourite Quotes ~

Raoul Duke: Quick, like a bunny. 

Raoul Duke: There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.

Raoul Duke: A drug person can learn to cope with things like seeing their dead grandmother crawling up their leg with a knife in her teeth. But no one should be asked to handle this trip. 

Dr. Gonzo: It's okay. He's just admiring the shape of your skull. 

Raoul Duke: There's a uh, big machine in the sky, some kind of, I dunno, electric snake, coming straight at us. 
Dr. Gonzo: Shoot it. 
Raoul Duke: Not yet, I want to study its habits.

Raoul Duke: Last name? I'd rather not say. My brother's in politics. 

Raoul Duke: Jesus, bad waves of paranoia, madness, fear and loathing - intolerable vibrations in this place. Get out. The weasels were closing in. I could smell the ugly brutes. 

So let's just never go to work..

Office Space (1999) – A Review

Director ~ Mike Judge

Producers ~ Daniel Rappaport, Michael Rotenberg

Writers ~ Mike Judge

Starring ~ Ron Livingstone, Jennifer Anniston, Stephen Root, Gary Cole

Quite possibly one of the funniest films I have seen, Office Space mocks an archetypal office environment in the 1990s. With a script full of hilarious gags, the cast does a good job of portraying bored, disgruntled employees. The personalities are so magnified in this enclosed world of cubicles to the point that the characters are almost caricature-like.  

The protagonist is Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingstone), an underachiever trapped in an unsatisfying relationship and a dull job at a software company. His girlfriend, Anne, makes him go to ‘occupational hypnotherapy’ to help him cope with his feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. During a session his hypnotherapist dies of a heart attack before he can ‘snap’ Peter out of his trance. Thus Peter remains in this state of complete relaxation and decides that he simply will not go to work, ignores his unfaithful, nagging girlfriend and finally asks out Joanna (Jennifer Aniston), a waitress at an annoyingly spirited TGI-Friday style restaurant. His uncaring, honest attitude to his job results in him getting promoted and his harder working friends getting sacked heightening the ridiculousness of the movie. So they plot to get back at their condescending boss, Bill Lumbergh (who is played incredibly by Gary Cole) with an elaborate money laundering scheme. 

It is a relatable film for anyone who has worked in a dissatisfying job where your computer shuts down for no reason, you get told to look over the same piece of work by several people and are forced to have ‘fun’ office days. It is one of the most quotable films I have ever seen; hence the rather extensive list below, and has a silly, easy to follow plot. A sympathetic satire of the monotonous lives of average people, I found it incredibly entertaining and witty.

 Favourite Quotes ~

Tom Smykowski: It was a ‘Jump to Conclusions’ mat. You see, it would be this mat that you would put on the floor... and would have different ‘Conclusions’ written on it that you could ‘Jump to’. 
Michael Bolton: That's the worst idea I've ever heard in my life, Tom.

Lawrence: Well, you don't need a million dollars to do nothing, man. Take a look at my cousin: he's broke, don't do shit. 

Michael Bolton: Peter, you're in deep shit. You were supposed to come in on Saturday. What were you doing? 
Peter Gibbons: Michael, I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything that I thought it could be. 

Peter Gibbons: I can't believe what a bunch of nerds we are. We're looking up "money laundering" in a dictionary. 

Bill Lumbergh: Oh, oh, and I almost forgot. Ah, I'm also gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday, too...

Samir: Is there some way to just give the money back? 
Peter Gibbons: What? You mean just hand them a check for the exact amount they're missing? I think they'd figure that out.