Rocky Horror sequels and other media

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 British parody musical comedy that satirizes science fiction and horror B-movies. It was one of the first successful midnight movies and has gained a cult following. Because of the cult following, it has spawned an indirect sequel Shock Treatment, as well as merchandise such as video games, toys, comic books and trading cards. Richard O'Brien has also attempted (and failed) to write scripts for movies and plays to further the story.

Sequels

Rocky Horror Shows His Heels

Rocky Horror Shows His Heels (originally planned as The Curse of the Baby) was the original script of a direct sequel to Rocky Horror written by Richard O'Brien. It focused on the resurrection of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and Janet was pregnant with either Frank-N-Furter's, Rocky's, or Brad's child. It was never filmed because the director Jim Sharman didn't want to do the same movie twice, and due to the unavailability of some of the cast members. Because of this, O'Brien shifted gears and started working on The Brad and Janet Show, which would become Shock Treatment.

Shock Treatment

Shock Treatment is a 1981 American Comedy-Musical and a follow up to Rocky Horror. It is more of a spin-off than a sequel, furthering the adventures of Brad and Janet. After Brad and Janet get married they travel home to Denton, to find it taken over by Farley Flavors and encased in a Reality TV Studio, and the duo are put on the game show Marriage Maze. Shock Treatment features many cast members from Rocky Horror but as different characters, with the exception of Jeremy Newson who was the only actor to reprise his role, Ralph Hapschatt.

Revenge of the Old Queen

Revenge of the Old Queen was the second direct sequel script written by O'Brien^[1] in the late 1980s. The script features original songs, composed by O'Brien and Richard Hartley. Despite being the third instalment in the story, it is often referred to as Rocky Horror Picture Show: Part Two.^[2]

As was the case with Shock Treatment, the plot of Revenge of the Old Queen is not completely congruent with the events of the prior movies. The story takes place mostly on the distant planet of Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania and focuses on Frank-N-Furter's mother, the Old Queen, and her revenge against Riff-Raff for killing her son. Janet returns with her illegitimate son, Sonny, hinted to be the son of Frank-N-Furter. Brad, meanwhile, became a bottomless go-go dancer in Las Vegas but fell to his death from a trapeze. He was buried wearing a rhinestone choker and six inch high heels but nothing else.

The script is currently owned by 20th Century Fox which produced the two original films. Although the script has not been published, bootleg copies can be read on the Internet. Most individuals associated with the project, including O'Brien, agree that the film will probably never be made, owing to the failure of Shock Treatment and the aging of the cast.

Untitled stage sequel

In 2001 Richard O'Brien confirmed that he was working on a new sequel of his original play The Rocky Horror Show. Fans titled it Rocky Horror: The Second Coming, but O'Brien never confirmed the title. He did, however, state that it would include elements from the unmade Rocky Horror Shows His Heels and Revenge of the Old Queen. The play would be set nine months after the events of The Rocky Horror Show and would feature a pregnant Janet carrying either Frank-N-Furter's or Rocky's child. "Frankie Phoenix" was the only song leaked by O'Brien, and was stated to illustrate Frank-N-Furter's resurrection. It had also been intended to become a film like its predecessor if the play had become a financial hit, but after multiple false starts, the project has fallen into a development hell.

Unproduced film remake

In 2009, MTV Films and Sky Movies planned to release a 2-Hour long remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The remake was based on the original screenplay, and was going to feature original songs and was going to be released around Halloween 2009. Richard O'Brien wasn't involved and did not give the film his blessing.

Alternative versions

United States Cut

The original United States cut of the film from 1976 changed the ending of the film slightly by omitting the musical number "Super Heroes" and cutting to the Criminologist's speech at the end of the number. The scene was omitted because 20th Century Fox thought it was "too depressing." "Science Fiction/Double Feature (Reprise)" was also cut in the original United States print.

These cuts have since been restored in newer theatrical prints and the DVD releases.

Oz recut

Richard O'Brien originally intended for the film to be in black and white for the first 20 minutes and turning to color when Frank-N-Furter appeared, starting with red color on his lipstick and spreading color throughout the picture as the song continued—a direct allusion to The Wizard of Oz. It was vetoed by 20th Century Fox for a more conventional look. In the 25th Anniversary DVD, an easter egg appears that converts the film to a semblance of O'Brien's original vision, with the film switching to color instantly when Riff Raff swings open the doorway during the Time Warp.

Alternate soundtracks

The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show

The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show is a 2003 cover Soundtrack performed by various Modern Punk-Rock bands including The Ataris, Tsunami Bomb, Alkaline Trio, and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

The 15th Anniversary Celebration

A four-CD box soundtrack set released for the 15th Anniversary. The set consists of: the original motion picture soundtrack; the Rocky Horror Show original Roxy cast recording; Songs from the Vaults, rare tracks from various cast members, tracks from the Shock Treatment soundtrack and radio advertising spots for the original release; and Rocky Horror International, a collection of tracks from cast recordings around the world along with the previously unreleased film cast recordings of The Sword of Damocles, Once in a While and Planet, Schmanet, Janet. Also included is a 24-page commemorative booklet, and comic book.

The Rocky Horror Glee Show

On October 26, 2010, the fifth episode of season two of Glee, "The Rocky Horror Glee Show" pays tribute to both the stage version and the 1975 film adaptation.^[3] The cast of glee released an EP on October 19, 2010, called the Glee: The Music, The Rocky Horror Glee Show featuring, "Science Fiction Double Feature", "Hot Patootie", "Damn It, Janet", "Sweet Transvestite", "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me", "There's a Light (Over at the Frankenstein Place)" and "Time Warp".^[4]

Other media

The Rocky Horror Show Computer Game

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Computer Game as played on a Commodore 64

The Rocky Horror Show Computer Game is a 1985 video game for the Commodore 64, Commodore 128, ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC created by the CRL Group PLC. The game involved playing as either Brad or Janet and collecting pieces of the Medusa machine scattered around the castle, in order to free your partner from stone and escape the castle before it blasts off. Meanwhile, the other characters in the game can hinder your progress by stealing and hiding your clothes along with what you are carrying. Riff-Raff can kill the player with his laser gun, and Eddie can run the player over with his motorcycle should he thaw out and escape from his freezer.

The Rocky Interactive Horror Show Game

The Rocky Interactive Horror Show Game is a 1999 PC Video game. Released in March 1999 for the PC by On-Line PLC. Similarly to the earlier CRL game, the player plays as Brad or Janet and must rescue their partner from the castle. Unlike the older computer game, its gameplay was more puzzle-oriented, and benefited from the added detail, graphics, and live video sequences that the PC could provide. Despite this, it was criticised for a clumsy user interface and for using two-dimensional graphics, at a time when most games were using 2.5D. The game featured Richard O'Brien who pops up from time to time taunting the player, but he does not play "Riff-Raff" in the game. He also is a performer for songs from the play/film on the in-game jukebox. Well respected horror film legend Christopher Lee fills the shoes of Charles Gray as The Criminologist.

The 15th Anniversary Rocky Horror Picture Show Comic

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Comic is a 1990 comic book adaption of The Rocky Horror Picture Show written and illustrated by Kevin VanHook, published by Caliber Press for the 15th Anniversary Celebration.

The Rocky Horror Trivia Game

The Rocky Horror Trivia Game is a 2005 trivia board game created by USAopoly for the 30th Anniversary Celebration. It features 1200 questions based on The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the actors from the film, and the sequel film Shock Treatment.

Other

In 1980, Fantasy Trading Card Company produced a 60 card set of Trading cards featuring publicity photos of the main cast members. 50 of the cards told the story of movie by having an image on side, and the other had brief captions. In 1995 Comic Images created a 96 card set of trading cards for the 20th Anniversary Celebration.

In 2000, Vital Toys created Frank-N-Furter, Riff-Raff, and Columbia action figures. They were sold separately or together in a "box set". Two more planned series were never released due to poor sales. Frank-N-Furter was released as a CelebriDuck on CelebriDuck.com. And McFarlane Toys released a fully 3D rendered sculpture of the film's poster available on Cultureboom.net.

References