Dammit, Janet.

Arguably, the Rocky Horror Picture Show is the best-known and longest-running cult film. It’s still on limited release in theaters more than thirty years after its initial debut. The film mocks conventions of science fiction and horror movies, but has a serious lack of plot. What was the attraction, then, to this film? Was it a “so-bad-its-good” outlook? What spawned the obsessive fandom that resembles cult activity? It seems that the popularity of the film was created more from the fan base rather than the success of the movie itself.

Perhaps the appeal is the way that the films address topics that are not usually considered appropriate or mainstream. Maybe it’s the controversial nature and unconventional techniques used to create the diagesis. Perhaps the characters are so drastically unique and unrealistic that they give adults a rare opportunity to play.

As the fans perpetuate the success of these movies, new features are incorporated as their involvement in the text deepens: they didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to throw toast at the screen. Regardless, eventually a “script” of interactions with the movie has been created and mysteriously maintained. This intrigue draws in the younger folk with a sense of mystery and a need to understand traditions from the past. Cult films, especially in the case of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, have come to transcend generations.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show has proven itself to be a timeless piece of cinema history. Engaging young and old, male and female, expert and novice, it’s a unique experience for all. We expect this affinity group to continue to grow, not only in number, but also in design grammar – developing more interactive activity with each viewing.

So what upcoming or present films will resonate or offer some new, innovative idea different from that of the mainstream market? Since the concept of cult films appears to be relatively young, it will be fascinating to examine what common elements will spawn other obsessive, cult fan bases.

Co-written by Alyssa Pearson and Phill Demarest