Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Hoboken

SPOILER ALERT: BE PREPARED TO DO THE TIME WARP… AGAIN

I love Halloween. From the costumes to the candy, everything about this season makes me want to jump for joy. But one thing stands out above the rest: the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Alone, it’s just a campy seventies movie musical about a couple whose car breaks down during a storm, leading them to a castle on a hill filled with wacky characters. An R-rated film, it is a bit risque. But make it a midnight picture show with a shadow cast to go along with it — that’s where the magic happens.

“What is a shadow cast,” you’re probably asking? Well, it’s when a group of people perform a movie live while said movie plays behind them on a screen. It’s a fun, interactive experience that allows for the movie to come alive right before the audience’s eyes.

Unlike other movies, I won’t spoil the plot… well, partially because the plot makes no sense. The movie, in my opinion, is one of those movies that is so bad that it’s good. So you just have to watch it yourself to see the “magic” of Rocky Horror. And honestly, it has to be watched live with a shadow cast to get the full effect.

I was so excited when I found out about the shadow cast here in Hoboken. I was so excited that I bought tickets to show my “virgin” (a term used by Rocky veterans to explain someone who hasn’t watched a shadow cast before) friends. Hyped, I waited for midnight to come around.

And it did not disappoint. The colorful cast of characters, from Janet to Riff Raff, from Frank-n-Furter to Brad, were beautifully represented in the shadow cast. Their performances were spot on. It also helped that I watched it on a sold-out Friday night, so the energy of the crowd was palpable, with people dressed as characters from the movie just to watch. Even though it wasn’t my first time watching, it was so much fun to be thrust into that kooky movie again.

I honestly recommend to anyone who hasn’t checked it out yet to watch the RHPS @ Hoboken perform when they come around again. It is an experience that is truly hard to forget. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to watch people strip, lip sync, and act their butts off in a movie theater. Plus all of the hijinks and surprises in between.

So when the time comes, let’s do the time warp again… and again… and again…