The Cult Classic Revisited: Exploring Frank-N-Furter’s Queer Allure

By: Abbie Overdorf

Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers from the film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

In most Frankenstein movies, the scientist isn’t the main focus, but in the cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Frank-N-Furter, played by Tim Curry, is. The Rocky Horror Picture Show follows Brad and Janet as they explore the mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter after experiencing a flat tire during a storm. As they meet the houseguests, Brad and Janet have shown up just in time for Frank-N-Furter to unveil his latest creation, Rocky. Frank-N-Furter is a queer icon, as well as a horror villain, although he isn’t the typical villain, as he has a campiness to him that compels everyone to love him. 

Frank-N-Furter’s character is inspired by The Bride of Frankenstein. His creation, Rocky, includes similar themes of rebirth and scientific ambition. Yet Frank-N-Furter has a different type of element to him than other horror villains. He isn't Jason Voorhees, who is violent to please his dead mother, or Michael Myers, who starts killing after he murders his sister when he was six. 

Frank-N-Furter challenges gender norms because he comes across as both feminine and masculine. He uses he/him pronouns, wears makeup and pearls, and highlights his genitals in what he wears. When we first meet Frank-N-Furter, he enters from an elevator to perform “Sweet Transvestite.” He’s dressed in bejeweled heels and a long black cape with a flared silver collar, something a vampire would wear. His makeup is loud, having a smokey eye up to his thin and black eyebrows. His bronzer is prominent and he has a cherry red lipstick to finish his look off. According to The Guardian, Tim Curry did his own makeup for the film. He portrays himself in the traditional, Hollywood feminine light with the way he talks and how he acts with expression. 

Being both feminine and masculine allows other adaptations including films, TV shows, and live performances to have anyone, male or female, portray Frank-N-Furter. In the TV show Glee, they have a Rocky Horror Picture Show-inspired episode. In this episode, Frank-N-Furter is played by one of the ladies in the glee club, Mercedes. This episode is just as campy as the film with the actors who played Eddie (Meatloaf) and Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) in the original film, each making a cameo. 

Frank-N-Furter’s gender presentation is accepted by everyone in the mansion. His gender appearance is the norm, and even Brad and Janet don’t seem off put by it. Even when Janet is scared, she seems to gravitate towards Frank-N-Furter. Eventually, many are attracted to him because of his presence. His gift for shocking reveals and dramatic timing is what makes him such an icon, especially in the queer community. 

As showcased by his grand reveals and musical numbers, Frank-N-Furter’s campiness level is off the chart. When Frank-N-Furter performs “Sweet Transvestite,” he walks away from Brad and Janet at the elevator, down a red carpet, and to a little stage. Before taking off the cape he’s wearing to reveal his outfit underneath, he sings the lyrics:

“Don't get strung out by the way that I look

Don't judge a book by its cover

I'm not much of a man by the light of day

But by night I'm one hell of a lover

I'm just a sweet transvestite” 

This particular part in the song can be empowering for many people, as Frank-N-Furter doesn’t care what you look like or what your gender is. He will take you as you are. 

A key aspect of his character is his sexuality and sexual liberation. He’s portrayed as a highly sexual person, one who is attracted to multiple genders and attracts all genders. The scientist in him is trying to make the perfect man, as he sings in “Sweet Transvestite”:

“I could show you my favorite obsession

I've been making a man

With blond hair and a tan

And he's good for relieving my tension”

Within the first thirty minutes of the film, Frank-N-Furter meets Janet and Brad, two straight characters who have just come from their friends' wedding. Janet catches the bouquet, resulting in Brad proposing to her. Frank-N-Furter immediately flirts with them, not caring what gender, sexuality, or matrimonial commitment they have. As the story moves along, he liberates Brad and Janet sexually. Frank-N-Furter crawls into bed with both of them separately and ultimately convinces them to give themselves over to pleasure. This contrasts with the marriage in the beginning where Janet mentions wanting to save herself for marriage. It’s clear that Frank-N-Furter has triggered this sexual liberation in Janet. 

Over the course of the movie, Frank-N-Furter turns more and more evil. His purpose in this cult classic is to challenge taboos head-on and to come out on the other side, having everyone around him break them too. He doesn’t like people getting in the way, which can cause him to be manipulative and violent in order to get what he wants. We watch as he murders Eddie after he rides in on his motorcycle and steals the show, something that Frank-N-Furter doesn’t like. He can be jealous, as shown when he chases Janet around the mansion after she runs to Rocky for comfort at the dinner scene when they find out Frank-N-Furter fed them Eddie. These moments from Frank-N-Furter make us love him. He goes from having a sweet facade to being absolutely sinister in a matter of seconds. The over-the-topness of Frank-N-Furter and The Rocky Horror Picture Show is what makes it so bad that it’s good. 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a cult classic beloved by many, myself included. The movie is very wacky, making it oddly entertaining. You never know what’s going to happen next. Frank-N-Furter makes this film campy. He’s flamboyant and promiscuous. He isn’t afraid to break the norms of everyday life, making him a queer icon for every generation. His character has had many incarnations in movies and TV shows, and will likely have more. Frank-N-Furter’s the sinister and villainous scientist that doesn’t dream it, but embodies it.