Fifty years ago, The Rocky Horror Picture Show changed the face of cinema as we know it. The cult British film was a box office flop, but became one of the most successful musical films ever made thanks to its domination over the midnight movie circuit at New York's Waverly Theatre. But even before this, when it hit the boards at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in London, Rocky Horror revolutionised theatre and showed the power of indie productions, word of mouth, and the transgressive roots of art itself. The popularity of Rocky Horror could never have been predicted, and its runaway success is something explored in Andreas Zerr's reverent documentary Sane Inside Insanity: The Phenomenon of Rocky Horror, which enjoyed its world premiere at Fright Fest 2025.

Featuring interviews with stars Nell Cambell, Patricia Quinn, and Barry Bostwick alongside director Jim Sharman, costume designer Sue Blane, and executive producer Lou Adler to name a few, Sane Inside Insanity chronicles the incepton of Richard O'Brien's weird and wacky stage show, how it sold-out multiple nights in tiny theatres and attracted celebrity guests, its takeover of the United States and Broadway struggles, and Rocky Horror's eventual film adaptation, failure, and cult success. Featuring archival footage, interviews, new talking heads, photographs, and behind-the-scenes footage, it is a love letter to B-movie cinema and one of the greatest cult classics of all time.

While much of the information in Sane Inside Insanity won't be new to die-hard fans of Rocky Horror, its charm comes from its exploration of its success and the legacy that still remains strong to this day. We may be aware of how it took the Waverly Theatre by storm, but the phenomenon and culture around shadow casts and just how the bizarre rituals at screenings came about are murkier, and it is a delight to better understand this joyous community aspect. The documentary spends a lot of time focusing on the punk roots of the stage show and how these ideals slowly became lost among the glitz and glamour, with some crew members and actors expressing their dislike of attending stage shows and cinema screenings now due to the raucous behaviour of audience members and the pristine, high-budget productions on stage. Though Sane Inside Insanity celebrates the success of Rocky Horror, it's interesting to explore the negative effects of its fame and also what the phenomenon has lost over the years.

Sane Inside Insanity is utterly heartwarming, and the definition of ‘don't dream it, be it.' It is as inspiring today as it was 50 years ago to see how O'Brien and his rag-tag group of cast and crew brought the lewd and crude Transylvanian fever dream to theatres and cinemas across the world with no idea just how much they would impact the world. They created a safe space for misfits everywhere, for those of all backgrounds, body shapes, genders, and sexualities to express themselves without fear of repression. Sane Inside Insanity is an emotional tribute to Frank-N-Furter and co that will have viewers doing the Time Warp again, and again, and again.

Sane Inside Insanity: The Phenomenon Of Rocky Horror had its UK premiere at FrightFest 2025 on 24 August