Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Sane Inside Insanity: A cult classic through a new lens

Nearly fifty years after its release, The Rocky Horror Picture Show remains a cultural lightning bolt. Screenings still fill cinemas, fans still dress up, and audiences continue to shout back lines in a ritual that feels less like watching a film and more like joining a community. It’s a phenomenon that has lasted longer than most blockbusters, and for filmmaker Andreas Zerr, it was too extraordinary a story to leave untold.

Zerr’s new documentary, SANE INSIDE INSANITY, takes an “unofficial and unbiased” look at the journey of a musical that once flopped at the box office but rose, as he puts it, “like a Phoenix out of ashes” to become the longest-running release in cinema history. For him, the magic lay not only in the creative daring of Richard O’Brien, Jim Sharman, and their collaborators, but also in how something stitched together with limited resources — a rough script, ingenious costumes, and a feel for casting — could explode into a worldwide movement.

What elevates the story, though, is not just the film but the people who keep it alive. Zerr describes how fans and so-called “shadow casts” were eager to share their stories on camera. Their passion transformed his project from a historical chronicle into a portrait of a living, breathing community. “You are not just sitting and watching,” he explains. “You become part of it. And for many, it’s not simply entertainment — it’s a safe space where acceptance and friendship flourish.”

That sense of belonging, he suggests, has been key to its endurance. From the 1970s to today, audiences have sought connection in the costumes, the call-backs, and the sheer joy of participation. In a world where self-expression can still meet resistance, the chance to step into fishnets or shout at a screen without judgment remains powerful.

What sets Zerr’s film apart is its independence. Free from commercial ties, SANE INSIDE INSANITY does not shy away from the more complicated aspects of the story, from differing opinions on stage adaptations to the legacy of remakes. “Nobody knows what I’m thinking about Rocky Horror,” he says. “That’s what makes it objective. It’s about the people who lived it.”

As the documentary shows, this phenomenon is far more than nostalgia. It’s a mirror of how culture, identity, and self-expression are constantly negotiated. For Zerr, the real revelation is that while times change, the need for community and acceptance hasn’t faded. And perhaps that’s why a quirky, low-budget musical continues to resonate across generations: it offers not just a spectacle, but a place to belong.

(Image supplied)

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our news site - please take a moment to read this important message:

As you know, our aim is to bring you, the reader, an editorially led news site and magazine but journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them.

With the Covid-19 pandemic having a major impact on our industry as a whole, the advertising revenues we normally receive, which helps us cover the cost of our journalists and this website, have been drastically affected.

As such we need your help. If you can support our news sites/magazines with either a small donation of even £1, or a subscription to our magazine, which costs just £27.55 per year, (inc p&P and mailed direct to your door) your generosity will help us weather the storm and continue in our quest to deliver quality journalism.

As a subscriber, you will have unlimited access to our web site and magazine. You'll also be offered VIP invitations to our events, preferential rates to all our awards and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Just click here to subscribe and in the meantime may I wish you the very best.

Advertisment












Latest posts

North Lincolnshire steps up action on litter and nuisance

North Lincolnshire Council has issued hundreds of fines in recent months as part of its campaign to tackle littering and anti-social behaviour. In August, 177...

Dazzling new features announced for Christmas at Belton 2025

Belton Estate is set to sparkle brighter than ever this winter, with a host of spectacular new installations now revealed for the 2025 Christmas...

Gainsborough Library marks 120 years with week-long festivities

Gainsborough Library is marking a major milestone in October as it celebrates its 120th anniversary with a week of community activities, special events, and...

New platform to share airborne forces’ forgotten chapter

A new website documents the remarkable back-stories of how south Lincolnshire hosted Airborne Forces from three nations ahead of two major World War II...

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance invites locals to take on fire walk

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) is inviting fearless fundraisers to take on the challenge of walking barefoot across burning embers in support of...

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close