Rocky Horror at the Rio Adds a Halloween Night Show

Which of the three Halloween shows to pick

The new 8pm screening is the one we'd grab for a date. It's the only Saturday show the Rio flags as newly added rather than running low, the listing blocks out about 100 minutes, and it lets you out around 9:40pm with the rest of the night still open. The 11:45pm show, hosted by Dandy, is the full midnight-movie ritual and comes with a low-ticket warning; pick it only if you're both the type who considers 1:30am an early night. The 2:30pm matinee, also running low, suits anyone who wants the costume without the hangover.

Seating is general admission and every ticket is final sale, so pick a time you'll keep. The Rio asks you to arrive 30 to 45 minutes early to find seats together, which is not the moment to discover your partner thinks "doors" means "start time." If a show doesn't sell out, the box office sells what's left in person before showtime.

The first-timer question

Rocky Horror is a test of compatibility disguised as a movie. The audience talks back, props come out on cue, and there's a costume contest with prizes. If one of you has never been, that's fine: the Rio's page says hosts walk newcomers through the customs, and the prop bag means nobody has to Google what the toast is for. Two house rules: no rice and no confetti, so leave the pantry at home. The film is rated 14A, and the bar serves 19+ with ID.

Who should skip it? Anyone who winces when strangers sing. For that couple, the Rio's regular nights are a gentler way to do a movie and a pint. Everyone else, it's $40 for two before fees for a night you'll still be quoting in the car.

How we'd plan the night

The Rio sits at 1660 East Broadway, a short walk from Commercial-Broadway Station, so leave the car at home and eat on Commercial Drive before the 8pm show. Wear a costume you can sit in for 100 minutes; fishnets are traditional, comfort is optional, and the person who dresses as Brad gets to pretend it was ironic. If you want the full Halloween double, the free Parade of Lost Souls steps off from Vernon and Napier in Strathcona the same evening, with processions at 8 and 9pm, so the 11:45pm show works as the nightcap for anyone with the stamina.