Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror Review

Before Jedis roamed cinemas for the most recent Star Wars trilogy, fans were going to watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show dressed as their favourite characters. Before Secret Cinema introduced scenes being acted out in front of our very eyes as we watched a film, shadow casts had already performed the Time Warp for audiences. Before Marvel fans started attending late-night screenings of films like Avengers: Endgame, Rocky Horror fans had already been doing so for nearly half a decade. That’s why Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, a new documentary by Linus O’Brien, is such an interesting documentary because it not only tells the evolution of The Rocky Horror Picture Show from stage to screen, but it also covers how it came to be viewed as the ‘major cult movie of all time’ by fans and critics alike.

Originally released as a stage musical in 1973, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was released to cinemas a few years later to a mixed, but mostly negative response. Fans of the musical were ecstatic to see the story on the big screen, but new audiences didn’t quite get it. It wasn’t until the Waverly Theatre in New York started hosting midnight screenings that the film truly became the cultural phenomenon it is today. This documentary touches on this whole period, starting with Richard O’Brien, the creator, talking about how the stage show came about before moving on to the film itself and how, through the support of fans, it’s become the longest-running theatrical release in film history.

If you’re a fan of Rocky Horror, there’s a lot to really like about this documentary. Richard O’Brien is incredibly honest and emotional throughout with his reflections in a way that’s only really possible thanks to the Director being his son, Linus. You can feel O Brien’s trust in his son as he talks about everything from taking five weeks to get the boat over New Zealand to his reflections on how accepted the film makes some fans feel. It also features appearances from most of the core cast, from Tim Curry (Narrator) all the way through to the likes of Susan Sarandon (Janet), Peter Hinwood (Rocky) and more. All of them are clearly incredibly proud of their involvement in the sensation, which is lovely to watch.

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Outside of the reflections on the film itself, the documentary covers a lot about how the film became a safe space for a lot of fans, with celebrity appearances from Trixie Mattel and Jack Black talking about how much the film helped them growing up. There are also some really nice moments covering the different interpretations of the song ‘I’m Going Home’ as well as how the film links to a lot of LGBTQIA+ issues that exist today. I was particularly moved by the quote ‘Rocky is about dropping everything that’s expected of you and going to a place that accepts you for who you are. There’s an innocence to it. It’s a celebration, as I think it sums up the success of the film incredibly well. The film also looks incredibly clean throughout, despite the different types of footage that exist within the documentary. The crux of the film may be Richard O’Brien reflecting, but we are also shown various fan clips and show clips that have been created over the years, dating all the way back to the 70s, as well as numerous other talking heads.

It’s hard to really process how much of an impact the Rocky Horror phenomenon has had on fandoms over the years, but this documentary certainly gives a strong attempt at explaining just how much it’s changed how audiences engage with films. Without the likes of the Midnight Screenings or the Shadow Casts, would we have had the same audience experiences in the modern era for the likes of Marvel and Star Wars? It’s hard to tell, but one thing that is for sure, as the film reflects on itself, is that ‘you don’t make cults, audiences make cults’ and the fans of Rocky Horror certainly did just that.

★★★★

In UK & Irish Cinemas October 3rd; on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital 20th October / Richard O’Brien, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell, Jack Black, Lou Adler, Peter Hinwood / Dir: Linus O’Brien / Kaleidoscope Film Distribution / 15

About the Author

Danny Humby

Editor

Danny is a freelance media creative with a background spanning marketing, journalism and governance. From 2021 to 2024 he was Chair of the Student Radio Association and is currently a Trustee at Chichester Festival Theatre. He holds an MSc in Marketing and a BA in Film and Television from Solent University, and remains passionate about supporting young people, the arts, and charitable organisations to help broaden their reach and impact. He can be found under @popcornandpace on Instagram.

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