In the year that The Rocky Horror Picture Show turns fifty, Linus O’Brien’s documentary Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is timely, heart-warming and deeply personal. More than a simple retrospective, it is a celebratory deep-dive into the power of queer joy, theatrical and cinematic rebellion, and the fans who turned it into a cult classic.
From its humble and bizarre beginnings, Strange Journey follows the advent of and subsequent transition from stage to screen and beyond. In particular, it shines a light on Richard O’Brien’s (creator of ‘The Rocky Horror Show/Picture Show’ and RiffRaff on both stage and screen) early years, how the idea for Rocky Horror came about, and the life it has had since. Through interviews with cast, crew, and fans, this documentary is more than just the plot, it is about the people.
I was lucky enough to be in the audience for the London premiere of Strange Journey at Sci-Fi London. There was an excitement in the audience as people settled in wearing Rocky Horror merchandise, interacting with a festival goer dressed as The Usherette who was around offering out sweet treats to everyone. The screening kicked off with an introduction from drag queen and horror host Bunny Galore, they encapsulated the reason why Rocky Horror is so adored by people – but specifically the Queer community. It serves as a signifier of otherness in a way that doesn’t make us feel other. Rocky Horror is unapologetic and invites you to be the same.
Strange Journey highlights how this cult classic came to be. It is clear that Rocky Horror is the ultimate Fringe Theatre and B movie crossover. Purposefully looking slightly undone and feeling rough and ready. If Rocky Horror had been given the full Hollywood treatment, I don’t think the impact and the adoration would be as big as it is. It is because of the fringe/b movie qualities that people love it so much and feel a connection with it.
In the opening montage of cinemagoers, one fan says, “It’s not a movie, it’s a way of life”. That sentiment anchors the film. Sure, Linus O’Brien brings personal insight as the creator’s son, but he never makes the story about himself. He steps back and lets the community speak, including some famous fans. Drag artist and musician Trixie Mattel shares how The Usherette helped inspire their drag persona and the impact Rocky Horror has had on their life. An impact that is shared by countless other anonymous fans. Regardless of who is saying it, the message is the same: Rocky Horror helped them feel seen, safe, and celebrated.
However, it cannot be ignored that there is an unspoken urgency to Strange Journey. Whilst it seems to have appeared just when we needed it to, it is also aware that time is ticking. Richard O’Brien is 83 and jokes about not having much time left during a musical segment. Director Jim Sharman is 80. Producer Lou Adler who is now 91. And of course the beloved Tim Curry (Frank-N-Furter) is 78 and has faced serious health challenges. It may be one of the last opportunities we get to hear these stories and songs from these people. But it in no way feels like a swan song. If anything it is preservation and a gift to the fans who have held up Rocky Horror all this time.
We may not learn anything completely new or different from this documentary, but that is beside the point. Strange Journey aims to encapsulate the personal and emotional responses to Rocky Horror. This really hits home when Richard O’Brien becomes emotional at the fan reactions to the song ‘I’m Going Home’ – Frank’s redemptive ballad at the end of the show/film. Linus reads out comments from pages and pages of messages from fans about this song in particular. Highlighting how it has helped them to cope with grief, loss, trauma, or feeling othered. It is at this emotional moment we have come full circle. I feel that this is the purpose of Strange Journey. To truly highlight the love and the connection fans have with the text.
The film closes with Richard O’Brien’s connection with Rocky Horror now. However, he says that he was once told it doesn’t matter what he thinks of Rocky now, because it’s no longer his. He agrees and Strange Journey reinforces this idea. This isn’t a documentary just about the rocky road to becoming a cult classic. It is about the fans who made it what it is today and the strange and wonderful family the fandom has become.
Strange Journey is vibrant and refreshingly personal. It reminds us why we love Rocky Horror and that it loves us back. It reminds us to continue to stand proud just as we are, in whatever form we feel comfortable in. To dance and sing in the face of adversity. And that there is real power in authentic joy. Strange Journey feels like a reunion with old friends in fishnets. It will leave you misty-eyed, lipstick-smudged, and grateful for the weird little show that brought us all together to do the Time Warp again.
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror will be released in cinemas in October 2025.
