Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror

“Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror” is a documentary about the film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” how it came to be, how it spread, and pays homage to the longtime fans of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” ​

It’s directed and produced by Linus O’Brien, the son of Richard O’Brien, who wrote Rocky Horror, and also played Riff Raff in the film, beautifully, might I add. Linus wanted to make sure that the material his father gave birth to and has a good cry about on occasion is fully appreciated. Rocky Horror is the longest-running film in history, and theaters continue to show it. In fact, it was the first major “cult movie” hit. If you didn’t know before, you’ll find out who the lips belong to and how that happened. I’ll not give that away here.

You get behind-the-scenes (BTS) clips, images, and photos of Richard O’Brien cross-dressing. The BTS things popping up make you feel as if you’re special, getting a glimpse of something no one else has.

Richard O’Brien picks up a guitar and sings a song from the film that you may not have heard in a long time… it takes you back. He tells us that songs came to him quickly (what?!). He built the story afterward. Those interviewed explain how they were so captivated by the story and the performances on screen that they had to be a part of it. They create a “shadow cast,” which is when members of the audience get up and act out parts of the movie as it plays live on the screen behind them. I was a shadow cast member when I was about fifteen, not that it matters, I just thought I’d tell you that. Fun times.

As the years passed, people became creative, adding shoutouts from the film and using props, such as throwing rice during the wedding scene, and similar elements. Richard O’Brien caught a midnight screening and thought, “This is theater at its very best.” A girl spares no expense to look exactly like Tim Curry’s Frank-N-Furter. You’d think she was him if you didn’t know better. Everyone appreciates her efforts. She probably felt as Curry did, “It gave me power.” His first appearance, throwing off his cape, enlightened the audience. They were attracted to something they had never been before. They opened their minds to something different. Curry explains that it doesn’t matter what others think of the movie; it belongs to us.

O’Brien interviewed Trixie Mattel, who, early on, joined the “shadow cast” and who was accepted for the first time while “Doing Rocky,” a common phrase around the theaters that play the film. Some of the people in the shadow cast were gay, and Mattel was “very much allowed to like it.” Susan Sarandon, who played a significant role in the film, explains that the film was about saying “Yes to life.” And it’s about sexual liberation. It gave them “permission to be who they were.” You’ll love seeing the man who plays the creation, Peter Hinwood, who had never acted before but thought he did, “Okay.” I could go on forever. This documentary has everything you could have asked for and much more! I want to tell you about every moment, but instead of doing that, I’ll just suggest that you see this immediately! Make the friends you took to the theater to watch the RHPS see this documentary, too. They’ll love you for it.