“So, come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab. I see you shiver with antici …”
There are moments in our lives that we can recognize as (“…pation.”) life-changing; that we can see as the creation of a diverging path in which each direction leads to a greatly different outcome. For actor Richard O’Brien (Dark City; Ever After), his moment came when he was fired from the Jim Sharman-directed production of Jesus Christ Superstar in his role as King Herod and he started dabbling in writing his own rock-based musical. This musical, a satirical spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein originally titled They Came from Denton High, would be called The Rocky Horror Show and would captivate theater-goers in London, England, before moving to the Roxy in Los Angeles, California, where it would continue to thrill and enthrall. To bring the film to even more people, it was adapted into a feature starring multiple members of the theatrical productions and two newbies (one “asshole” and one “slut” to be identified later), except it bombed … until it didn’t. As the film celebrates 50 years in circulation, a brand-new exploration of the phenomenon that is Rocky Horror arrives from filmmaker Linus O’Brien, son of Richard, in his directorial debut documentary Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror. Through new interviews with the original central cast of play and feature, including Richard, Sharman, and others behind the scenes, audiences are invited to do The Time Warp once more and see how the legacy of the play belongs to us all.
Richard O’Brien in documentary STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR. Photo courtesy of Margot Station.
In brief, The Rocky Horror Show, and its theatrical version, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, tell the story of newly-engaged couple Brad Majors (“asshole”) and Janet Weiss (“slut”) who stumble upon Dr. Frank-N-Furter on the very night that he plans to bring his newest creation, Rocky, to life. Through their experience, the tightly-wounded, All-American conservative couple experience a sexual awakening as the shields they’ve wrapped themselves in slowly crumble amid various provocations from the doctor. Coupled with Cold War intrigue (and a little light cannibalism), Brad and Janet emerge from this experience changed forever, as do the audiences.
Jim Sharman in documentary STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR. Photo courtesy of Margot Station.
Strange Journey is, well, exactly that. As a documentary, it’s both too short at 90 minutes and perfectly structured for the runtime. Some of this stems from the fact that Linus and first-time screenwriter Avner Shiloah have the organization of the documentary streamlined so that it begins with Richard in the present, dips into the past, and then starts weaving the two together as the audience listens to talking head interviews from many of the remaining principle members of the cast and crew against footage of various stage productions, the theatrical production (final and behind the scenes), and the many midnight screenings featuring shadow casts. This creates a natural energy that propels audiences forward, blasting them with information that warms the darker recesses of one’s soul with each portion of the story being shared. Perhaps it’s because there have been so many documentaries and featurettes provided over the years to accompany the 25th anniversary DVD release and 35th anniversary Blu-ray release, but Linus doesn’t delve as deep into some areas as one might expect, which is what creates the sensation that Strange Journey should be longer. For instance, it’s not discussed how theatrical Janet Weiss-actor Susan Sarandon (Bull Durham) got sick during production, though how run ragged everyone was during the six-week shooting schedule was mentioned, accompanied by a photo of Richard lying down while in costume as Riff Raff. Additionally, while the documentary spends a solid amount of time discussing the fan-made interactive nature of Rocky screenings, even going so far as to identify some dialogue, props, and customs, the incorporation of Sal Piro (founder of The Rocky Horror Fan Club) could be far more extensive. Granted, there have been other materials honoring the late Piro, he passed in 2023, and the vibe of Strange Journey seems locked in on Richard’s relationship to the play and film, but this is another thing that could very well be a longer section given Piro’s direct influence on making the live events of Rocky Horror what they are today. Digging into the stories that resulted in a legacy that’s lasted as long as it has and continues to is where this documentary doesn’t tread too far. At the very least, there’s a wonderful anecdote Patricia Quinn (who played Magenta in both the England theatrical production and film) shares about Meat Loaf (who joined the film from the L.A. theatrical production as Eddie) and his kissing ability that I’m not sure we’ve ever heard and is told with A+ cheekiness.
Tim Curry in documentary STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR. Photo courtesy of Margot Station.
In this vein, Linus’s Strange Journey is something that longtime Rocky fans are going to enjoy, even for the different perspectives on known topics (like Sarandon’s casting) or Tim Curry’s (Clue; McHale’s Navy; The Shadow) general perspective of dominance as an actor and specific feelings on playing Frank-N-Furter; however, the film mostly plays best for those who aren’t as deep into the lore as others. Speaking as someone who ran screenings of Rocky Horror all four years of their tenure at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, watching Strange Journey often feels like coming home, wrapped in the warm embrace of those who understand and love me unconditionally, and one wonders if general audiences will take away the same sensation. This isn’t to suggest that Strange Journey is cookie-cutter in its approach by any measure as it opts to include Richard’s own struggles with self-identification and gender norms, though it doesn’t push for any position or where Richard finds himself in the sphere of gender expression, which feels like a specific avoidant choice given his past comments on transwomen, even as they are generally accepting. This isn’t to say that Richard doesn’t discuss the topic of sexuality within a current context or that Linus doesn’t ask direct questions related to Richard’s gender expression; however, amid Strange Journey’s body positivity and support for LGBTQIA+ issues, the lack of specificity in his discussion of self generates a void into the documentary that’s unavoidable once noticed.
A still of a ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW shadow cast from documentary STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR. Photo courtesy of Margot Station.
What Linus does absolutely nail is the communal nature of the Rocky Horror film and the way it extends to Richard and the cast and crew. In the same way that Richard felt compelled to make something that might not mean anything to anyone other than himself, through the support of kindred spirits, not only was a small stage production with a nothing set design comprised of several risers and a movie screen blocking the band in a 60-person theater lifted to a larger stage in London and then transposed to the Roxy with a grander and more audience interactive set design, it touched enough people to be turned into a cinematic event. Sure, it bombed when exposed to general audiences, but the people who got it, much like those who worked with Richard initially to turn it into a theatrical production, showed up in droves. Producer Lou Adler comes in handy here as he provides the insight into the transference from England to L.A. and the transformation from stage to film, but it’s seeing the people who took over the mantle of Rocky from Richard and returned the film to its roots as a theatrical production by making it organically interactive that really conveys the handoff from creative to audience ownership. The film belongs to the freaks — to the broken, the beaten, and the damned — and we love it with all our hearts, even while acknowledging the things that were and are problematic. By incorporating archival footage of audiences in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, as well as showcasing some of the shadow casts of today, Linus ensures that Strange Journey audiences understand the care the fandom takes as they carry the torch of Richard’s legacy, the new custodians of a torrid musical which embraces freedom in the face of conservatism.
Trixe Mattel in documentary STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR. Photo courtesy of Margot Station.
Much like the individuals picked by Linus to represent the fandom, I, too, have a story. For actor Jack Black (School of Rock; Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny), he was introduced to Rocky by his older sister and shares his touching reaction to seeing Meat Loaf on screen. My story is far more mundane and a touch sad. One Halloween, when all my friends had other plans and my older siblings were out of the house, I stumbled upon a cable version of Rocky being broadcast on fledgling network FX. Having been exposed to musicals such as Oliver! (1968) and Man of La Mancha (1972), both cinematic and staged versions, the incorporation of songs into the narrative didn’t strike me so much as the open sexuality, the sense of freedom, and the absolute bat-shit events that occur throughout the film. The awareness of Rocky lead to making unique memories with fellow fans at summer camp (a group of us performed The Time Warp on a hill outside our cabins for sheer giggles) and, upon joining the entertainment board at UNC-A, I would go on to organize the screenings the school would have. At first, organizing was a means to share my fondness with others and expected it to be small, but folks arrived and it got bigger each year. Thanks to Rocky, I’ve met people who I consider family, who took part in my wedding, and whom are aunts and uncles to my children. Just as there’s a world wherein Richard never got fired, where Sharman didn’t collaborate with Richard to make the stage production, where Adler didn’t bring the show to the Roxy, for me, amidst a myriad of defining moments in which, had a different choice been made, I might not have the circle of chosen family and friends I do who love me as the weird kid I am.
L-R: EoM Founder Douglas Davidson and EoM Head Editor Crystal Davidson circa 2022 on stage at Ashevile Brewing Company. Photo Credit: Unknown. Photo courtesy of personal archives.
From one Creature of the Night to another, Linus O’Brien’s Strange Journey is a loving and lovely tribute to his father’s legacy that will envelop knowing viewers in that same radiant affection. This is not a film for ‘virgins” or “masturbators” (the terms used to describe those who’ve never seen Rocky in a theater or those who’ve only seen it on home video), but for those who’ve donned lipstick and fishnets and/or gathered props and shouted lines. Strange Journey is accessible to the normies, the untouched, if you will, but it’s most appreciated by those with some knowledge on Rocky, as well as appreciation for it.
In U.S. theaters September 26th, 2025.
In U.K. theaters October 3rd, 2025.
For more information, head to the official Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror website.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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