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Documentary

‘Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror’ – a love letter to the cult phenomenon

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Patricia Quinn, Tim Curry and Nell Campbell in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’

It’s hard to believe that “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has been playing in cinemas for 50 years with no end in sight. And the play that inspired the film, which opened in London in 1973, is currently one of the hottest tickets on Broadway.

“Rocky Horror” is indeed a phenomenon that has inspired millions of people to let their hair down, explore their sexual and gender identities, and just have a rocking good time.

“Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror” is a lovely new documentary that explores the complete story of this most unusual of occurrences. As the doc opens, “Rocky” creator Richard O’Brien is visiting his New Zealand hometown, where he visits a statue that has been erected in his honor and meets the woman who now lives in his childhood home.

“We call it the ‘Rocky Horror’ house,” she says, as she and O’Brien shake hands.


The film then flashes back to late 1960s London. Filmmaker Linus O’Brien, Richard’s son, has his father recall his early days in London’s musical theater scene. After failing to get a role in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the elder O’Brien takes his love for horror and science fiction films and creates a very gay homage to those films, a musical which became “The Rocky Horror Show.”

The play opens in a small, sixty-seat theater for a three-week run and quickly sells out. It moves to a larger theater where it continues to be a smash. It then moves to Los Angeles, where movie stars come out to see it. Can a film version be far behind?

Well, how ‘bout that?
The majority of “Strange Journey” focuses on “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” as the film came to be called, and includes a lengthy segment on the film’s production. Besides creator O’Brien, interviewees include director Jim Sharman, and actors Tim Curry (Frank N Furter), Patricia Quinn (Magenta), Nell Campbell (Columbia), Susan Sarandon (Janet), Barry Bostwick (Brad), and Peter Hinwood (Rocky).

There are also extensive interviews with drag artist Trixie Mattel and actor Jack Black, who discuss how seeing the film inspired and affected them. “Rocky” cast members, among other things, sing the praises of the late Meat Loaf (Eddie) who nearly stole the show in his one-scene appearance.

Richard O’Brien in ‘Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror’  

It’s hard to believe today, but when “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” first opened in 1975, it was a bomb. But then an executive at 20th Century Fox came up with the idea of playing it weekends at midnight, and the cult was born. It didn’t take long for people to start talking back to the screen and dressing up as their favorite characters.

Then came the shadow casts, fans who would act out the entire show in front of the screen as the film unspooled. These midnight screenings, which spread around the world, attracted straights, LGBT people, liberals and others, all caught up in the magic of this unusual phenomenon.

“Five days a week I’m a nurse,” says one young woman. “Two nights a week I’m a star.”

“Strange Journey” also pays homage to the late Sal Piro, former president of the Rocky Horror Picture Show Fan Club and the author of two books about the film. Piro was openly and unapologetically gay, and he didn’t care who knew it or what they thought of it. He was who he was, and let many “Rocky Horror” fans know that it was okay to embrace who they were. Piro, who lived and breathed “Rocky Horror,” is as responsible for the spreading of the cult as is Richard O’Brien himself.

The documentary also addresses Richard O’Brien’s gender identity. He says that he is 70% male and 30% female, another signpost to the fans that it’s okay to be who you are. This is an especially important message right now, given the attacks that the trans community is dealing with.

‘Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror’ is a terrific tribute by a loving son to his father’s work, a film that will continue to live on long after we’re all gone. It’s a work that’s as timely today as it was fifty years ago.

‘Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror’ is streaming at Apple, Amazon and Fandango June 2; a Blu Ray release is TBA.
https://www.rockyhorrordoc.com/
https://www.instagram.com/rockyhorrordocumentary/

‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ continues to have monthly screenings (next: June 27) at the Balboa Theater, 3630 Balboa St., San Francisco  https://www.balboamovies.com/