Linus O’Brien’s Rocky Horror documentary is a beautiful addition to the legacy of a cult classic.
★★★★☆
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is a fascinating documentary that narrates how The Rocky Horror Show (1973) came to be, the way it became a cult classic, plus the twists and turns the famous musical took before reaching cult status. Through the documentary, we see how the musical and the subsequent film birthed a film-watching phenomenon of audience participation that had never been seen before. Moreso, we see British and American culture collaborate to turn a fringe experimental musical into an international sensation.
The documentary gives the audience an intimate understanding of the musical’s creator. In Richard’s interview, we see a candour usually reserved for family members translated to the screen, allowing the audience to feel as if they are also a part of the family. We are given a peek into Richard’s creative process and how The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) emerged from unrestrained artistic freedom.
Many of the key players in The Rocky Horror Picture Show make an appearance within the documentary. Actors Tim Curry (Frank-N-Furter), Susan Sarandon (Janet Weiss), Nell Campbell (Columbia) and Peter Hinewood (Rocky Horror), plus many more, are all interviewed for the documentary—a testament to the community that Rocky Horror Show fostered. Hearing from creatives who devised the stage show, then went on to be featured in the film, allows for the documentary to be both layered and personal.
The inclusion of academic Karen Tongson, Presidential Fellow in the department of Gender & Sexuality Studies at Yale, allows for the film to have an in-depth investigation of the cult classic’s exploration of gender and why it remains a staple within queer culture. Jeffrey Weinstock, a film scholar, added much-needed context for the film’s popularity in the 1970s and 80s, demystifying the phenomenon of seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show in cinemas. Hearing from all aspects of the Rocky Horror community, from the original director (Jim Sharman) to Shadow Cast members (people who would act out parts of the film as it was playing), gives the documentary breadth, allowing for the impact to be felt beyond the key players in the making of the film.
Overall, the documentary is a pensive and emotionally evocative piece—from conveying Richard O’Brien’s own personal journey with gender and sexual identity to how the film’s theatrical release created a place of refuge for teenage runaways through the community fostered by fan clubs of the movie. We see how the film became empowering, especially for the LGBTQ community. We see this as midnight screenings of the Rocky Horror continue to be a regular occurrence in cinema theatres throughout the world annually, allowing people to celebrate their queer identity in a space that allows them to be liberated and celebrated.
Despite touching briefly on the political landscape created by the AIDS Crisis of the 1980s, there was a missed opportunity to explore how the current political climate impacted the reception of the film and its role in the Rocky Horror Show phenomenon. Especially now, with the changes in UK law regarding trans identity in April 2025, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. We are seeing a return to binary thinking when it comes to gender and sexual identities. For trans people and gender critical activists, this was a devastating blow for trans rights in the UK. Ellie Gomersall, a trans woman and activist for the Green Party, told The Guardian that this was ‘another attack on the rights of trans people to live their lives in peace.’
The original Rocky Horror Picture Show was all about exploring how gender and sexuality manifest themselves within our world, highlighting that there is no one single way to be. Moreso, the documentary echoes the legacy from the first film that you should embrace who you are courageously. The documentary acts as a reminder of the importance of queer art and how it can foster communal spaces for trans people to feel safe, celebrated and protected.
Verdict
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is a phenomenal documentary film. Providing much-needed anatomy of cult films whilst also serving as a love letter to the film. It’s a wonderful watch for both lovers of the film and newcomers to the world of Rocky Horror.
Words by Ayomide Asani
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is in UK cinemas from 3rd October.
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