Back in 1973, Richard O’Brien gifted the world with the stage musical The Rocky Horror Show, which received a film adaptation in 1975 called The Rocky Horror Picture Show – one of the greatest musicals ever made and the ultimate midnight movie. Now, the documentary Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, which takes viewers on “a five decade dive into the show,” has been given a VOD release and is available to watch on the likes of Prime Video, AppleTV, and Fandango at Home.
What is Rocky Horror about?
The show is about sweethearts Janet Weiss and Brad Majors, played in the movie by Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick, who stumble upon Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s bizarre abode. Frank-N-Furter, a sexually ambiguous flirtatious alien mad-scientist, is holding an annual Transylvanian science convention to showcase the birth of “Rocky Horror” – a fit, attractive man created solely to fulfill Frank’s desires.
What do we know about Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror?
Directed by Linus O’Brien, who happens to be the son of Richard O’Brien and was born the year before the show made its debut, Strange Journey features in-depth interviews with original creatives Richard O’Brien, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and stars that grew up in the glow of the Rocky Horror fandom like Trixie Mattel and Jack Black.
Here’s the synopsis: From humble origins as a London fringe theater play to its meteoric rise, fall and resurrection as the biggest cult film of all time, this is the definitive story of the Rocky Horror Show. With intimate access to its creator Richard O’Brien and other major players such as Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Lou Adler, the documentary explores what makes the play and film so singular: Its groundbreaking and transgressive themes, iconic performances and epic songs that took over popular culture. The cult phenomenon that sprung around it is unparalleled, and created not only the midnight screenings which continue to this day, but also a safe haven for those who ever felt different or marginalized.
The director had this to say about the documentary: “Speaking with fans and people whose lives were deeply affected by the film was both eye-opening and humbling. Rocky Horror is unique in the way it created communities and spaces for people to express themselves without judgment—to feel liberated in every way they choose and to find a home among others like them. This documentary is as much a celebration of them as it is of Rocky Horror itself. The fans have taken this piece of art and made it their own, giving it a life beyond what my dad or any of its original creators could have imagined.“
A trailer for Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror can be seen in the embed above. Will you be watching this documentary? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed