STRANGE JOURNEY Indeed

STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR (Blu-ray)

2025 / 89 min

Magenta Light Studios

Review by Princess Pepper😺

The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been playing every weekend in my hometown of Portland for nearly 50 years. Back when the film was just beginning to become a cult phenomenon, I had the opportunity to catch one of those legendary midnight shows, a “virgin” among a sea of dedicated fans. Most of them were costumed and supplied for the occasion, including the friend who insisted I accompanied her in order to experience it myself.

And what an experience it was. Though I felt out of place, I never felt uncomfortable or unwelcome. To be perfectly frank (no pun intended), I didn’t think the movie itself was particularly great, but sitting among hundreds of people verbally and physically participating turned the whole thing into an enjoyable event. If you’ve ever attended one of these shows, you’re already aware of this. 

And even if you haven’t, the history of Rocky Horror’s worldwide cult fandom has been well documented in the media over the years. Maybe that’s why I felt revisiting the film’s cult history were the least interesting aspects of Strange Journey, a new documentary by Lucas O’Brien, the son of Rocky Horror creator, Richard O’Brien.

Richard reveals the size of the trout he caught.

However, I’m a sucker for documentaries about the making of specific films, and Rocky Horror has a fascinating history, from its origins as a London stage musical through the initial release of the movie in 1975 (when it flopped). Much of this is fondly recalled by Richard O’Brien, along with collaborators that include director Jim Sharman and composer Richard Hartley. Most of the cast members from both the play and film are also featured in revealing interviews. Everyone's recollections and anecdotes, accompanied by clips and behind-the-scenes footage, are also wonderfully entertaining.

But Strange Journey is just-as-much the story of O’Brien himself, who started off as a struggling London actor with a family to support. In addition to creating the musical that would ultimately become his legacy, O’Brien candidly discusses struggles with his own sexuality before finally embracing who he really is. Among this film’s many charming moments is his emotional reaction to hearing how important Rocky Horror has been to fans who’ve endured similar struggles in their own lives. 

The rest of Strange Journey covers more familiar ground, which is entertaining but features little that longtime fans don’t already know or feel. Still, this film makes an excellent companion piece for those same fans, and worth checking out for anyone curious about how a humble little stage musical became the longest running film in history.