If you’re reading this review, chances are you’re already aware of the awesome power of movies. The best films can be the connective tissue for society’s outcasts. Even those with more “normie” proclivities can unlock something hidden deep within them when exposed to the right combination of moving images, sounds, and vibes.
For many people, that first magic film was and IS The Rocky Horror Picture Show. So-called Transylvanians don’t forget the first time they saw Frank-N-Furter throw off his cape to strut around in a saucy corset without apology. At the Frankenstein place, It’s Brad and Janet, in their J.C. Penny undergarments, who are the outsiders. But even they will be welcomed into the fold with open arms (and legs).
Linus O’Brien’s film, Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, is so much more than a historical document. It’s an origin story for a cultural touchstone of Queerdos. And yes, you can be straight and still be counted among their ranks, so long as you leave your judgments outside in the rain. Richard O’Brien first birthed his masterwork in the form of a 1973 London stage show, with Tim Curry in the original cast. It was wildly popular, but it would take fits and starts to grow into the juggernaut it is today. Fifty years later, it resonates anew with young audiences and slips on like an old fishnet stocking for O.G. fans.
Who better to tell this storied history than a guy who literally grew up with Rocky Horror: Linus O’Brien. Richard O’Brien’s son was always aware that his dad wrote a pervasive musical, but it didn’t dawn on him until a few years ago, just how meaningful it is to people. He explains it beautifully in his director’s statement:
“As I read through the comments [on a youtube video of “I’m Going Home”], I was overcome with emotion – each person shared their personal story and the deep place the song held in their heart… this was the first time I truly grasped the enormity of its influence on individual lives… the unique cult phenomenon it fostered and the safe space it created for all kinds of people; and the unfortunate reality that, in today’s political climate, Rocky is as relevant as ever.”…
Effed by the Wind 