Strange Journey: The Story Of Rocky Horror – Dir: Linus O’Brien (13th Floor/Doc Edge Film Review)
Strange Journey: The Story Of Rocky Horror is the debut film made by Linus O’Brien whose dad is Richard O’Brien, who is, among many other things, New Zealand’s most underrated filmmaker.
Trivia time!
What film has the longest-running theatre release in film History?
(And we’re not talking about running time Peter Jackson fans)
Answer: The Rocky Horror Picture Show film is still in limited release 50 years after it first flopped in cinemas.
Bonus question:
What is the Guinness World Record for the Largest Time Warp Dance?
Answer: 8239 people held a mass Time Warp Dance on October 31, 2010 in West Hollywood
None of this would be possible without a Kiwi from the Waikato…namely Richard O’Brien, who is the subject of this documentary lovingly and skillfully directed by his son, Linus O’Brien.
The film got its world premiere a few months ago at SXSW, and now New Zealand’s own sweet transvestites can catch it at this year’s Doc Edge Festival, which is celebrating its own 20th anniversary.
This past Thursday found the Sky City Theatre teaming with fans of all ages dressed as their favourite Rocky Horror character. And not only did we get to see the film, but Richard, who is a spritely 82, and director-son Linus where on hand for a post-screening Q&A.
The film itself is, unlike its subject matter, straightforward and conventional.
It starts in Hamilton, and as all Aucklanders know, there’s only one way to go from there.
Linus tells his dad’s story with the help of his friends and collaborators, most of whom are still around. They include the film’s director and co-writer Jim Sharman, 92-year-old producer Lou Adler and film stars Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Patricia Quinn, Barry Bostwick and plenty of O’Brien himself, strumming a guitar and singing those songs that have made such a difference for so many people over the years.
I’m not sure I needed to see Jack White to appreciate the late Meatloaf but otherwise the film rolled along at a good clip, touching on all the significant aspects of the Rocky Horror journey that began in 1973 as a musical stage production and somehow, against all odds, got made into a Hollywood film that stayed true to its self, featuring most of the original cast along the way.
Yes, it failed in the box office at first, but eventually found its audience over the intervening years…and that story is told succincly in this doco.
“I always felt that I was living in no man’s land. I never felt that I belonged anywhere,” Richard O’Brien says in the documentary.
Times do change. At it was clear that Richard belonged among his friends, family and the “shadow cast” that came to see him and this film. I suggest you do the same.
Marty Duda
The Strange Journey of Rocky Horror is part of the Doc Edge Festival. Click here for tickets and showtimes.
