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Irish Times
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Linus O'Brien on The Rocky Horror Film Show: ‘Rocky has tangibly saved lives. It created a real sense of community'
In the larger pantheon of cult cinema, few titles have the staying power – or the fishnetted pizazz – of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. First staged in a tiny upstairs space – with 60 seats in total – at the Theatre Royal in London in 1973, the bizarro, brilliant and singalong musical The Rocky Horror Show somehow evolved into a theatrical warhorse and midnight movie juggernaut. Remarkably, Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, a new documentary directed by Linus O'Brien, son of Richard O'Brien (who wrote the original stage show and starred as Riff Raff in the 1975 movie), is the first feature-length project to chronicle the musical's buoyant history. 'It's very strange,' says the director. 'A lot of people have commented on how weird it is that something like Rocky hasn't been given this kind of attention and on this scale before. I feel very privileged and lucky to be the one to do it, to be honest. I've known the story for so long. I've known my dad's personal journey. It was really a question of taking everything that I knew and making sure it got on camera.' READ MORE The Rocky Horror Picture Show follows a newly engaged couple, Brad and Janet (played by Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon), as they stumble upon a mysterious castle after their car breaks down. Inside, they meet Dr Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a flamboyant, cross-dressing scientist, who unveils his latest creation: a muscular, artificially-made man named Rocky. As the night unfolds, the couple is drawn into Frank-N-Furter's riotous world of sexual liberation and showstopping musical numbers. 'You can put on your favourite album, pretty much anytime, and revisit it,' says O'Brien. 'That's another huge strength of Rocky. If the songs were only half as good as they are, we wouldn't be talking about it today. But the songs are as good as any other soundtrack that's ever been written. Obviously, I'm biased, but you can put it next to The Wizard of Oz and West Side Story, in my opinion.' Whereas many lavish, starry West End productions have floundered, Rocky Horror logged some 3,000 productions on its first run and has endured for over five decades, outlasting many other pop culture trends. No other musical can compete with Rocky's global fan clubs, nor the shadow casts that re-enact its every move in real time. O'Brien's new film brings together various fans, including Jack Black and Trixie Mattel, plus the original cast and creatives to recount the rollicking fall and rise of the scrappy, queer-favoured musical. We also encounter Tim Curry, whose outrageous turn as the intergalactic, polyamorous Frank-N-Furter is a huge part of its enduring cult appeal. I would consider Star Wars a cult. I would consider Harry Potter a cult. But Rocky stands out because it is one of the largest and definitely the first in many ways — Linus O'Brien Post Rocky Horror, Curry went on to have a Hollywood career in It, Legend, and Clue. Sadly, the beloved actor suffered a stroke in 2012. He uses a wheelchair and has required assistance with daily tasks ever since. Aside from voiceover work, Strange Journey marks Curry's first film appearance since 2010. 'It took about six months to get Tim Curry on board. Not because he was resistant – it was more a question of scheduling and timing,' O'Brien says. 'Everyone else was very accommodating. I have a lot of personal connections, which really helped. I obviously have a front-row seat to my dad's work, and I've heard all the stories over the years in different parts. So when it came to doing interviews, I could ask questions I kind of already knew the answers to, and still gain more insight.' [ Richard O'Brien: I don't know that we could make The Rocky Horror Show today Opens in new window ] The show's original cast – including Curry – brought the production to Los Angeles in 1974, where it lit up the stage at The Roxy. The film version followed shortly after, shot on a shoestring budget, while the show was gearing up for a Broadway debut. The Broadway production folded quickly after 45 performances and some unkind reviews. The film adaptation similarly flopped upon release in 1975. Audiences were confused by the unconventional mix of sci-fi, horror, camp and sexual themes. However, it found new life through midnight screenings, particularly in New York. Fans began dressing up as characters, shouting lines at the screen, and creating a unique interactive experience. The movie's mantra – Don't dream it, do it – resonated deeply with marginalised groups, including the LGBTQ+ community. The raucous late-night screenings at the Classic in Harold's Cross were a Dublin legend up to the cinema's closure (with, of course, a last outing for Rocky Horror) in 2003. One of the people featured in the documentary is Sean Waters, who was once a homeless runaway. 'He talks about how he was safe from 10 to four every Friday and Saturday night at screenings,' O'Brien says. 'His story speaks for thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands. It was a place people could go and be themselves before we even had the phrase 'safe space'.' O'Brien is still moved by what Rocky achieved. 'It's overwhelming sometimes,' he says. 'Rocky has tangibly saved lives. After our premiere at South by Southwest, a man came to the stage and said, 'If it wasn't for Rocky Horror, my wife wouldn't be alive.' Those moments stick with you. It's much deeper than just frivolous fun. Rocky created a real sense of community for people who've felt disenfranchised or marginalised, not just because of sexuality or gender, but because they never quite fit in.' Richard O'Brien in Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror The subject matter is close to home for the director, who movingly films his father's return to the New Zealand street where he spent his teenage years. Rather appropriately, the good people of Hamilton have erected a statue of Riff Raff in the town centre. It's a lovely scene that plays like a home movie. 'I've never known my life without Rocky Horror in it,' says O'Brien, who was less than a year old when his father's musical became the talk of London. 'It keeps popping in at different times, like at conventions or new stage productions, or anniversaries. It has just always been in the background for me. I have a real personal relationship to it over the years, and I'm continually very influenced and surprised by the relevance Rocky has today.' In some of the documentary's most teary scenes, O'Brien senior discusses his lifelong struggle with gender identity, describing himself as existing on a spectrum between male and female. He has stated he feels 70 per cent male and 30 per cent female and has used oestrogen to balance his hormones, finding it helped with his sense of self. 'My dad doesn't like to go too deep emotionally, because he's so sensitive. We both are. So when he opened up in the film, it came out in a natural, light way,' the younger O'Brien says. But Rocky is no longer simply his story. Richard O'Brien recalls an encounter with a fan who told him: 'It doesn't matter what you think about Rocky Horror any more, Richard. Because it's not yours. It belongs to us, not to you.' [ Rocky Horror Show review: I heard one person behind me complaining about the heckling Opens in new window ] You certainly can't argue with the numbers. To date, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has grossed more than $226 million against a modest $1.4 million budget. It's the longest-running theatrical release in history, continuously screening in cinemas for nearly 50 years, and viewed by more than 60 million people worldwide. That legacy continues. A Broadway revival in 2000 ran for over a year, and another is slated for 2026 at Studio 54. The stage show lands annually at Dublin's Bord Gáis Energy Theatre; movie screenings are still routine in Ireland and everywhere else. In an era of mass marketing and manufactured fanship, it's the real deal. 'There's still no demystifying that; it's still a strange, magic thing,' says O'Brien. 'Audiences make cults. There are other cults. I would consider Star Wars a cult. I would consider Lord of the Rings a cult. I would consider Harry Potter a cult. But Rocky stands out because it is one of the largest and definitely the first in many ways. It happened before nerd culture and Comic-Con made cults become mainstream. And to a large degree, the cult followings for Star Wars and Harry Potter are superficial.' His affection for the thing is touching. 'The fans love those worlds. But Rocky works on a much deeper level, in the sense that you meet a lot of people who want to live in that world.' Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is at GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival on August 2nd
Metro
12-07-2025
- General
- Metro
My parents can't afford to have the funerals I want for them
As my phone lit up, the word 'Mum' flashed on the screen. My mother calling me isn't unusual – she lives 40 miles away – but this conversation was different. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the reason for the call became apparent: Mum wanted to know how I felt about her and Dad getting direct cremation after they're gone. There'd be no service. No pomp and ceremony. Just their ashes delivered back to me. 'Are you sure you're OK with that?' my mum asked me. 'Doing it this way means you don't have to worry about anything when we die. It's all sorted for you.' And there it was. What it really came down to: money. We've never been a wealthy family, consisting of just my parents and me. I was born on a Derbyshire council estate and, while my background doesn't evoke any personal shame, it goes without saying that money was tight. Nevertheless, my parents always ensured I had what I wanted, often at the expense of their own needs. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video I got the Barbie or new clothes I raised hell for, all while my parents reduced their weekly shopping budget and struggled to put fuel in the car. I may never have been a rich kid, but I've always been loved – and that's what matters the most to me. Whenever Mum and I have spoken about her funeral over the years, she's always said that she wants I'm Going Home from Rocky Horror Picture Show played. As for Dad, I'm not exactly sure what he would pick, though I reckon Billy Joel's Vienna would be up there. Up until the phone call, they'd never really gone into any other details. Yet, the way they talked about it always referenced a service of some kind. Like when my dad would joke that few people would attend his funeral. Or how Mum wanted people to wear what they wanted rather than dressing formally. That's why it was a surprise when my parents called me to discuss their updated plans of having a direct cremation. Essentially, the plan is for their bodies to be collected, cremated, and then sent to either the remaining spouse or me – all without any kind of formal memorial service. These two brilliant people will be shipped like a package. Their decision for direct cremation stems, in part, from the death of my grandad in 2022. Even though he prepaid for most of his funeral, unexpected costs, such as paying for interment, added to the stress of his death. That, on top of additional stressors, like having to settle debts we didn't know he had, affected the whole family. Everyone was already distraught, then they had to deal with unfortunate surprises that compounded the grief. Unlike my dad (who has two siblings) and my mum (who has four), I'm an only child. So my parents didn't want me having to deal with funeral planning during the depths of grief like they had to with my granddad. The cost of purchasing his plot, paying for a solicitor, then the interment itself, came to £250. To my family, that's a lot of money. But even if I wasn't an only child, my parents still can't afford any other option. The latter in particular is what breaks my heart. They were quoted £1,500 for the cremation, compared to upwards of £4,000 for a burial. Obviously, the former is a bargain in contrast. But I hate that they're essentially being penalised for being less financially able, having to settle for a very basic funeral to ensure I don't suffer beyond the grief I'll be feeling. Of course, I can always arrange a personal service for them on my own terms – where I'll likely play their respective songs – but the fact that the choice was taken away from us still stings. And we're not alone. As of 2023, approximately 20% of 'all funerals were described as direct cremations', which is an increase of 11% since 2020. I can't speak for everyone, yet I suspect that the lack of great expense is behind their increase in popularity. My parents say they don't mind and I believe them. In fact, in some ways, not having a conventional funeral is fitting because they've never been one for norms, so why start now? I just wanted more for them. Then again, I always have. After all their hardships and sacrifices, I wanted them to be able to have the most incredible send-off befitting two of the most compassionate people I know. Instead, they've used what minimal savings they have to pay for two very basic plans for after they're gone. Unfortunately, options like funeral insurance or monthly payment plans aren't viable for them. My mum is disabled, working part-time from home earning money that barely covers all of their bills, and my dad is her unpaid carer. What little money they get from my dad's basic state pension and my Mum's PIP – which is meagre, to say the least – is used to survive. Extras like payment plans and insurance are a luxury they can't afford. More Trending In an ideal world, funerals with a proper burial would be affordable for all. At the end of the day, I believe everyone deserves access to the same level of care in death as in life. For funeral options to become more affordable, we need to be able to afford the cost of living. Even though a funeral is just another social construct from our culture that we adhere to, this ritual of tradition is important in that it allows us to mark the passing of someone we love. Shouldn't such an occasion be carried out exactly how the deceased wanted? It would just be nice if they had true control in how they say their final farewell. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. View More » MORE: I thought my date was too young but I was the immature one MORE: I spoke out for Palestine – then came the police interrogation MORE: I've embraced free bleeding when I'm on my period Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Time Out
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Rocky Horror is turning 50 and you can celebrate with the cult classic's stars in NYC
Talk about a Time Warp: The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been part of the pop culture landscape for a full five decades now. Originally released in theaters September 25, 1975, the future cult classic made barely a splash during its initial theatrical run, despite the presence of pre-fame Barry Bostwick, Tim Curry, and Susan Sarandon. But in the years since, the musical took on a whole new life as a midnight movie sensation, potentially keeping fishnets on the market long past their natural expiration date. And to celebrate its big 50th anniversary this year, actors from the beloved film have been touring North America with a very special iteration of the beloved screening tradition, giving fans a chance to party with the stars. And the tour just announced a stop in New York City: On Friday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m., bring your rubber gloves and noisemakers to The Town Hall, where stars Bostwick (Brad), Nell Campbell (Columbia) and Patricia Quinn (Magenta) will be on hand for a very special screening. Each stop on the tour includes a costume contest and a screening of the film, with a 'shadow cast' of locals performing scenes in front of the screen—which is to say, it's a glitzier, starrier version of your classic midnight movie screening. Budget your props and costumes accordingly! ' Rocky has changed lives, not just ours, and had a profound effect on how we accept our differences in this world,' Barry Bostwick said in a statement. 'We were fitted for our corsets and high heels and enthusiastically started singing songs that have endured for all these years. And 'dammit Janet'! I have made nerds cool.' 'Fifty years ago, I auditioned for The Rocky Horror Show at the 60-seat Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in London," Patricia Quinn added. "I asked my agent, 'What's it about?' He replied, 'Something to do with a circus.' He wasn't wrong. I've been in this circus ever since! 'Cirque Du Rocky Horror' I'm lucky! We're all lucky!! Don't dream it be it.' 'I never would have thought all these years later we'd be touring our little ole film,' Campbell said. 'I'm so thrilled to get back on the road and to meet several generations of fans. Looking forward to a lot of fun just like it always was!' And if you can't make it the night of November 3, never fear: A Broadway revival of the stage show is headed to Studio 54 next spring, directed by Tony winner Sam Pinkleton (Oh, Mary).
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A time warp? How you can see 'Rocky Horror' on the big screen in Michigan
"Rocky Horror Picture Show" fans, now's your chance to book a screening and meet the original cast as the musical film celebrates its 50th anniversary with a pair of Michigan events. The cult classic film featuring the "Sweet Transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania" will mark the anniversary with a North American tour this fall, according to a news release. In the decades since its release, the movie has continually been screened, including interactive showings with audience participation and live performances with shadow casts, Rocky Horror Wiki notes. The latest tour will include stops in New Buffalo and Detroit, featuring an appearance from three original cast members: actors Barry Bostwick (Brad), Nell Campbell (Columbia) and Patricia Quinn (Magenta). "I never would have thought all these years later we'd be touring our little ole film. I'm so thrilled to get back on the road and to meet several generations of fans. Looking forward to a lot of fun just like it always was!" Campbell said in a statement. Here's what to know. The touring movie will be shown at the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo at 8 p.m. Oct. 17, 2025, with all three touring cast members on hand. The tour also will include a 7 p.m. Oct. 18, 2025, showing at the Masonic Temple Theater in Detroit. All three touring cast members will appear in Detroit. The "Rocky Horror Picture Show" is a 1975 musical film known as the world's longest-running theatrical release and a midnight movie. The movie was adapted from the 1973 musical "The Rocky Horror Show," according to Stage Agent. The musical features an engaged couple, played by Bostwick and Susan Sarandon (Janet), who become stranded in a remote area when their car breaks down during a storm. They end up seeking a phone at the strange mansion of Dr. Frank-Furter, played by Tim Curry, according to Rotten Tomatoes. The movie follows their bizarre stay at the home and the strange characters they meet, with themes ranging from science fiction and horror to sexuality. "(L)ittle by little, as the effervescent transgressive force gobbles up whole the unsuspecting visitors of the night, Brad and Janet slowly begin to embrace the potent fascinations of seduction," IMDB explains. The "Rocky Horror Picture Show" is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025. To mark the occasion, the film and cast members are on a 40-plus city tour across the U.S. and Canada in 2025, the news release said. More: Shakira dazzles at Little Caesars Arena as world tour brings reenergized star to Detroit More: Detroit-based Shinola no longer making bicycles, once a core part of its identity The tour will include original cast member appearances, costume contests, live performances by the local shadow cast during the film screenings and in some cities a traveling museum with film artifacts and costumes. To attend the local screening in Michigan, you can purchase tickets online. Limited VIP tickets offer a meet and greet with original cast members Bostwick, Campbell and Quinn. Meatloaf appeared as ex-delivery boy Eddie, who dates Columbia. Richard O'Brien, the film's creator played Riff Raff. Peter Hinwood appeared as "Rocky Horror." The Michigan Rocky Horror Preservation Society hosts showings twice each month in Wayne. The next showing is June 14 at Phoenix Theaters State Wayne, 35310 Michigan Ave. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 'Rocky Horror' cast to visit Michigan on anniversary tour: Get tickets
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Nonnas' Review: Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon and Lorraine Bracco Bring the Right Seasoning to Netflix's Comfort-Food Comedy
Like the old-school cooks in his new movie, Stephen Chbosky understands the importance of good ingredients. To tell the story of a middle-aged man's impulsive leap into restaurant ownership, he's gathered an accomplished cast wielding effortless charm. Nonnas is home-style all the way, forgoing jaw-dropping plating for something more reliable and predictable. It will strike a nostalgic chord or two for many viewers, and at any rate offers a welcome change of pace from Netflix's true-crime and action offerings. Vince Vaughn brings an unforced sincerity to the role of inexperienced entrepreneur Joey Scaravella, and the four nonnas (grandmothers) who join him in his unconventional culinary enterprise are played by Lorraine Bracco, Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire and Brenda Vacarro — heavy hitters moving nimbly. Though the movie unabashedly celebrates women in their 70s and 80s, it hasn't the strained sensibility of those 'ain't these old gals something?' comedies that have become a subgenre unto themselves. Essentially an up-with-people optimist, director Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Wonder, Dear Evan Hansen) keeps the laughs in a silly but grounded vein, and the emotional moments unfold with the same understated believability. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' Marks 50th Anniversary With 4K Remaster Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon Start an Italian Restaurant in Netflix's 'Nonnas' Trailer 'Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror' Review: An Affectionate, Personal Look at the Cult Movie Phenomenon Working from a screenplay by Liz Maccie that tells a movie version of the origin story of Enoteca Maria, the helmer and his cast — with spot-on design contributions from Diane Lederman and Brenda Abbandandolo — stir up a convincing portrait of middle-class Italian-American New York (played by New Jersey, with a shuttered restaurant, Spirito's, providing the central location). Nostalgia courses through Nonnas, along with a strong sense of community through food; the feature's mantra is 'One does not grow old at the table.' This core idea is vividly evoked, with a fluent kid's-eye-view energy, by DP Florian Ballhaus in the flashback sequence that opens the movie: School-age Joey (Theodore Helm) navigates a big, boisterous family gathering — a typical Sunday in his Brooklyn home — while his mother (Kate Eastman) and grandmother (Karen Giordano), bathed in the golden glow of love, preside in the kitchen. Alone in his childhood home after his mother's death 40 years later, Joey (Vaughn) finds comfort in re-creating the family dishes as best he can from memory. A longing awakened, he makes a trip to the Staten Island farmers' market where his mother and nonna used to buy produce. (Given that Joey doesn't have a car, this is the first of the film's several opportunities for picturesque views of the ferry crossing.) Besides running into Olivia (Linda Cardellini), his high school classmate and the one who got away, he happens upon a run-down restaurant for sale and uses his inheritance as a down payment. This wasn't exactly what his best friend, Bruno (Joe Manganiello), and his wife, Stella (Drea de Matteo), meant when, concerned that Joey would become stuck in grief, they urged him to do something new. But Joey, a mechanic working for the MTA in a job that clearly means little to him beyond a paycheck, is propelled by a vision and won't be stopped: He'll open an Italian restaurant where grandmothers, not trained chefs, do the cooking. The first of many challenges he doesn't foresee is the unwelcoming small-town insularity of some Staten Islanders, encapsulated in the surly suspicions of a market vendor (Michael Rispoli). The four nonnas he enlists (they're all of a grandmotherly age, but two of them have no children) include two friends of the family, Roberta (Bracco, rocking a perma-scowl as a world-class kvetch) and hairdresser and dessert-maker extraordinaire Gia (Sarandon, exuding hard-won equanimity). The two newcomers are Olivia's elegant neighbor Antonella (Vaccaro), still devoted to her long-deceased husband, and former nun Teresa (Shire), who has the air of a bird just let out of a cage, and also a calming wisdom when the food fights take on a regional fervor and Sicily (Roberta) squares off against Bologna (Antonella). Yes, they're types with a capital T, but they're played by actors with personality to spare and no need to go big. By the time the quartet sit down to share limoncello-fueled confessions, they can do so with few words and little fuss. With complementary concision, Vaughn conveys something shellshocked about Joey and, no less, the fighting spirit of someone starting over in a big way, with a new hunger for life — not to mention the elusive recipe for his nonna's Sunday 'gravy,' aka tomato sauce. The supporting performances all click, especially those by Manganiello and de Matteo, delivering a terrific rendition of marital affection through sparring, as well as worry about their friend. Cardellini is the essence of warmth and smarts, and Campbell Scott offers a commanding cameo as a snooty but not heartless food critic. As to the food porn — it isn't. Ballhaus captures the dishes with a straightforwardness that matches the lived-in beauty of the movie as a whole, and there's no indulgent lingering by editor Anne McCabe. (The food itself is not going to pass the vegan test, the capuzzelle especially.) The screenplay by Maccie, who grew up in an Italian-American family in New Jersey (she and Chbosky are married), has a directness that's mostly refreshing, and occasionally too much. The story's intended surprises are telegraphed, and though Joey's setbacks all ring true — bills adding up, trouble with his jerk of a boss (Richie Moriarty), building inspection troubles, a falling-out with Bruno — the resolutions are sometimes undercooked. No subtext goes unexplained, and at times the score underlines what we already know. But the actors always find the grace notes, and there are sparks in the way everyday exchanges turn sharp with compassion. There are welcome laughs too, particularly in Bracco's grump-meister line readings. Nonnas serves up something that doesn't make you work; rather, it invites you to sit down and enjoy. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now "A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job": From Abusive to Angst-Ridden, 16 Memorable Studio Exec Portrayals in Film and TV The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time, Ranked
