Several years ago, I stumbled upon the YouTube page for the song I’m Going Home, one of the highlights from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. As I read through the comments, I was overcome with emotion. While Rocky Horror had always been a major part of my life and I was well aware of its societal impact, this was the first time I truly grasped the enormity of its influence on individual lives. That realization became the genesis of this film. I understood what a meaningful and layered story this was – Rocky’s rise, fall, and rise again; its influence on music, cinema, and pop culture; 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. To top it off, my own father, Richard O’Brien, was the one who created Rocky, playing a part in so many people’s lives. Initially, I didn’t intend to direct the film myself. However, when I brought the project to my old friend Avner Shiloah, who then introduced me to Garret Price and Adam Gibbs of Margot Station, we all began to realize this was also a father/ son story. Our first step was flying to New Zealand to conduct our main interview with him. I was able to spend several days digging deeper with him and touching on subjects he hadn’t always been comfortable discussing. From there, we conducted interviews in London, New York, Los Angeles, and Australia. Reconnecting with the cast and crew I had grown up around was incredibly rewarding. 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 themselves. This documentary is as much a celebration of them as it is of Rocky Horror itself.

Linus O’Brien