Red Roses of Passion Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Red Roses of Passion Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 13, 2017

Joseph Sarno was a filmmaker not known for taking it easy. With over 100 directorial credits during his career, Sarno was happy to try anything to keep working, mostly sticking to sexploitation to inspire quickie productions. Sarno devotees largely consider 1966’s “Red Roses of Passion” to be one of his best, offering a familiar no-budget look with the addition of a slightly sinister tale of demonic influence and sexual chaos, using salacious content wisely, helping to distract from the picture’s obvious shortcomings.

“Red Roses of Passion” tracks the disintegration of Carla (Patricia McNair), a highly sexual young woman who can’t get her groove on around domineering guardians. Instead of working on a plan to move away, Carla goes to a fortune teller who offers direct access to the god Pan, deciding if she wants to join a cult where roses are turned into sexual weapons and a sacrificial mystery lies behind a velvet curtain. To Sarno’s credit, he takes the premise as seriously as he can, trying to work up a mysterious energy surrounding the Pan cult, which offers sensuality and intimidation, with Carla working to drug her family, turning them into the same sex-crazed lunatics she’s striving to be.

Red Roses of Passion Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation only showcases some pronounced wear and tear at the beginning and end of the movie, leaving damage minimal throughout the bulk of the viewing experience. Vinegar Syndrome pulls out an impressive amount of detail for such a low- budget endeavor (also fighting focus issues), with facial textures a highlight, making close-ups expressive. Sheer costuming is also defined as intended, keeping the picture's lustful intentions in play. Delineation is secure. Grain is filmic.

Red Roses of Passion Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is saddled with some mild hiss due to age, but the overall power of the track emerges loudly. Dialogue exchanges are strong, only challenged by inherent production limitations. Music is also clear, offering pleasing force to back up suspenseful and amorous encounters.

Red Roses of Passion Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (20:49, HD) with Michael Bowen covers a brief history of writer/director Joseph Sarno with his biographer, who also discusses the helmer's obsession and enigmatic theatrical release history.

Red Roses of Passion Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Red Roses of Passion" is almost like a "Tales from the Darkside" episode, only with more exposed breasts and crazy softcore couplings. It's a very entertaining picture, especially when Sarno goes for creepiness, managing a few bizarre sequences while the rest teeters on camp, but in an enjoyable way. It's not polished work, prone to repetition, but "Red Roses of Passion" gives off a neat underground cinema vibe and provides a short enough run time to help endure it.