Roommates Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Roommates Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 5, 2024

1982’s “Roommates” is an oddity in the adult film industry. The feature isn’t out to titillate, going a more dramatic route with its study of three women battling all kinds of demons and disappointments in their lives. It’s a tale of New York City struggling from director Chuck Vincent and screenwriter Rick Marx, who place their focus on personal problems and horrific situations of survival. It’s a bleak movie, going against expectations for X-rated entertainment, and such severity keeps it interesting, even while storytelling turns are a little too rough to ride at times.

Bille (Samantha Fox) is a prostitute in New York City ready to leave the business and try her luck as a T.V./film producer. However, to keep her apartment, she needs roommates, finding takers in Joan (Veronica Hart), an aspiring actress, and Sherry (Kelly Nichols), a model. Billie starts to find success with behind-the-scenes organization, but her past comes back to haunt her when Marv (Bobby Astyr), her employer, urges her to return to escorting. Joan battles her way to a starring role in an off-Broadway production, befriending her seemingly gay co-star, Eddie (Jerry Butler), but she’s also involved with her drama teacher, Ken (Don Peterson), who’s merely using his student for sex. And Sherry is lost in drug addiction, with an act of sexual violence bringing Joel (Jamie Gillis) into her life, and the dominant, aggressive man refuses to leave her alone.

Joan is the first character introduced in “Roommates,” and she’s perhaps the sunniest personality in the movie. Her goal is to conquer film and theater, heading to New York City to make her mark, but she’s hopelessly committed to Ken, a married, older man who only wants physical attention from his student, refusing her requests for a more intimate relationship. Joan’s arc is an emotional one, following her as she struggles with auditions and lands a part in a play, supported by Eddie, who becomes a pal. Billie and Sherry have darker depths to explore in “Roommates,” with the prostitute finally working up the courage to get out of sex work, looking to acquire a future in the entertainment business. What’s waiting for the producer is praise for her business skills, but also demands for her body, as Marv threatens to destroy her reputation if she doesn’t return to selling herself. It’s a chilling study of exploitation and submission.

Sherry is handed the most pained subplot, with the model quickly succumbing to the influence of drugs while enjoying the club scene. What’s strange about “Roommates” is its detour into sexual violence, as Sherry is suddenly gang raped while high, allowing Joel and his psychosexual ways to infiltrate her life. The production doesn’t sand down the rough edges of this transition, which is mostly meant to terrify, adding a thriller element to the endeavor while disrupting the narrative flow. It doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of “Roommates,” though Vincent does make use of Gillis’s naturally oily ways, generating a genuine villain.

Roommates Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 2K from multiple 35mm prints." There's roughness to the viewing experience, as damage is present, including rather severe judder at times. Jumpy frames as well. Detail is acceptable, with a softer sense of skin particulars on the cast. Costuming retains some fibrousness as well. Interiors stay dimensional, exploring decorative additions, and a few exteriors retain depth. Color is consistent, enjoying period hues with hotter primaries, while cooler moods are appreciable. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is decently resolved.

Roommates Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix for "Roommates" secures decent dialogue exchanges with some evidence of age, but performances are understood. Scoring supports with satisfactory instrumentation, joined by a few soundtrack selections with clear vocals.

Roommates Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• CD Soundtrack includes "With You" and "For Everything You Are."

• Booklet (42 pages) offers essays by Rick Marx and Casey Scott, and various photos from the production and release of "Roommates."

• Commentary features actresses Veronica Hart and Kelly Nichols.

• "Revisiting Roommates" (39:00, SD) is an archival interview with actresses Veronica Hart and Kelly Nichols, who recount their entry into the adult film industry, with Nichols finding her way into acting via "The Toolbox Murders," impressing the production with her performance. Memories of director Chuck Vincent are shared, dissecting his unusual personality and on-set behavior. Co-stars are also assessed, along with legends from the industry, with the interviewees going down memory lane as they recall names. Some talk of "Roommates" is offered, with Hart and Nichols analyzing the picture and the creative push to complete it, deconstructing Vincent's approach to drama and sex scenes.

• Q&A (65:12, HD) is a 2014 discussion of "Roommates" with screenwriter Rick Marx, cinematographer Larry Revene, costume designer Eddie Heath, and actresses Veronica Hart and Kelly Nichols.

• "The Best of Everything" (29:32, HD) is an interview with screenwriter Rick Marx, who was working on Wall Street when he elected to try his luck in the movie industry. Meeting director Chuck Vincent, Marx was tasked with creating a script for 1981's "C.O.D.", proving his worth to producers, allowing him to continue. The interviewee recalls his time with Vincent, celebrating his spirit, and delves into the creation of "Roommates," which was built as a vehicle for the actresses, working with their professionalism and thespian skill. Looking to challenge the adult film industry with a more dramatic creation, Vincent attempted to show human emotions and strange situations, working with his varied cast to bring the characters to life. Marx highlights the writing process, pulling out his personal copy of the screenplay to detail just how exact the sex scenes were. He also shares his pride in the work, which has enjoyed cult longevity and respect for its tone and execution.

• "Moving In" (35:35, HD) is an interview with cinematographer Larry Revene, who initially came to New York City to be a jazz drummer, finding his way into moviemaking instead. Revene tracks the development of his career, dealing with sketchy people and numerous productions, building his name in the industry. Work with director Chuck Vincent is explored, spending 12 years with the helmer creating a large assortment of features. Work on "Roommates" is analyzed, highlighting locations, technical achievements, and cast and crew camaraderie and ability. More is shared about Vincent's latter career, eventually finding legal entanglements with Playboy.

• Music Videos (HD) include "With You" by Jeree Pamler (2:30) and "For Everything You Are" by Jonathan Hannah (3:13).

• "Script on Screen" (6:00, HD) is split-screen video comparing final footage from "Roommates" with pages from its screenplay.

• Image Gallery (3:19) collects poster art, press kit pages, film stills, publicity shots, reunion snaps, newspaper ads, and script pages.

• Alternate Soft Scenes (18:30, HD) are offered.

• And an X-Rated Trailer (3:11, SD), Softcore Trailer (3:09, HD), and R-Rated Trailer (3:13, HD) are included.

Roommates Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Roommates" lands some surprisingly realistic beats of despair, and acting from Hart, Nichols, and Fox is excellent for this type of endeavor, managing to hit emotional beats and build fascinating personalities. There are sexual moments in the feature, but they're not celebrated by Vincent, who's determined to strip these scenes of heat, with a few couplings quite repellent. It's a brave choice, with most of "Roommates" concentrating on degrees of heartache and betrayal, nailing the intensity of dispiriting events happening to characters losing their sense of hope. It's a downbeat film, and while this grim tonality doesn't make for a traditional X-rated viewing experience, it does challenge the genre is many ways, creating a fascinating sit.