The Passions of Carol Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Passions of Carol Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 31, 2025

“A Christmas Carol” has been adapted time and again, remaining prime fodder for media interpretations since its debut 181 years ago. I’m sure author Charles Dickens would be pleased with the endurance of his work, but perhaps a bit surprised to see it transformed into an adult movie. 1975’s “The Passions of Carol” provides a loose interpretation of the original book, once again exploring the bitterness of Scrooge and the character’s long journey towards behavioral illumination. The fine details aren’t exactly correct in this version, but a general appreciation for Dickens’s message is here, along with plenty of stops for erotic happenings as director Shaun Costello (billed as “Amanda Barton”) attempts to create a Christmas story with a handful of actors, minimal budget for sets and costumes, and a New York City groove.

Carol Scrooge (Mary Stuart) is the head of Biva Publications, a leading distributor of adult magazines. Scrooge is a tough person with little faith in others, remaining demanding as she battles to best the competition. Bob Hatchet (Jamie Gillis) is one of her employees, stuck in the office late on Christmas Eve as he reworks a layout to emphasize models with large penises. At home is Barbara (Kim Pope), who worries about her husband, and they’re dealing with the demands of raising Tiny Kim, trying to enjoy a proper holiday. Scrooge refuses to offer such kindness to her employee, or anyone, returning to her apartment for a good night’s sleep. During the evening, Scrooge is awakened by the ghost of her old partner, Lance Marley (Marc Stevens), who announces the vicious woman will be visited by three spirits: The Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Sent on a journey of self-reflection, Scrooge is confronted by the loneliness she’s created and endures, also witnessing the carnal activities of those she knows as she’s granted access to the intimate lives of others.

Biva Publications is a powerhouse company, and Scrooge firmly believes that success is measured in inches. She demands better male members for her magazine, lambasting Bob as he comes up short with his layout plans, trying his best to live up to the boss’s impossible vision. It’s Christmas Eve, and Bob wants to spend time with his family, including Tiny Kim (though we see her crutches in the Hatchet apartment, the character never appears), but Scrooge has no sympathy, sending him away to do his work while she turns her attention to casting new models for the coveted position of “Biva Boy.” Enter Curt, an Elvis look-alike ready to show off his hound dog to the publisher, and the character is played by a young Sonny Landham, who would go on to star in “Predator,” “48 Hours,” and “Action Jackson.” “The Passions of Carol” begins its sexual odyssey in this sequence, as Scrooge calls in her secretary to help take care of their guest, and Costello introduces extremely odd choices for music, including use of “Tubular Bells” to sonically support the extremely physical moment. It’s a bizarre scene with grim musical accompaniment, and Costello adds additional weirdness to sex scenes, eventually settling on Christmas instrumentals for the rest.

“The Passions of Carol” trades the office setting for Scrooge’s apartment, where she’s horrible to her housekeeper, Pauli (Toni Scott). She prepares for a normal Christmas Eve of anger and isolation, but the ghosts soon arrive. Lance offers the initial warning, but he’s not fully invested in frightening Scrooge. It seems the afterlife is bereft of sexual satisfaction, and he requests release long after his death. It’s here where the picture grows a bit more comedic, as Lance offers a bit of silliness, begging for intimacies from his old partner while covered in chains and dust.

The Ghost of Christmas past isn’t quite as oversexed, prepared to expose Scrooge to the dangers of greed in the form of a man wearing a credit card, unable to use it anywhere. The sequence settles in Scrooge’s childhood room, where she pushes pals Barbie (Susan Sloan) and Billy (Alan Marlow) to embark on lustful experimentation. It’s another strange turn for “The Passions of Carol,” which now portrays its adult characters as children (no thank you), while the set is decorated with pornographic drawings of Raggedy Ann and Andy, and a doll’s arm is used as a penetration tool. Even for adult entertainment, these creative choices from Costello don’t sit well, but they certainly are enthusiastically arranged.

Scrooge’s time with the Ghost of Christmas Present takes the mean woman to the Hatchet household, where Barbara is desperate to be intimate with her stressed out husband. The Ghost of Christmas Future isn’t an expansive understanding of tomorrow’s horrors, sticking to the more affordable hellscape of Times Square, and Costello provides a short but fun reminder of the grimy area as it was in the mid-1970s. Scrooge also deals with her potential fate in a scene that, unlike the rest of the movie, allows for production sound as bedroom activity commences.

The Passions of Carol Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 4K from its original 16mm camera negative." "The Passions of Carol" is a surprisingly colorful movie, using Christmas hues to brighten up the feature. Bold primaries are present throughout the viewing experience, also explored on art and signage, along with makeup additions. Darker looks at ghostly appearances are secure. Skin tones are natural. Detail goes about as far as possible, exploring ample skin particulars and textured hair. Costuming is also fibrous, going from eveningwear to heavier spectral robes. Sets are open for examination, retaining dimension and decorative additions. Exteriors are limited but deep, providing some brief tours of New York City. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is nicely resolved. Source is in good condition, with some mild wear and tear.

The Passions of Carol Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix does show signs of age, and damage is present during the listening event. Technical limitations are also encountered. Intelligibility isn't lost, keeping dialogue exchanges decently clear as various performance styles compete for attention. Music selections are also appreciable, maintaining clarity during lengthy scenes of coupling.

The Passions of Carol Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet contains an essay by director Shaun Costello.

• Commentary features director Shaun Costello.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:48, HD) is included.

The Passions of Carol Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Passions of Carol" is periodically faithful to Dickens's plotting, and Costello finds some interesting ways to capture ghostly encounters using the mere pennies he was allowed to work with. There are creative decisions made to keep the viewing experience engaging, and a sense of humor doesn't hurt. The feature doesn't have an ending, or least one that deals with subplots and supporting characters, as the saga of Scrooge merely ends, lacking an expectedly excitable redemption closer. Perhaps such attention to detail is asking too much of "The Passions of Carol," which tries to do much with extraordinarily little, and deserves credit for its ambition. It's a mostly amusing ride through Dickens Country, and while a few ideas presented in the offering might put viewers on some type of government watch list, the rest of the movie aims to please.