Remaking Black Roses (1988)

·1 hr 25 min·5 clips

An emergency broadcast warns that movies posing as remakes are invading theaters and homes.

The episode begins with a parody emergency broadcast warning about cinematic remakes. Hosts Jason Bishop, Sam Stepaneku, and Trish Coughlin introduce their review of Black Roses (1988), directed by John Fasano. They recall the film's standout embossed VHS box art, which overshadowed the movie itself. The plot involves a demonic band named Black Roses that arrives in a small town, using their music to possess teenagers and cause chaos. The hosts note the film's commentary on satanic panic and heavy metal, but criticize its muddled narrative, inconsistent makeup effects, and low-budget kills. They highlight Vincent Pastore's feature film debut and his death scene where a stereo swallows him. The hosts debate whether the film's demons are literal or metaphorical, pointing out unresolved subplots like a teacher's unexplained knowledge of deaths. They brainstorm a remake, suggesting ideas like making the town itself transform, adding a sheriff character, and using music as a spellcasting tool. They propose casting modern actors like Thomas Jane, Taylor Momsen, or Ice Nine Kills for the band. The episode includes a trailer for Black Roses and details about the cast, such as Julie Adams' underutilized role. The hosts discuss the film's $450,000 budget and its cult following despite poor reviews. They transition to promoting their 31 Days of Horror Challenge, where they watch unseen horror movies daily, and digital trading cards available on their TeePublic store. The episode ends with social media and email prompts for listener engagement.

As heard by us

A strange concert horror gets a remake blueprint rooted in small-town panic.

Black Roses works here as a compact test case for a horror remake that would need to know exactly why a small town panics. The discussion circles the concert-driven unease, but its sharper interest is in the machinery around it: parents, religious groups, a community meeting,…

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Why you'd press play

You want a remake debate where the Black Roses concert is only the opening spark for a town already ready to turn on itself.

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