Rose: A Love Story is a horror mystery film directed by Jennifer Sheridan and stars Matt Stokoe, Sophie Rundle, and Olive Gray. It was released on digital platforms on 5th April 2021.
The film is about a couple Sam (Matt Stockoe) and Rose (Sophie Rundle) who lives in a cabin, in the middle of nowhere, away from civilization. We get to see that there is almost nothing to do and that Rose suffers from a mysterious illness and is prohibited to go out in the sun and constantly requires blood for consumption/meal. One night, Sam finds a runaway Amber (Olive Gray) near their cabin with an injured leg. However, Sam dresses up her wounds and gives her room to stay but is equally tensed to manage her and her wife, and what if Amber finds out what Rose is suffering from?
Matt Stokoe, the lead actor has also penned the script. And I have to say he did a pretty good job in creating an unsettling world of their own and it's not an easy task to make a film with only showing two characters for more than 70 percent of the runtime. It doesn't mean that the film is exceptional. The film suffers from a strong characterization. Sam is only shown taking care of her ailing wife and going out hunting and letting the leeches suck out blood from his body to serve it to her wife for a meal. That's disgusting. But that is what you see.
Whereas the wife is shown working on her novel, don't know, does she really want that to get published? We never know. What they're outside this zone, how they're to each other, nothing is very much clear. But it's the two leads chemistry that keeps you intact with the film. Rose keeps trying hard to be in this marriage or to sort everything out between them and even gave her husband the choice to walk away whenever he feels like it. But the screenplay becomes engaging when Amber comes into the picture. Things start to get interesting when we see all three sitting together and having food and small talks.
But the tension is also there that don't know when will Rose turn into a vampire. But sadly the best scene in the film arrives too late. And so the film can't be considered as out-an-out horror flick. The film is novel, surely, and it is good at some places but is dreadfully boring at few places and it also feels like it is dragging even with a crisp runtime of 86 minutes. We get to see the vampire syndrome Rose has, which keeps you captivated and the last 10 minutes is exceptional. And another thing that film has in excellent form is compelling performances from all three actors.
Sophie Rundle as Rose is earnest and shines throughout the film. She is truly in a solid form especially in emotional scenes, she's excellent. Matt Stokoe also impresses as Sam. He brings a subtlety to his performance. Though at many places, his bearded look reminds me of Justin Timberlake from Palmer. Olive Gray owns every scene from the very first frame of hers. She is terrific as Amber.
The cinematography by Martyna Knitter is breathtaking. The film is visually very effective. The dark forest is chilling while the aerial shots are mesmerizing. The production design by Jessica Barrell is appropriate and the music by Cato Hoeben elevates the impact of the scenes. The editing by Andrew Harmer and Jennifer Sheridan is just about okay.
Rose: A Love Story by Jennifer Sheridan had the potential to become a gem. Truly it could have been but it appears less Horror and more of a human drama about loneliness and isolation and illness and being there for the one you love. But it is something that you should see if you watch Indie Horrors and want to witness some really spot-on performances. I didn't expect it to be good and that will be best for you too if you start this film. It's not good but not bad either.
Rating:- 2.5/5
Available on Digital Platforms.
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