Why I took it off the list:
The fact that this film is called The Blue Rose – a clear reference to the supernatural case files of Twin Peaks.
The evocative poster further promised a David Lynch-esque trip of a film. As a big fan of the unique director, I decided to check it off my list!
So, let’s dig in!
Review of The Blue Rose (2023)
The Blue Rose is essentially, unashamedly one big homage to/pastiche of the work of David Lynch. The film is absolutely littered with familiar imagery and motives from Lynch films and TV projects. There’s an extended sequence featuring cherry pie, characters are called ‘Audrey’ and Vallens’, and a mysterious nightclub features heavily in the story.
The (loose) plot feels like a mash-up of Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive – with plenty of visual and incidental references to both. There’s a pastel-colored house framed by rose beds and white picket fences, the motif of a blue triangle, and a foreign-accented signer that massively evokes Isabella Rossellini. Also, the final sequence is highly reminiscent of the Lady in the Radiator scene from Eraserhead.
The story concerns 2 rookie detectives assigned by a police chief (Lynch regular Ray Wise in an extended cameo) to investigate the disappearance of a disaffected housewife after the murder of her husband. This sends them down a surreal rabbit hole as they interview eccentric suspects and somehow slip into a sinister alternate reality.
Beautiful to Look at But Feels Hollow
The central mystery of The Blue Rose turns out to be pretty superficial, and it quickly devolves into a barrage of surreal imagery that feels a bit hollow. What story there is feels confusing, and the ending feels nonsensical and unsatisfying. Unlike the best of Lynch’s work, it lacks some sort of subconscious logic to underpin all the weirdness.
What’s more, the characters aren’t really developed enough to be believable. The acting is also very patchy – some of the supporting cast give convincing performances, but the 2 leads and other featured players fall a bit flat.
Saying that, the film has plenty of surface-level pleasures. It looks absolutely gorgeous – all of the actors are impeccably styled and it employs a retro pastel-colored 50s production design reminiscent of The Love Witch.
Every shot looks great and the background is packed with minutely detailed, extravagant set dressing. The film is also technically masterful – even the rear-projection driving scenes look fabulous. Only the dreamscape sequences fall a bit flat – they are a bit too conventionally shot to be convincing as an otherworldly space such as The Red Room in Twin Peaks.
Final Score: 5/10
The Blue Rose (2023): Worth Watching?
It depends. The Blue Rose is undeniably beautiful to look at and has admirable production design and cinematography.
However, it ultimately feels like a rather hollow experience, especially when compared to the David Lynch classics it’s clearly referencing/paying homage to.
