• Release year: 2023
• Director: George Baron.
• Producers: Andra Gordon and Sarena Khan.
• Screenplay by: George Baron.
• Cinematography by: Blaine Dunkley.
• Music by: Alexander Burke.

Shotgun Commentary: trippy plot and cheap effects. Great build up, not so great conclusion.

Review

The Blue Rose is the Twin Peak-ish adventure of two young detectives who are trying to solve a murder. Much like in the classic show, the borders between reality and dream are blurred, coaxing you into an internal debate about what exactly it is that you are watching. Don’t get too hyped, though. As good as the build up is, the rest of the film sadly can’t keep up.

Almost… but not quite

Baron tries to be the next Fincher, copying from the director both the aesthetics and the chaotic script. As far as first attempts go, this one is ambitious, but not too original. Starting your directing career by mimicking your heroes is not a bad move. In fact, it is a great first step to finding your own voice. Still, the film could have benefitted from a more original story and a more throughout ending. Regardless, it is a fair first feature overall.

Two great moves of this film are the bold colours and a vintage period in which it’s located. This ensures the audience’s attention for at least until strange coincidences and other clues begin to show. The overall production design is very thorough and an absolute delight to watch. Even the old-fashioned special effects add to the retro look, although the flames are completely unnecessary and a tad too much, to be honest…

Much like the special effects, the script is evidence of Baron’s drive, a trait that goes a bit too far when it is made clear that he’s biting more than he can chew. The story is fascinating, up until the point it is made clear that it is exactly like Twin Peaks (1990-1991), only with a more mundane ending. A lot could’ve been done with the beginning. It encourages you to expect something different, something new that will blow your mind. Regrettably, this makes the disappointment hit harder than it would’ve had the first act been more common.

Cast highlights

Danielle Bisutti as Norma Steele is eccentric and sort of fun, like her role demands, and Olivia Scott Welch as Detective Lilly is quite charming, despite some Miley Cyrus on Hannah Montana (2006-2011) expressions.

Viola Odette Harlow as Catherine Christianson and Isabelle Dubroy as Teen Queen #1 are very similar to some Twin Peaks characters, creating a visual callback that is quite entertaining.

Cast lowlights

Not all the cast works quite as well. Detective Dalton, played by Baron, is…too much. Again. While Baron does a great job directing, the acting doesn’t quite hit the spot, it is exaggerated and gives off the impression of a man trying too hard to show all his talents without actually taking the time to refine them, delivering a sloppy performance that brings down the level of the story.

As for Nikko Austen Smith, who plays Sophie Steele, she also delivers an exaggerated character, albeit it makes sense within the story. It is still more interesting to see insane people act calmly than it is to see them all wide-eyed and yelling, but it doesn’t feel out of place nonetheless.

All in all, The Blue Rose is a nice homage to Twin Peaks (Ray Wise included). As a standalone film, it has a lot of issues. However, considering it is the director’s first feature, it does show promise in this discipline, even though the writing needs to be polished and the acting refined. If you feel like watching something slightly mind-bending, do give this film a try, just don’t expect much of the resolution.

Advice to take from this movie:

• When taking inspiration from another creator, one needs to set certain limits to what one is going to borrow, otherwise your work becomes a cheap copy.
• A mystery feature is only as good as its ending.
• There is such thing as taking on too much.

What’s your take? Have you watched The Blue Rose? What do you think of the ending?

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