Another entry into that 80s genre trend of "heavy metal horror", "Black Roses" is positively goofy entertainment about the title band, which is about to embark on its first tour. They decide to start in a relatively small burg named Mill Basin, and the kids are happy because this is the most exciting thing to ever happen to their town. But all is not "rosy". The band are Satanists, can transform into demons, and listening to their music causes the impressionable youths to become demonically possessed as well. Mayhem ensues.This may be due to the budget not being particularly impressive, but overall "Black Roses" is fairly mild stuff that never really cuts loose. Only in the last dozen minutes or so does it become pretty cheese-tastic, with some absolutely hilarious-looking low-rent creature FX.At its best, this is somewhat interesting for portraying the generation gap, and the typical reaction of adults and authority figures to the spectacle of heavy metal. The mayor (top character actor Ken Swofford, 'Fame') urges reason, putting forth the fact that he and his peers had parents that disapproved of the musical acts with which they themselves grew up. The hero is actually one of the adults, an English teacher played by John Martin ('Sunset Beach'), who tries hard to inspire and relate to his students.The cast is mostly nondescript, but there are familiar faces that raise the curiosity level: Julie Adams, the leading lady of "Creature from the Black Lagoon", as the uptight Mrs. Miller, real life rock musician Carmine Appice as a Black Roses band member, Paul Kelman, the hero of the original "My Bloody Valentine", and, in a highly amusing film debut, Vincent "Big Pussy" Pastore of later 'The Sopranos' fame. Pastore plays a parent who is attacked by a bug monster that emerges from a speaker.As a parting word, the music is generally pretty good (Me Against the World is by Lizzie Borden) for any metal-head like this viewer. But the movies' few assets can't quite compensate for a completely underwhelming ending.Six out of 10.

~Spoiler~Black Roses is a film that defines the 80's. And you know I love those. Big hair, wailing vocals, and a fine layer of cheese. Black Roses is about the titular glam band whose music possesses the minds and bodies of youths and propels them to do evil deeds. From the opening chords of Lizzie Borden's Me Against the World, I knew I was going to have fun with this one. I had that song on a Metal Blade compilation when I was younger. So nostalgia is already setting in before the movie really gets started. The movie itself has nothing on the soundtrack, but it is quite entertaining and loaded with humor (some intentional and some not). For example: If you've ever wanted to see Vincent Pastore get eaten by a speaker, this is your movie. Yes, it's as ridiculous as it sounds. Black Roses really needs to be seen back to back with John Fasano's other "classic", Rock and Roll Nightmare.

What a fun movie!This is one of those few horror movies out there that was based on Hard Rock music...the others being Hard Rock Zombies, Trick Or Treat and Rockin Roll Nightmare!This one has a bunch of demonic hard rockers coming to a town called Mill Basin to perform a concert.The adults of the town fear that the music might be bad for the children... and boy were they right!This film like so many other eighties horror films, has some really cool rock music...one of the best being "Road To Paradise" which the band plays on their first concert in the town.There's is also some pretty neat special effects...although their only really good in a fun way... i mean...they don't look realistic or anything but they're still enjoyable! This movie also has Sal Viviano as the lead rock singer of the band who has a really eighties "fine" haired mullet...some of the eighties fashions in this movie will give you a few chuckles but it just adds to the fun fell of the film! Some people might remember Sal Viviano as having starred in The Jitters...which was an insane but equally enjoyable Japanese based horror film!Watch out for the part where Mattthew the high school teacher is attacked by a cool looking demon at the end...it will give you a couple of laughs!!!Rent it for sure!!!

The town of Mill Basin gets their opportunity to host the hard rock band Black Roses. However, I don't think the band tours anywhere else. Anyways, once they arrive in town, it's hell on earth. The kids soon get demoniacally possessed after listening to too much of this hard rock music. The band's vocalist, Damian, is the main culprit for all of the chaos. Damian's got a cool look. He's dressed in all black and has a cool hair style. This story kind of gets its premise from the problem with hard rock and all of the suicide incidents from real life situations attached to such bands as: Slayer, Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne. Black Roses was released in 88', which was right around when these law suits unfolded. This sort of music was really popular then and parents and teachers really were against this entire movement. The story basically takes the premise that if you listen to Heavy Metal, you too, will become a maniac. It sure makes one laugh. The kids in this picture begin shooting their parents and beating up their fellow classmates. The script isn't that great, but the 80's music makes up for it. Time after time, you'll hear LIZZY BORDEN's "Me Against The World." This song is featured at least three or four times. There is also a cool song by the title of "Soldiers in the Night." This song, too, really cranks! The special effects are cheesy, but they seem to work for satisfactory basis. I like the part when a guy gets sucked through a mounted wall speaker, case in point to my summary title. Stay away if you can't handle a juvenile script and head banging music from the 80's. 5/10