When a band labeled as "devil’s music" appears, what can parents do? This question is explored when the rising group “Black Roses” decides to test out their live act in a small Northeastern town after only recording in the studio. An English teacher, John Martin, begins to observe that the band's presence has a negative effect on his students and eventually suspects something unsettling is happening. "Black Roses" (1988) combines horror elements with heavy metal music, similar to films like “Trick or Treat” (1986) and “Shock ’Em Dead” (1991). The director’s previous film, "Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare," released a year prior and also featuring Jon Mikl Thor, wasn’t as successful. This new movie is noticeably better because it had nine times the budget – $450,000 compared to “Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare’s” meager $53,000. The lower budget of the earlier film resulted in noticeable problems like unnecessary filler, weak writing and underdeveloped characters. The school teacher functions well as a protagonist because he demonstrates genuine concern for his students and understands their perspective. Initially, it is suggested that 1980s metal music is simply another passing trend, no more harmful than Elvis or the Beatles were when concerned parents objected to them in previous eras. However, the idea of metal being "devil’s music" is then strongly emphasized. Patricia Strelioff stands out among the female cast as the striking Janey, though Robin Stewart (Tina) and Karen Planden (Julie) also appear. Frank Dietz plays Johnny, but his age seems closer to 33 than the character's stated 17 or 18. The band Black Roses was assembled from a group of accomplished musicians: Mark Free (vocals), Mick Sweda (lead guitar), Alex Masi (rhythm guitar), Carmine Appice (drums), Chuck Wright (bass guitar) and Elliot Solomon (keyboards). Four songs featured on the soundtrack are performed by this group, including "Dance on Fire,” "Soldiers of the Night,” "Rock Invasion" and "Paradise (We're on Our Way)." The soundtrack also includes six tracks from other artists like Lizzy Borden (“Me Against the World”), King Kobra (“Take It Off”) and a powerful song by Hallow’s Eve ("D.I.E."). The music covers a range of styles, from pop metal to more extreme forms as they existed in 1987 when filming took place. Although it doesn't quite reach the quality of “Trick or Treat” or “Shock ’Em Dead,” this film is certainly entertaining for those who enjoy colorful 1980s horror and heavy metal music. It’s better than "Rocktober Blood" (1984), particularly "Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare," though "Rocktober Blood" deserves some recognition as the first movie of its kind. The film has a running time of 1 hour, 30 minutes and was filmed in Dundas, Ontario, with the theater scenes shot in nearby Hamilton, both about a half-hour drive southwest of Toronto. GRADE: B-/B

Source on TMDB