A new adaptation of Warren Adler’s novel The War of the Roses, titled The Roses, dives back into the troubled marriage saga with a modern twist. Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch play Ivy and Theo Rose, an estranged couple whose volatile dynamic mirrors the classic cautionary tale, but with a fresh, contemporary lens.
In this version, the couple’s fight over a cherished home escalates to deadly lengths, just as in the original 1989 film in which Kathleen Turner starred opposite Michael Douglas. Ivy, a successful restaurateur, and Theo, an architect who designed their house, are again determined to own the family home, sparring with a brutal blend of intellect and spite. The climactic showdown features a plot twist on the old power struggle: Theo covertly uses a hidden raspberries-toxin in a Black Forest cake, setting off a sequence of deadly power plays as Ivy fights for control—and for survival.
The scene unfolds with Ivy signing away property rights, only to discover a new trap as Theo slides a dose of epinephrine into a bottle of danger. The couple’s confrontation shifts from legal and physical combat to a volatile emotional reckoning, culminating in a dramatic standoff that sees Ivy pointing a gun. The struggle intensifies, with Theo hurling a knife and banging a stove as the pair teeter on the edge of catastrophe. In a moment of vulnerability that would define Adler’s tale for generations, Theo admits he never stopped loving Ivy, sparking a dangerous mixture of reconciliation and risk.
The dialogue between the two reveals a shared longing beneath the turmoil: “The truth is, I doubt I could live without you, anyway,” Theo confesses, and Ivy answers with a cautious carry, “And I, you.” The couple teases a murder-suicide pact, then unexpectedly soften, only for gas to begin leaking from a battered stove, drawing the scene toward a white-screen fate. As the screen fades, the couple’s fate remains in the air, with the film’s creative team intentionally inviting ambiguity rather than offering a neat, conclusive ending.
The stars weigh in on the ending. Cumberbatch emphasizes that the couple’s deepest vulnerability—despite the hate—serves as their true strength, suggesting that openness could become their greatest superpower. Colman echoes that sentiment with a playful nod to the tension between love and danger. Director Jay Roach says he wants the audience to feel the possibility of a resolute outcome or an open one, underscoring the film’s tonal balance between tragedy and unresolved fate. Cumberbatch expresses sincere hope that the movie will prompt audiences to tell their loved ones “I love you” in real life, while Colman agrees, keeping the door ajar on whether the Roses will survive.
What to watch for as the release approaches:
– The film leans into a modern domestic thriller vibe, with a digitally connected home that amplifies the couple’s high-stakes conflict.
– The ending’s ambiguity is a deliberate choice, inviting audiences to debate whether love can truly outlast the destruction it fuels.
– The dynamic between Colman and Cumberbatch centers on vulnerability and honesty as a source of power within a volatile relationship.
Overall, The Roses promises a provocative, suspenseful reimagining of a classic tale, anchored by electric performances and a provocative ending that may leave viewers debating long after the credits roll. If you’re drawn to psychological thrillers that blend romance, betrayal, and moral ambiguity, this adaptation could offer a fresh reflection on the costs of passion and possession, while still leaving room for hopeful interpretation.
Summary for readers: A new version of The War of the Roses reimagines the infamous feud as The Roses, starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch. The climactic confrontation blends legal strategy, manipulation, and raw emotion, with an ending that intentionally leaves the fate of Ivy and Theo open to interpretation—coupled with a message from the cast and director about love, vulnerability, and the possibility of escape. A hopeful thread runs through the performances, offering a contemporary take on Adler’s enduring cautionary tale.