Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, especially if she’s got a credit card, a killer wardrobe, and a group chat hyping her up. Welcome to The Roses, where love wilts, revenge blossoms, and the gloves (and possibly wigs) come off in spectacularly savage style. Releasing in theatres August 29, this wickedly funny battle of the exes turns suburbia into a battleground and heartbreak into a high-fashion blood sport.
The Roses stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman as a once-happy couple whose marriage takes a dark, dramatic turn. A modern reimagining of the 1989 black comedy The War of the Roses, the film is directed and produced by Jay Roach, with a biting new screenplay by Tony McNamara. Like its predecessor, The Roses draws inspiration from Warren Adler’s 1981 novel of the same name.
The film centres on Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch), a seemingly picture-perfect California couple with thriving careers, wonderful children, and a marriage that appears rock-solid. But when Theo’s professional life starts to unravel just as Ivy’s ambitions soar, their carefully curated world begins to crack. Exposing long-buried resentments that soon erupt in spectacular fashion.
The trailer opens with soft piano music and golden sunlight streaming into a designer home, until Olivia Colman’s voice cuts through the bliss: “We were happy once. Now I fantasise about dropping a toaster in his bath.” And just like that, welcome to marital hell.
As the trailer unfolds, so does the carnage. We see a montage of flying wine bottles, shredded suits, and a scene involving a car in a fountain that screams both chaos and catharsis. Colman is equal parts terrifying and hilarious, wielding her signature deadpan with scalpel precision. Cumberbatch, meanwhile, leans hard into the slow-burn madness, his charm twisting beautifully into desperation and spite.
Jay Roach directs with surgical satire, dialling up the tension and absurdity in equal measure. The cinematography shifts from polished perfection to crumbling chaos, echoing the Roses’ descent. With Tony McNamara’s acid-tongued script at the helm, every line cuts like a knife, and every smirk carries a threat.
The ensemble cast for The Roses includes Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Belinda Bromilow, Sunita Mani, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao and Kate McKinnon. The film is produced by Roach, Michelle Graham, Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke, Ed Sinclair and Tom Carver.
Geek Verdict:
The trailer for The Roses promises a deliciously deranged duel of egos, where love turns lethal and no lamp is safe. Colman and Cumberbatch are a chaotic dream team, and this one looks ready to blow the roof off both the house and the institution of marriage.
About The Roses
Synopsis: A seemingly perfect couple hides tensions and rivalry. When the husband’s career ambitions fail, their relationship’s underlying conflicts explode.
Genre: Dark Comedy • Drama
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch • Olivia Colman • Andy Samberg
Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Release Date: August 29, 2025
