The Blood Rose is a 1970 French horror film directed by Claude Mulot and starring Philippe Lemaire, Anny Duperey, and Elizabeth Teissier. The movie is loosely based on the novel "Un Certain Monsieur Blot" by Jacques Chessex.
Frédéric Lansac is a successful botanical artist and collector who becomes enamored with Moira, a wild and carefree party girl. Their relationship is intense but short-lived, as Frédéric meets Anne, a demure but beautiful botanist, and they soon marry.
At their wedding party, Moira shows up uninvited and causes a scene, which leads to Anne falling into a bonfire and suffering severe burns. Frédéric is consumed with guilt over the incident and becomes increasingly distant from Anne, who becomes bitter and demanding as a result of her injuries.
Desperate to save their marriage, Frédéric decides to lock himself and Anne in his mansion with his loyal servants, a pair of mute dwarves. Anne's condition worsens, and Frédéric hires a nurse to secretly look after her. However, he tells everyone that she has died, and he keeps her hidden away from the world.
As time passes, Anne's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and violent, and Frédéric begins to fear for his life. He realizes too late that he has made a terrible mistake and that his actions have only fueled Anne's bitterness and anger.
The Blood Rose is a haunting and atmospheric horror film that explores themes of love, obsession, and the dangers of unchecked desire. It is a classic example of French Gothic cinema and features stunning cinematography and a haunting score by Pierre Raph.
