Entertainment
Extremely R-Rated 80s Thriller Turns Satanic Panic Into Real Life
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Back in the ’80s, conservative parents had it out for bands like Twisted Sister, Motley Crue, anything Ozzy Osbourne had his name attached to, and Dungeons & Dragons. By 1985, we had the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), spearheaded by Washington wives Tipper Gore and Susan Baker, and thanks to them, we got the supremely badass “PARENTAL ADVISORY” sticker on every album deemed explicit, which only made kids want to buy them more. Which leads us to 1988’s Black Roses, a film billed as horror but playing more like a horror-adjacent satire about Satanic Panic, mass hysteria, and the kind of preemptive damage control groups like the PMRC injected into communities “for their own good.”
Black Roses holds up decades later because it completely subverts the whole idea of Satanic Panic in the most hilarious way possible. Here, we have a cool and conscientious high school teacher who doesn’t buy into the doom-speak, actually witnesses the titular Satanic band and all the damage they’re causing to his class and everybody else, only for every other concerned parent to brush off his reservations about letting them complete their three-day stint in Mill Basin. The result is a small town successfully destroyed before the band moves on to the next stop.
It’s a direct-to-video outing that leans into the parental insecurities of the time, simultaneously taking shots at helicopter parents and more level-headed authority figures alike for not quite being able to read the room in any meaningful way.
Dressed To Impress
Right off the rip, we’re supposed to like Matthew (John Martin), the hip and down-to-earth high school teacher we spend most of Black Roses following. He encourages his students to hold forums in the form of open-ended discussions about the day’s lesson, and he’s the last person who would ever succumb to Satanic Panic because he thinks his students are smart enough to make their own informed decisions about the media they consume and how it influences them. Everybody in his class, and the entire school, though, is obsessed with Black Roses, the controversial band coming to town that has parents in an uproar.
Here’s where Black Roses gets kooky. Matthew is right not to panic like the rest of the parents. Town hall meetings are held ahead of the band’s upcoming three-show run, and every adult resolves to show up and see a Black Roses concert for themselves before making a final decision. Everybody attends, and the band is dressed nicely, respectful to the crowd, and puts on the kind of goodie-two-shoes performance that would put even the most conservative parents at ease.
The problem is that the members of Black Roses knew concerned parents were going to show up and suss them out, so it was all a ruse. They are, in actuality, a Satanic group, and the second the parents dip out after the early show, the fog machine fires up, everybody onstage is wearing leather bondage outfits, and it’s painfully obvious that their goal is to hypnotize an auditorium full of impressionable teenagers into doing their bidding. Now that those pesky parents hellbent on censorship are out of the equation, they can reveal their true demonic nature and wreak havoc.
As the concerts escalate, Matthew catches wise to their nefarious intentions and becomes the hysterical authority figure who wants Black Roses out of town forever. He doubles down on his claims when one of his students, Julie (Karen Witter), now possessed, murders his ex-girlfriend Priscilla (Carla Ferrigno) because she’s romantically interested in her teacher and feels the need to eliminate the competition. Matthew voices his concerns to Mayor Farnsworth (Ken Swofford), but the mayor saw what he saw and has deemed the band harmless, even though the band’s leader is named Damian and looks like he’s seconds away from performing a human sacrifice onstage at any given moment.
Well, That Ended Poorly
Black Roses holds up today because it doesn’t really take a side in the Satanic Panic debate, which is where most of its humor comes from. On one hand, you have a gaggle of concerned, out-of-touch parents who only want what’s best for their kids but only know how to get upset over rock music and offer misguided advice. Then there’s Matthew, who represents the “cool” teacher we all had growing up, the one you’d want to grab a beer with when you’re old enough. He’s the last person to buy into Satanic Panic because he knows art is just art and that, as long as you have open, healthy discussions about it, you’ll be fine.
In between is the band itself, a group of literal demons who win over the parents while scaring the daylights out of Matthew. It’s the ultimate role reversal, and so much fun to watch play out because it’s one of the rare instances where the mob is wrong and the voice of reason is right in the worst possible way.
Black Roses takes great pleasure in subverting genre conventions, and it doesn’t hurt that glam metal band King Kobra contributed a healthy amount of music for the fictional band playing onscreen. If you want to explore your dark side and get possessed by Black Roses’ infectious melodies, you can stream the film for free on Tubi as of this writing.
Entertainment
The Controversial, R-Rated Sci-Fi Thriller That’s Better Than The Book
By Joshua Tyler
| Published
In 2006, the Wachowskis, the minds behind The Matrix, poured the proceeds of their success into a lie. A lie they hoped would reveal the truth.
At first, it seemed to work. People bought tickets, critics liked it, and there was hope that their idea might lead to change on a significant scale. Now, 20 years later, the exact opposite has happened. The dark future their movie predicted is closer than ever.
This is why V For Vendetta failed.
V For Vendetta Was a Conventional Success
By any conventional measure, V for Vendetta was not a failure; it was a moderate success. It got generally positive reviews, performed solidly at the box office, and more than made its budget back.
But V for Vendetta isn’t a conventional film. So before we determine why it failed, let’s define what V for Vendetta is.
V’s Truth And His Vendetta
Based on the same-named comic series written in 1982 by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, V for Vendetta tells the tale of a near-future England run by an oppressive government and a man, known only as V (Hugo Weaving), who sets out to destroy it. V is a terrorist, and he achieves his goals by murder, subterfuge, and blowing things up. He bursts onto the scene clad in dark clothes, hidden behind a Guy Fawkes mask, and spouting dialogue so complex and full of high-dollar words that it’s nearly another language.
While skulking London’s deserted, under-curfew streets, he rescues a waifish girl accosted by Fingermen, the government’s assault-hungry secret police. The girl is Evey (Natalie Portman), and it’s the 5th of November, a day the people of Britain will remember.
V takes Evey under his wing as he embarks upon a strategy of governmental destruction. He’s a terrorist, but he’s not terrorizing the people. Instead, his goal is to awaken and empower them, while striking fear into the heart of England’s totalitarian government. “If you want to see who is responsible, look no further than a mirror,” he tells the country’s citizens. “I understand, you were afraid,” he says by way of forgiving them.
It’s the people who put Britain’s corrupt, hate-driven government in power, and it’s the people who must stop it. “People should not be afraid of their governments,” pronounces V, “governments should be afraid of their people.”
V for Vendetta is a visually rich, dark, and resonant film; one that uses style to convey substance under the guise of pure entertainment. The Wachowski brothers’ script is a faithful adaptation of its source material, tweaked just enough to update it and properly translate it to the screen.
Is the movie political? Yes, but not necessarily in a way specific to any modern political party. It was, after all, written in 1982. These are the same political paradoxes that have been plaguing man for centuries. If you’re British, you’ll almost certainly find a way to apply it to Keir Starmer or Tony Blair, but that’s only because the film’s themes are universal.
Hugo Weaving is incredible as V, acting underneath a stiff, somewhat silly mask that completely covers his face, his eyes, or anything else he might use to convey the slightest emotion. Yet somehow, V is the film’s most passionate, powerful character.
Hugo uses his voice and physicality to convey that, to bring an awkward, faceless creation to electrifying life. V calls himself an idea, and with Weaving playing him, he’s a very powerful idea.
But Natalie Portman’s Evey becomes the real heart of the movie. V is an unstoppable force; Evey is a real person, caught up in his deadly rebellion. Her conversations with V, not the movie’s one or two action bits, are the driving force of the Wachowskis’ script. Evey resists V’s crusade against oppression; her mind rebels at what he says out of fear and self-preservation. So will you.
V For Vendetta’s Forbidden Message
Referencing the still unseen film back in the days before it was released, one member of a politically minded film forum was quick to declare: “You can’t make a movie about a terrorist now without endorsing bin Laden.” It’s that mindset that makes V for Vendetta so unsettling.
Sometimes, it almost feels like you’re watching something forbidden, like you’re seeing something you shouldn’t be allowed to see. It’s shocking that a movie like this ever actually got made. It’s even more unbelievable that a major Hollywood studio made it. Would the Wachowskis have been allowed to make it if they were making it now? I doubt it.
It’s fun to accuse Hollywood of excessive activism. Most of the modern message-pushing they do isn’t bravery; it’s adopting a trend and claiming to be a rebel. Not so with V for Vendetta. It’s a purposefully uncomfortable film, one that will affect different people differently depending on what you bring in with you.
Yes, V for Vendetta is rebellious and risky, subversive and dangerous. But it’s not cynical. V’s naïve take on the world is one that believes in the basic strength and goodness of people as strongly as it believes in the intrinsic corruptness of big government. It’s a viewpoint that almost certainly has no basis in reality, but that’s alright.
What makes the film great is that you’re not asked to subscribe to its philosophy, only think about it and take note. It’s not a call to rise up against your rulers, but a warning about the way fear can be used to give a person or organization too much power. It’s an old lesson, but one that bears frequent repeating.
Why V For Vendetta Failed
“By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.” – V’s personal motto
V for Vendetta is an idea. An idea’s success or failure must be measured by its impact on the world around it. V for Vendetta had none.
The movie planted a few quotes in the minds of those who saw it. People love repeating that “governments should be afraid of their people” one. But at no point did V for Vendetta cause anything to change.
By any measure, governments have only grown more powerful and less afraid of their people since 2006. In response, people have rushed to hand off even more power to centralized authority figures, citing safety, equity, or some other concern as justification.
Had V for Vendetta flopped and become a cult classic, people would be whispering its words in secret late-night showings. Had it been a box-office juggernaut, it would have cemented its place as a permanent fixture in our culture. It did neither, so it fades away, taking not just its message, but the message of the comic on which it’s based, along with it.
V for Vendetta’s idea has been neutered, and mid-level success was the tool used to do it.
Entertainment
Grab the Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Booster Display Box on sale for under $100 at Amazon
TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart 2025 Booster Box on sale for $99.62, down from its current standard price of $105.59. That gets you 24 ready-to-mix Jumpstart boosters, with every pack including 20 cards, all the lands needed to play, and at least one Rare or Mythic Rare card.
Credit: Magic: The Gathering
$99.92
at Amazon
$105.59
Save $5.67
If you’ve been thinking about getting into Magic: The Gathering without immediately needing to learn every corner of deckbuilding, Jumpstart is still one of the easiest ways to get started with the trading card game, and you can now do so with its biggest box on sale.
As of June 3, Amazon lists the Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart 2025 Booster Box for $99.62, with the item shipped and sold by Amazon itself rather than a third-party seller. This is a 90-day low price; Amazon’s typical price for the 24-pack box is $105.59, saving you $5.97 with this sale price.
On the other hand, you can save even more when shopping outside of Amazon. TCGplayer listings starting at $89 with shipping included, dropping below its $89.09 market price. Slightly higher, Walmart sits at $89.99 via Flipside Gaming.
Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Boosters are built around the idea of getting started simply by opening two boosters, shuffling them together, and starting to play — with no drafting, no decklist research, and no digging through your bulk box for lands required.
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Each of the included 24 Jumpstart boosters contains 20 Magic cards with all the lands already included. Every booster also comes with one anime-inspired card and at least one Rare or Mythic Rare, which is a plus for collectors.
There are over 46 possible themes, too, including Goblins, Dinosaurs, Ninjas, and other chaotic little pairings that can make each game feel different.
To get ready for what’s to come in MTG, you can preorder the 30-pack Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box for under $140 — a record low price. Right now, though, you can also buy the Magic: The Gathering Aetherdrift Bundle on sale for $40.
If you’re also a Pokémon TCG fan, although it is currently not available on Amazon, the newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.
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Entertainment
Samsungs 32-inch Odyssey G5 QHD gaming monitor has dropped to a record low price on Amazon
TL;DR: Amazon has slashed the price of the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) QHD gaming monitor to $219.99, $130 off its original $349.99 price; that’s its lowest price with the retailer ever, and it still offers a 1440p gaming display with a 180Hz refresh rate.
$219.99
at Amazon
$349.99
Save $130
With the rise of OLED and 4K gaming monitors, HD and QHD models are getting more affordable than ever — and you can now score $130 off a top-tier 32-inch unit from Samsung.
As of June 3, the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) QHD gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for only $219.99, down 37% from its usual list price, and is sold and shipped by Amazon directly. With that $130 drop, this gaming monitor is now at its lowest Amazon price ever, as confirmed by price-tracking site camelcamelcamel.
For this massively lower price, the G50F offers QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, similar to standard HD but with 1.7 times the pixel density for a fuller display, without making the more expensive jump to 4K. Whether you’re catching up on RPGs like Crimson Desert or linear action-adventures like 007: First Light, everything will still be sharper and pleasing to the eyes.
For lovers of fast-paced multiplayer games like Fortnite, the fast IPS panel also brings a 178-degree viewing angle to help keep the picture clear, while the 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms GtG response time keep gameplay both buttery smooth and far more responsive
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Despite not being 4K, the Odyssey G5’s display still includes HDR10 for brighter highlights and deeper-looking shadows. Plus, the included AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility helps keep any visuals intact by reducing screen tearing as much as possible.
On the off chance you’re open to diving into 4K, LG’s 32-inch OLED UltraGear monitor has been cut to just under $800 on Amazon, too.
For a model that’s a bit smaller, the 27-inch, 1440p LG OLED UltraGear gaming monitor is now only $500, down nearly half.
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If you’re also a Pokémon TCG fan, although currently not available on Amazon, the newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.
Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.
The Controversial, R-Rated Sci-Fi Thriller That’s Better Than The Book
Grab the Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Booster Display Box on sale for under $100 at Amazon
