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Drama Cult Classic

Lost in a labyrinthine cemetery, desire and dread entwine beneath the French moon.

THE IRON ROSE

The strangest of love stories

1973 · 1h 20m · NR · Drama / Fantasy / Horror / Romance · IMDB TMDB

A young couple out for a walk decide to take a stroll through a large cemetery. As darkness begins to fall they realize they can't find their way out, and soon their fears begin to overtake them.

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Vault Note

Watch out for the director’s own cameo prowling among the graves—Rollin never could resist a midnight stroll.

Programmer's Pick

Jean Rollin trades blood for atmosphere in this hauntingly beautiful Gothic tale, where sex and surrealism mingle among the tombstones. Françoise Pascal’s descent into the nightmarish underworld of the cemetery is part erotic reverie, part existential mind game. If you like your horror poetic and laced with graveyard trysts, The Iron Rose stands ready with open arms—and open graves.

— SassyFlix Programmer
Quick Answer
What is The Iron Rose about?

The Iron Rose is a 1973 French drama, fantasy, horror, and romance film directed by Jean Rollin about a young couple who become lost in an old cemetery as night falls, leading to a psychological and surreal journey.

Details & Specs
Director
Jean Rollin
Writers
Jean Rollin, Maurice Lemaître
Release
1973
Runtime
1h 20m
Country
France
Language
French
Also Known As
The Crystal Rose, Friedhof der toten Seelen, Nuit du cimitière, A Rosa de Ferro, Rosa de hierro, Die eiserne Rose

Synopsis

A young couple out for a walk decide to take a stroll through a large cemetery. As darkness begins to fall they realize they can’t find their way out, and soon their fears begin to overtake them.

The Iron Rose is easily one of the most hauntingly beautiful horror flicks made by French maestro Jean Rollin. The film tells the story of a young couple, who venture into a very old and very large cemetery, eventually getting lost within it’s walls. Throughout this time, a mind game between the two arises and begins to battle. Eventually Francoise Pascal’s character adopts to her surroundings.

The Iron Rose is a wonderfully Gothic mood piece, which is primarily set in a cemetery. The film is loaded with hauntingly dark atmosphere of utter hopelessness and there are some surreal situations for example lonely clown walking through the cemetery corridors. Give this lovingly poetic horror flick a look.

Why Cult

Gothic Cemetery Setting

Nearly the entire film unfolds within the eerie confines of a sprawling French cemetery, making for a uniquely atmospheric experience.

Surreal Eroticism

Rollin fuses eroticism with surreal horror, featuring sex scenes on graves and a dreamlike mood that blurs the line between desire and dread.

Psychological Mood Piece

The couple’s unraveling sanity and shifting power dynamics turn the film into a psychological thriller as much as a horror romance.

Cult French Horror

Directed by Jean Rollin, The Iron Rose is a standout in the French cult horror canon, celebrated for its poetic visuals and atmospheric storytelling.

Trailer

Scene Gallery

Questions from the Vault

What is The Iron Rose about? +

The Iron Rose follows a young couple who get lost in a vast, old cemetery at night, leading to a psychologically charged and surreal experience.

When was The Iron Rose released? +

The Iron Rose was released in 1973.

Who directed The Iron Rose? +

The Iron Rose was directed by Jean Rollin.

How long is The Iron Rose? +

The Iron Rose has a runtime of 80 minutes.

What genre is The Iron Rose? +

The Iron Rose is a drama, fantasy, horror, and romance film.

Where can I watch The Iron Rose? +

You can watch The Iron Rose on SassyFlix.