The Roses (2025)

At first glance, Ivy and Theo Rose (played by Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch) seem to be the ideal couple: thriving careers, two beautiful children, a luxurious seaside home and the kind of effortless social charm that others admire. But beneath the sunlit veneer, something dark is stirring. As Theo’s once-promising architectural career collapses and Ivy’s culinary empire begins to soar, the power dynamics in their marriage begin to shift — and when ambition meets resentment, the result is anything but perfect.

Writer Tony McNamara and director Jay Roach reimagine the darkly comedic terrain of the original novel by Warren Adler, exploring how competitive ambition, buried envy and public facades can erode even the strongest of bonds.

What makes The Roses an especially compelling watch:

• Powerhouse performances – Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch bring gravity, charisma and sting to their roles. Viewers will be drawn to the magnetic intensity as their characters shift from allies to antagonists.

• Dark humour meets domestic drama – The script serves up sharp, wickedly funny exchanges alongside increasing emotional stakes. The jokes sting because the grievances are real.

• The tension of role reversal – Ivy’s success and Theo’s downfall create the combustible chemistry of a marriage in upheaval. The film probes: What happens when the one you supported begins to outperform you? And how do you stay yourself when everything you built with someone turns to battleground?

• Stylish and unsettling tone – While the visuals are sleek and polished, the emotional undercurrents are raw. A gilded house, sleek architecture, gourmet delights and family photo-perfection hide something more volatile. The juxtaposition keeps viewers hooked.

As Ivy and Theo advance from verbal barbs, passive aggression and subtle manipulations to all-out warfare, The Roses retains its grip through a combination of laughter, discomfort and shock. The house they built together becomes a stage for sabotage, self-vindication and the unraveling of love that once felt eternal.

For anyone interested in the anatomy of a relationship, the rise and fall of ambition, or simply enjoy sharp acting with equal parts wit and bite, The Roses offers something memorable. It’s not a feel-good romance; it’s a thrilling, unsettling ride through what happens when two people who promised forever realise they were playing for different teams.