Fox Mystery Theater (TV Series) The Sweet Scent of Death (1984) User Reviews

Red roses for me

[analoguebubblebath · 7/10 · 7 October 2003]

First viewing: September 1984 / Second viewing: October 2003

I had vague memories of `The Sweet Scent of Death' lingering in my mind before I finally managed to see it for a second time tonight. The passionate coupling in the flower bed `ten years ago' and the slow-burning beauty of the character of Ann Denver, played by Shirley Knight. And how could I forget - the predominant appearance of roses. Red ones. Which are a recurring motif in this `Hammer House Of Mystery And Suspense' episode which builds the tension effectively to a passionate climax. 7/10

Guns n' roses...

[canndyman · 7/10 · 9 August 2020]

This is highly enjoyable episode of Hammer House of Mystery & Suspense, with another story that centers around deceit and betrayal.

Successful London-based American couple Ann & Greg, played by Shirley Jones & former child actor Dean Stockwell (just before he was about to find remewed fame in the Quantum Leap series), decide to buy a rural retreat in the Buckinghamshire countryside.

But in every dream home there's a heartache - and it seems that someone is out to spoil their happiness. 10 years earlier, former attorney Ann had succeeded in getting a sure-fire murderer off the hook back in New York - he had murdered a young woman in Central Park whose body had been left hidden under a red rose bush.

A sinister-acting local florist has now delivered some red roses to Ann & Greg's new home on behalf of persons unknown - and appears to be watching the couple & behaving strangely.

What is the link between him, and what happened in New York 10 years earlier?

This is another story written by the ever-reliable Brian Clemens - so the viewer knows for sure they will be in for some twists, turns and red-herrings, and will be kept guessing till the end.

Former hunting lodge St Hubert's House in Gerrards Cross (seen in many films & TV series over the years) makes for an atmospheric backdrop, and reinforces the couple's isolation and vulnerability in the their country retreat.

The action is suitably directed by Hammer veteran Peter Sasdy, and slowly builds to a dramatic and clever climax.

All in all, a satisfying and tense story that makes for another excellent entry in this memorable series.

Engaging story with a perfect setting for some horror

[palhud · 7/10 · 26 November 2022]

A well written, acted and engaging episode. I thought the house and its location, particularly for the night scenes made it a scarier experience than most of the other episodes I've seen to date. A few moments made me jump too, which isn't something I can recall happening in the stories I've watched so far in this TV series.

As the story progresses it give you hints as to the characters who may be culpable for stalking the ambassador's wife and it sets the scene well for the ending, you're intrigued to find out who is behind it all and the ending didn't disappoint. It's certainly deserving of a higher rating than it's received in my view.

A solid mystery thriller.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 4 December 2023]

American Ambassador Greg Denver decides it's time to spend more time with his wife Anne, the pair acquire a remote English mansion, it seems idyllic, until Anne is tormented by a face from her past.

I thought I had worked my way through all of Hammer's productions, so finding this series on A German DVD came as a surprise.

It's an interesting episode, I can't say I was enthralled or dazzled, but it was interesting enough, the story was somewhat telegraphed, I just wasn't sure which one.

I had hoped for horror, there wasn't any, this is a straight up thriller, definitely no horror element to it.

Dean Stockwell does a good job as Greg, perhaps best known for his role on Quantum Leap. Best of all, Carmen de Sautoy.

6/10.

Roses are red. They are not blue. I'm going to kill you and will succeed, too!

[Coventry · 5/10 · 27 April 2022]

This is only my first episode of "Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense", although it's listed as the 8th installment in the series. Apparently, I'm not watching them chronologically even though I follow the order on the German Blu-Ray DVD edition. Doesn't matter, actually, since they are all stand-alone movies.

"The Sweet Scent of Death" isn't the type of tale that will blow you off your socks, and most certainly not in terms of plotting or surprise twists. It's a standard thriller full of deceit and intrigue, and depending on how many you already saw of those, the climax is fairly simple to predict. The cast and crew, however, are all highly skilled and experienced people, so it does remain a well-made and compelling short film worth watching. Peter Sasdy ("Nothing but the Night", "Countess Dracula") directs steadily, writer Brian Clemens ("Thriller", "See No Evil") neatly ties all the plot's loose ends together in the end, and both Dean Stockwell and Shirley Knight put down stellar performances. The pacing is good, there's a prominent usage of red roses, and the remote country house where most of the film takes place is suitably atmospheric.

Banal

[gianmarcoronconi · 4/10 · 12 September 2022]

We can say that this episode is of a tremendous banality, everything is built to try to make it unexpected to the viewer but miserably fails in its task resulting almost ridiculous at the end. The whole film is centered on the fear and anxiety of what surrounds the protagonists' house and it can be said that this atmosphere of incredible anxiety is the only thing done really well in the whole episode because otherwise it makes no sense, either. The behaviors of the various characters are justified, especially some by her husband are completely meaningless and at the end of the episode you wonder why some actions.

The sweet scent of the classic thriller

[slasherfan-591-817764 · 8/10 · 24 July 2020]

Another great episode from the remembered series "Mystery", possibly the most classic in tone, both for its structure and plot and for the staging. And it is that seeing those responsible for this chapter is completely logical, since we have Peter Sasdy ("The Ripper's Hands") -another one of the star directors of the Hammer- behind the cameras, and as responsible for the script no less that to the great Brian Clemens, author, among others, of the scripts of those two gems of psychological terror that are "And Soon the Darkness" and "Blind Terror"; in addition to being the creator of the excellent series "Thriller", also in a style very similar to that of those films. As expected, all this can be seen in "The Sweet Scent of Death" and although it is always something to be grateful for, it is also too noticeable that we are dealing with something familiar. Faced with something that any fan of psychological thrillers of the Hammer knows well. This implies that, despite the fact that the reasons for the events are very well elaborated by Clemens, the twists and surprises that exist in the story are seen coming from afar and that the outcome is somewhat predictable. All in all, Sasdy's handling of the key sequences and especially of the final climax, balances that predictability quite well and manages to raise interest so that the story does not decay at any time. If we add to this a good cast with a handful of effective performances, the end result is even remarkable. And is that the cast has an undeniable appeal: Shirley Knight ("The Sender") is the female lead on whom all threats hang. Beside her and as a husband is the other American from this episode, Dean Stockwell ("The Dunwich Horror"). While on the English side stand out the always disturbing Michael Gothard ("Lifeforce"), Robert Lang ("Night Watch") in one of his usual police roles, and Carmen Du Sautoy ("Praying Mantis") giving life to one of those enigmatic characters in which he usually shines, although this time his presence is too short. We are not facing the best episode of "Mystery" (honor that falls on "In Possession") but we are facing a clear example of the good level of this series that deserves all the recognitions.