Red Rose

It’s fun to see them pit old magic against new in this engaging clash of Ken Loach/Stephen King worlds.

Great performances from the core cast (particularly Hainsworth) elevated Red Rose beyond the usual fare without sacrificing any watchability – but beware, you’ll never look at your phone the same way again.

The creators, Michael and Paul Clarkson, have previous with horror hokum (they produced The Haunting of Bly Manor), but here they make something more engaging.

Red Rose starts off on solid footing, setting up a season full scary twists and turns that we hope don’t get too ridiculous.

Its talented young cast gives life to the dialogue, making the characters feel grounded in both their playful banter and their understandable fears. Yet, Red Rose suffers from a clash of big ideas, all vying for our attention at any one time: virtual reality, ghosts, exorcisms, mental health struggles and poverty.