'Masterpiece' horror series with a 100% score available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer

Horror films and shows are a strange kind of entertainment. The whole point is to make viewers scared, unsettled, or constantly on edge, yet millions of people choose to watch them every week. Whether it's creepy clowns, haunted houses, or something lurking in the shadows, horror has never been more popular, especially when it comes to British dramas.

And one recent series has earned a perfect 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many calling it a modern masterpiece. One reviewer wrote: "I really enjoyed this mini-series, I was hooked immediately and binge watched them all in two days! I think the acting was brilliant and the filming was gritty and had a realistic feel to it."

Another added: "Brilliant series. Not your typical teen jump scare series. This had me guessing right until the end and on the edge of my seat."

A third commented: "The best show I've seen in a while. The character development, suspense, soundtrack, filming, everything is there to make it 5/5 stars. I loved the storyline and how in the first couple episodes something drastic happened."

Someone else said: "Absolutely stunning performance by the actors. Super intriguing plot and just a masterpiece overall."

The show in question is Red Rose, a chilling eight-part British horror drama set in Bolton.

It first aired in August 2022 on BBC Three and is still available to stream in full for free on BBC iPlayer.

It follows a group of teens during one final summer before university. But things take a dark turn when one of them downloads a mysterious app called Red Rose, which begins making sinister demands with deadly consequences if they aren't met.

Created by twins Michael and Paul Clarkson, the series was filmed across Bolton and Manchester.

The writers said the show is a "love letter" to their hometown and wanted local teens to feel like their lives were "cinema-worthy".

Actor Ali Khan, who appears in the show, said that talking to Bolton locals helped him build his character, while actress Amelia Clarkson said filming in old buildings like Smithills Hall gave the show a gothic and terrifying atmosphere.

The BBC called the series part of a push to show more regional stories and voices from across the UK, with Red Rose offering a mix of teen drama, social commentary and tech-fuelled terror.

The mini-series is available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer.