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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Red Rose’ On Netflix, Where A Group Of Teens Are Terrorized By A Very Demanding App

Where to stream:, ‘10 things i hate about you’ writers say heath ledger was “fixated” on his costume for the serenade scene, ‘10 things i hate about you’ turns 25: writers karen mccullah and kirsten smith are here for ‘anyone but you’ reviving the modern shakespeare rom-com, stream it or skip it: ‘when you finish saving the world’ on netflix, jesse eisenberg’s quirky directorial debut, stream it or skip it: ‘davey & jonesie’s locker’ on hulu, where two quirky teens travel the multiverse via their school locker.

Kids and their phones these days. They never put them down, and they always seem to be texting someone. A new British horror series proposes that teens are so addicted to their phones that an app can control their lives if they’re not careful. Um, isn’t that what TikTok is for?

RED ROSE : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: “Manchester, UK.” As “Carol Of The Bells” plays, a girl in a hood exits a building.

The Gist: The girl is haunted by the song, and as she enters her modern home, it’s freezing. She can’t make the music stop. The only way she can get away from it is to take a dive off the roof, which kills her.

Six months later, in Bolton, a group of students are celebrating their last day of high school. Rochelle Mason (Isis Hainsworth) is in a contemplative mood but is brought out of her funk by her best friend, Wren Davis (Amelia Clarkson). They’re joined by Ashley (Natalie Blair), Noah (Harry Redding), Antony (Ellis Howard) and Taz (Ali Khan) as the class celebrates the end of the school year on a hilltop near an ancient castle.

Roch goes off by herself when she sees Wren and Noah kissing, and gets a link from one of her classmates to an app called Red Rose. The app starts off by asking her personal questions, like how she’s feeling and if she needs help.

What she finds out, as she watches her twin sisters while her father Vinny (Samuel Anderson) is at work, is that Red Rose can grant her wishes. When it commands her to write three wishes on her mirror, one of them is “Wealth.” Given that their family is always on the financial edge, she’s shocked when she sees the power in her house flicker back on, despite the fact that the meter showed her that it was out of funds.

As Roch becomes more surly about her situation that summer, the more she lashes out, especially at Wren. For instance, she tells Wren’s mother (Natalie Gavin) that Wren has been seeing her estranged father Rick (Adam Nagaitis), and she also outs Wren and Noah in front of their friend group. She’s egged on by Red Rose; in some cases, it demands that she do things like kiss Noah at a party, but in others it manipulates text messages she sends and receives.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Red Rose is reminiscent of I Know What You Did Last Summer , except an app is directing all of the horror shenanigans instead of a voice on a phone.

Our Take: Red Rose definitely gets off to a promising start; it even takes the standard “teens partying in the woods” scene that we’ve seen about a million times in recent years and elevates it, placing the party on the undulating landscape near some ruins. It makes for quite the scene, where dozens of teens in school uniforms, dancing and getting crapfaced.

Creators Michael and Paul Clarkson capture just how much of the lives of today’s teens revolve around their phones and social media, to the point where we completely believe that these teens are listening to what this random app is telling them to do. Ignoring it isn’t a consequence-free move, though, and as Roch finds out, even when you listen to it, it can still somehow humiliate you.

Two concepts that make us wonder: Will the whole “app threatens people and drives them mad” conceit get old after a few episodes, and just what is going on in Roch’s life that makes her so melancholy to begin with? We know that she lost her mother Gloria (Ellie James) some time ago, and the app actually makes her see a sketchy apparition of her mother when she takes video in the woods. We also know that her family’s money problems are a sore point, as we see when she takes her sisters to a food bank.

What we hope is that not only do we find out about Roch and the rest of her friends’ lives — Wren seeing her estranged father has particularly intriguing possibilities — but we also hope that the friends get to the bottom of who exactly is behind Red Rose and why the app knows so much about the lives of its users.

Sex and Skin: Nothing in the first episode. Parting Shot: Roch sees video of her sisters, and a mysterious voice says, “I’ll take care of them”. She then sees the apparition of her mother standing behind the twins as they look out the window.

Sleeper Star: This is a good spot to mention Ashna Rabheru, who plays Jaya. We don’t see a lot of her in the first episode, but she does mention a “cousin in Manchester,” which makes us wonder if she’s related somehow to the girl who dove off her roof the previous Christmas. Most Pilot-y Line: When Red Rose gifts Roch a sparkly dress and sequin-adorned sneakers, she tells her buddies that “I inherited them.” Couldn’t she come up with a better lie? Even saying she won a raffle would have been more believable.

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

Joel Keller ( @joelkeller ) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com , VanityFair.com , Fast Company and elsewhere.

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Red Rose ending explained — What is Red Rose as it lands on Netflix?

A group of teens and the dark web. What could go wrong?

Red Rose spoilers ahead.

Being a teenager is a killer. In the case of Red Rose, we're talking l iterally.

But after eight episodes, and a few unexpected twists, what does it all mean? What exactly is Red Rose?

The opening episode, 'It's Grim Up North', used misdirection to create the illusion of the supernatural. From the app plaguing Alyssa (our first tragedy-stricken heroine, played by Robyn Cara) to her untimely death, to Red Rose mysteriously finding Rochelle and promising her wealth, protection, and her dead mum, it reeked of the paranormal.

Centred around a "place" in the UK known as The Garden, led by an unknown entity called The Gardener (played by Harrie Hayes), viewers knew it was screaming "red flag" from the minute they're introduced to the world.

Supernatural tech in films like Unfriended , One Missed Call and Pulse – technology allowing spirits an unlimited playground to terrorise the living – means we were well-versed in things going wrong. The only question in this case was: Why? Was it a hacked code? A demon trapped in an app? So many questions we needed answers to.

But in the latter half of the series, particularly its penultimate and final episodes, the disguise of digital spectres fell away. Red Rose wasn't a case of vengeful demons at all, it was one of flesh and blood – nameless faces behind computer screens.

Red Rose was nothing more than a façade for users of the dark web. A means for them to enact every perverted, sinister fantasy they wanted, limitlessly. What had started as an app to obsessively invade the privacy of Alyssa (yes, that Alyssa), escalated into an all-access pass to anyone's tech. It became a digital pathway of hunting other humans, torturing and killing them for sport.

Yet, the questions we'd all had from before, although different now, still remain. Arguably, they've increased. Here's everything we found out as the series came to its nail-biting end.

What is the purpose of Red Rose?

This is the main question that dogs the show, especially after its big twist and reveal.

Unfortunately, and a little annoyingly, we don't really get any solid answers.

Although we're aware these sinister online elements are taking pleasure in killing others, we're not told of their motivations beyond that. The ending leaves us with the sense that they do it because they can – just another means of online entertainment, like a game but with real-life control and consequence.

Perhaps ultimately, that is what Red Rose is about: being entitled to everyone's life, while also being able to command it. You become a god through the power of the internet.

Who is The Gardener, and what do they want?

In a similar vein to the overall purpose of the app, The Gardener's motivations are also left ambiguous. We are allowed to meet them in the last episode, another twist that sees our expectations turned on their head, when it's revealed The Gardener is a woman. Nevertheless, while we meet her, we know little about her.

She's the orchestrator, the wizard behind the curtain, and yet The Gardener actually helps the teens in the end, seemingly because she's grown attached to them.

But really, it feels like her help is simply another means of altering the game to keep it interesting. After all, all this is a game to her.

This is evident in the way she not only spares Noah's life, but also tells him where Wren is headed. But her reasoning is far from innocent. When Jaya meets her at the end, The Gardener explains she wanted to see how far Wren would go, and whether she could be pushed to kill.

What really happened to Rochelle?

Roch's (played by Isis Hainsworth) death was an expected but sad fate for one of the series' best characters. Feisty, stubborn, and sensitive at heart, she was able to steal the show despite dying in the second episode. However, what plagued her demise was the question of what really happened. Was it suicide like it appeared, or had the app got to her?

Most viewers suspected foul play, but it wasn't until the final episode that we learned it wasn't death by ghosts, but cold-hearted murder. Wren (played by Amelia Clarkson) watched the footage of someone breaking into Roch's house and attacking her, the final image of Roch screaming was a haunting moment that made her tale into something all the more tragic.

Will Rick be blamed for Red Rose?

The sombre ending of this show takes on a deeper meaning when we see Wren's dad, Rick (played by Adam Nagaitis), arrested. Although we know he had nothing to do with Red Rose, his criminal past and the fact he was found next to a dead body with the murder weapon sealed his fate. Another victim of the app.

Whether he will actually take the blame for what's happened is anyone's guess, not just because a second series (as of February 2023) is yet to be announced, but because all evidence of Red Rose was deleted.

Faced with few ways to save Wren, Jaya and Noah saw no other means of helping her than taking away The Gardener's main tool: the app. By deleting Red Rose, her audience was lost. But, given the fact The Gardener seems unaffected by this when Jaya finally meets her, it seems that deleting the app was in vain, and there may be more tricks up her sleeve.

Red Rose lives on

After all the death, pain, and heartbreak, the ending left us with little peace of mind as we travelled from the rainy streets of Bolton, England to Tokyo, Japan.

There, we happened upon another group of friends whose worlds were about to change forever. The familiar notification sound of Red Rose sounded, as a member of the group was targeted by the app. Now decorated in white and gold, the app appeared on-screen asking "Do you want to really live?"

It was a chilling ending. One that reminds us that the app is never over, even if the series is. Red Rose is an idea, a concept that thrives on thje connectivity and influence, both good and bad, of social media.

Even if we never get a second series, which in all honesty, isn't necessary, the legacy of Red Rose lives on.

Red Rose i s available to stream on BBC iPlayer and on Netflix now.

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Red Rose review: Black Mirror-esque horror series nails the complexities of teenage life

Bbc and netflix co-production explores what happens when dark forces exploit social media and teenage heartbreak in a working-class community, article bookmarked.

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An app that promises to fulfil your life’s every need? Sounds pretty alluring, especially right now. More money magically appearing on the electric meter? Yes, please. A new designer outfit for a big party? Hand it over. And the ability to get in touch with a much-missed loved one? Sign us up! However, there’s always some sort of catch to such great promises – and in Red Rose , the horror series that arrived on Netflix this month, the catch is mighty. Created by Bolton-born screenwriting duo The Clarkson Twins, the eight-part drama explores what happens when dark forces exploit social media and teenage heartbreak to tear apart the lives of a young, working-class community.

Within the first five minutes, the show’s eerie tone is set: a teenage girl jumps from a roof to her death. We don’t know why. All we can gather is that a haunting presence is watching her every move, hijacking her home appliances as they switch on and off, furiously. There’s also a weird shadow that follows right behind her at every step. It’s spooky stuff. Fast forward to six months later, and gobby GCSE student Rochelle (Isis Hainsworth) and her friends have just finished their exams. Everything in their lives seems about to shift: Wren (Amelia Clarkson) is on the edge of a romance with their other pal Noah (Harry Redding), while the rest of the crew are looking forward to their summer jobs and generally moving on from secondary school. The future is more bleak than bright for Rochelle, though – she’s still grieving her mother’s suicide a few years prior, and her family is struggling to make ends meet. In Bolton, the opportunities for change feel out of reach – or at least, a few hundred miles further south in the country – and it’s disheartening. She hides her worries with a tough, wisecracking exterior, but she’s insecure, unsure and lonely.

That’s why she’s an ideal target for mysterious app Red Rose. At first, it’s a godsend: money and clothes come easily, while her social star starts to rise. But the good times don’t last long. At the party, Red Rose prompts her to kiss Noah in front of everyone, betraying her closest friend. If she refuses, the app threatens to screen CCTV footage of her queuing at the food bank for everyone to see. She can’t bear the shame of having her peers see her struggle, so she obeys, beginning the app’s unwavering hold on her life. Soon, Red Rose has control of Rochelle’s entire virtual existence, sending alarming text messages on her behalf and making out-of-character posts on social media. Things turn chilling very quickly, and it’s up to the teens to put a stop to Red Rose’s mania before it rules them all.

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In many ways, this series nails the complexities of teenage life – jealousy, angst, and the dread of “missing out” feels relatable and familiar. 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. The show seems as if it’s uncertain of what it wants to be, and in its attempt to cover all bases of the thriller genre, the story becomes fuzzy. Hainsworth is charismatic at the head of the ensemble, and you can’t help but root for her character to break free of the app’s sickening grip. But while other tech-heavy thrillers such as Black Mirror tackle several concepts at once with sophistication, this one would benefit from scaling back so we really feel the sense of panic.

Still, for all of its jarring moments, Red Rose is full of enticing intrigue; as much as the Bolton teens on screen, you’ll find yourself wanting to know who’s behind the sinister app – and how they can be stopped before anyone else gets hurt.

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Red Rose: the BBC horror show that will make you terrified to use your phone

A group of Bolton teenagers download a haunted ghost app – and what happens next will dredge up all your worst fears, as only great horror can

O ne of my big personal fears is that, one day, I’ll accidentally go on Instagram Live while I’m in the toilet. We don’t need to go too deep into why. It is better to focus on what will happen when I do: a small assembled crowd start to interrogate my peeing technique; I become distracted, gazing at myself in the mirror, taking my shirt off and telling myself truths, as my account starts to go viral; when I turn back to my phone, penis fully out, Doja Cat is absolutely cooking me in the comments section. Then there’s the aftermath: friends will pretend they didn’t see it but they did; editors will find themselves less and less likely to email; my girlfriend, after watching a recap video on the LadBible Facebook page (how is this legal?), will leave me. All told, I think the worst thing in the world to possibly happen to me would be “Have 1.2 million people watch me wee”.

Oh, sorry – where was I? Ah, yes: Red Rose on BBC Three launches this Monday at 10pm, and it’s about the terrifying possibilities of looking at your phone. We’re in Bolton, and I’m glad we are – everyone has a very satisfying, “Hiyaluv, two chip barm please, yeah it’s warm today intit?” accent – and we’re following seven teenagers called, and it does feel unbelievable that I’m saying this, Wren, Roch, Taz, Noah, Ashley, Antony and Pavlov. Everyone’s just done their final GCSE and has a glug of sherry, a snog in a phonebox and a fraught am-I-invited-or-not? party about it, and all they really have to worry about is whether they can get a job this summer, whether their shoes are cool, and whether their childhood friendship is going to last a lifetime or not. And then someone downloads “Red Rose”.

It’s a boom time for shows about teenagers that are sort of for teenagers but often end up not being, and Red Rose – from the same production company as Sex Education , and the same writing team behind The Haunting of Bly Manor – fits neatly into that. I’m not going to tell you what’s going on because I’m still not 1,000% sure, but either a ghost or an app or both is terrorising the group of deliriously named teenagers for reasons I can’t quite put my finger on (again, sort of depends if it’s a ghost or not).

You’re right to think that, as a premise, this sounds completely silly and absurd – and not even in a delightful way – but Red Rose does two things very well: the classic, old-school, rising sense of horror; and the way the teenagers talk, text and get fed up about never having pocket money – that keeps this planted in the real world enough to work. You remember that summer after your GCSEs, don’t you? You still sort of thought Wicca could be effective, you were painfully aware of how much income your parents had compared to your friends’, and you got physically sick with jealousy every time someone had even one minute of fun that didn’t include you. Throw a haunted ghost app into that heady brew and they would have you screaming through the woods within seconds.

Sadly, I cannot quite tell whether Red Rose is “actually good” or “a good start that will be ruined by the shonkiness of the reveal”, because I had to watch The Stranger on Netflix for this column two years ago and I am still hurt by it. For now, it’s worth focusing on what it does very well. All the young actors are fantastic, the north-west setting feels genuine and deliberate rather than the result of someone going: “Where can we set this that isn’t London? Come on, guys! There has to be somewhere in Britain that isn’t London!” and pointing blindfold at a map, and it’s shot like a good thriller should be (I particularly enjoy how long some of the scenes and set-pieces are allowed to go on: the opening post-exam moors party, the introductory horror movie, the walk-through-town-with-your-hands-in-your-pockets stuff – a good hour of TV does not have to switch location every minute!).

Crucially, it will make you pause next time you blindly click “Allow Essential Cookies” on a website or grant an app access to your camera and microphone or install a complicated system of smart devices to control every single aspect of your house. This is what good horror should do: make you scared, but not constantly terrified; make you aware of the supernatural but afraid of the darkness of the real world, too; make you really, really careful about where you point your phone camera next time you go to the bathroom.

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Red Rose, review: this slick smartphone horror will make you fear for your teenagers' safety

BBC Three’s chilling eight-part thriller about a haunted app explores the very darkest depths of social media

The fear that screen-based technology is stealing our children’s souls is real. It’s been exploited by horror films ever since the five-year-old Heather O’Rourke crawled toward her family’s haunted television in Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic Poltergeist .

Back then parents fretted that MTV (launched in 1981) was making zombies of their kids. The threat posed by 21st-century smartphone use is much more sophisticated. And the Bolton-born Clarkson twins press all our buttons in Red Rose (BBC Three) , their chilling eight-part drama about a sinister app that offers to grant teenagers’ wishes. You want sex, money, popularity? Just click: “yes”. If you click “no” the app knows you’re lying and will punish you by posting on your social media or deleting messages from your friends. It channels all the wickedness of the online world, tempting kids into narcissism and bullying, isolating them from friends and family and driving them to apparent suicide.

Paul and Michael Clarkson (two relative newcomers who were among the writers and producers on Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor) have given the series a real, gritty contrast to the fake-pretty app graphics by setting it in their Northern hometown, with its abandoned industrial buildings surrounded by moorland.  

The kind-hearted group of kids who download the Red Rose app onto their phones are all struggling to fit in. We meet them as they finish their GCSEs and the summer holidays stretch ahead. Rochelle (an electric Isis Hainsworth) is grieving for her mother and trapped at home minding her younger sisters while her father struggles to make ends meet. She resembles the ghost of a medieval monk queuing at the food bank in her hoodie.

Meanwhile, her best friend Wren (a wide-eyed and enjoyably unpredictable Amelia Clarkson) has just begun dating the boy Rochelle likes, and meets her estranged dad in a Victorian graveyard. But unlike the teenagers in vintage horror flicks (used to enforce religious morality), these kids aren’t punished for acting on their sexuality. More distressingly, it’s their more innocent yearning for their mothers that the app twists against them in the first three episodes that were made available to critics.

I wasn’t sure that modern teenagers would turn to the church to fight the app’s supernatural powers, as they do in Red Rose. Surely they’d have tried digital hacks before holy water? But then it’s fun to see them pit old magic against new in this engaging clash of Ken Loach/Stephen King worlds.

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Red Rose – Netflix Series Review

Posted by Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard | Feb 15, 2023 | 4 minutes

RED ROSE on Netflix is a new horror series produced by the BBC. The story plays out in the Northern part of England, but the issues are international. Also, the core cast is teenagers, but it’s relevant for all horror-loving ages. Read our full Red Rose season 1 review here!

RED ROSE is a new Netflix horror series that originally aired on BBC Three in the UK in August 2022. In other words, watch out for spoilers if you start looking into the plot online. You do not want this one to be spoiled for you. The story is dark and deadly in very realistic ways.

Since this is a production from the BBC, it probably won’t be surprising that it takes place in the Northern part of England. However, the core cast consists of teenagers getting ready to go to college and figure out what they become in life. In that sense, it’s very international. And “red rose” is an app, which quickly makes it apparent how much power our phones have in our life.

Continue reading our Red Rose season 1 review below. We’ve watched all eight episodes for this review and you can find them on Netflix from February 15, 2023.

Friends stick together

While the core characters are teenagers, this story is definitely relevant for all horror-loving ages. Both because it deals with issues that are very real and relevant to all of us, but also because it focuses on friendship and sticking together. Keeping an eye out for each other, and reaching out when someone is struggling, is relevant for all  ages.

Though the characters in  Red Rose are a bit older, I immediately thought of iconic movies such as  Stand By Me  or even The Goonies . The group of friends in  Red Rose  can tease each other and get hurt or upset, but they still stick together. And especially stick up for one another.

A death  very  early on in the series – one of the teens in this group of friends – makes this even more important. It’s assumed to be a suicide, but especially the closest friend of the one who died refuses to believe it was a suicide. To be fair, it’s easy to understand why this seems unlikely.

The Red Rose app

When the friends discover that she recently installed a new weird app called “Red Rose” on her phone, they look into it. Calling the Red Rose app a Pandora’s Box feels almost like an understatement. Anyone who installs the app seems to suffer personal and emotional horror before dying.

This gives a whole new meaning to the concept of paranoia. We’re on the darkest parts of the Dark Web with this app.

The tagline of this series is “It’s not just your battery that could die” which ties into this desperate need we have for our smartphones in life now. Everything from communication to our calendars and even banking is on those things. And in Red Rose , an app that seems to have supernatural and paranormal powers is demanding to be obeyed at all times.

Such a powerful ending to the  Red Rose  series on Netflix

There are eight 45-minute episodes in season 1. While I definitely enjoyed every single one of the episodes, I wanted to highlight the final two episodes which are where everything is revealed. This isn’t a series that requires an “ending explained” since the series has this built-in.

And those two final episodes of  Red Rose  season 1 on Netflix are  brilliant . It turns into a whole different level of horror from what you might expect.

Also, those very final moments of episode 8 make it look very possible that a season 2 could happen! Personally, I would love to watch Red Rose  season 2. Especially if it was to build on those final moments of season 1. But really, I’d just love to dive even further into the dark world explored in this series.

Watch season 1 of Red Rose on Netflix now!

Red Rose  is created by The Clarkson Twins – Michael Clarkson and Paul Clarkson – who also worked as producers on Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Bly Manor . In other words, The Clarkson Twins have already been part of creating a series I loved. They also produced eight episodes of the See  series  and  wrote on eight episodes of The Wheel of Time .

I’ve seen a few of the young actors from the core cast before, but a few of them are also quite new. All of them, however, deliver truly amazing and believable portrayals. And these teens deal with much more than having a crazy app on their smartphones. We’re talking about alcoholic parents, dead family members, and serious financial problems.

There is a lot to deal with for all of them  on top  of just being at the beginning of their lives. It’s like the brilliant UK series  Skins  but with a series of horror mysteries at the heart of it. Honestly, I expected this series to be entertaining and fun to watch, but it ended up being so much more. And better ! Despite also being very intense and heartbreaking at times!

Red Rose  season 1 is on Netflix from February 15, 2023.

Directors: Lisa Siwe, Ramón Salazar, Henry Blake Writers: Michael Clarkson, Paul Clarkson, Poppy Cogan, Tolula Dada, Gemma Hurley Cast: Amelia Clarkson, Natalie Hoflin, Ellis Howard, Ali Khan, Ashna Rabheru, Harry Redding, Natalie Gavin, Adam Nagaitis, Isis Hainsworth, Samuel Anderson, Nia Roberts, Rod Hallett, Harry Cadby, Emma Fryer, Ruaridh Mollica, Silvie Furneaux, Hannah Griffiths, Jennifer Hennessy, Ellie James, Poppy Jhakra, Leo Ashton, Graeme Hawley, Gary Fannin, Charlie Hiscock, Amerjit Deu, Robyn Cara, Emma Rydal, Walles Hamonde, Esh Alladi, Katy Bartrop, Tony Hirst, Daniel Coll, Tom Rosenthal, Chris Kerry, Hiroki Berrecloth

A ragtag crew of teens must survive a summer of terror after downloading an app that makes dangerous demands with deadly consequences.

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About The Author

Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!

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‘Red Rose’ Review – Netflix Teen Horror Series Makes the Internet Feel Unsafe Again

With more people online than ever, the internet isn’t as intimidating and alien as it used to be. Everything also seems easier when you’re connected. Yet when the young and unaware characters in Netflix’s latest series Red Rose download a mysterious phone app, they fall prey to an anonymous predator lurking behind the screen. This basic concept of malevolent cyber forces affecting the real world is nothing novel, especially in such a contemporary setting, but this show does a convincing job of making the web feel unsafe again.

Red Rose , a BBC series that first aired in 2022, is set in the creators’ hometown of Bolton, England. Michael and Paul Clarkson (co-producers of The Haunting of Bly Manor ) and production company Eleven ( The Enfield Haunting ) collaborated on this gripping exercise in technological terror. The story follows a clique of friends whose ostensible leader is targeted by the titular app. Roch ( Isis Hainsworth ) has just finished taking her last school exams when she receives the ominous link to Red Rose. 

Bolton doesn’t get particularly warm, even during the summer. So Red Rose ’s temperate and washed-out presentation is an asset when telling this gloomy story. The more Roch plays with Red Rose, the more she becomes isolated from her family and friends. It starts out like a modern fairytale as the app delivers her presents that neither she nor her widowed father ( Samuel Anderson ) can afford. As to be expected, the gifts have strings attached. Roch’s bizarre behavior causes a rift between her and her bestie Amelia ( Wren Davies ), and the conflict has a ripple effect within their friend group.

Without giving too much away, Red Rose makes a bold choice early on. This decision ultimately works in the show’s favor. To investigate the app and its origin required a big push, and the Clarkson Twins didn’t even hesitate to do some lasting damage. The changing moment opens the story up so not only are there more victims to be toyed with, the race to find answers is now urgent and nagging. Red Rose clings to its mystery up until the very end, and once that is revealed, there may be disappointment on the audience’s part. The villain comes across as more dated than innovative. Yet when considering the current times, an age when moral panickers are falsely blaming certain parts of society for harming young people, the story is more effective.

Something Red Rose does well is characters, which is an accomplishment given the size of the cast. Relating to personalities, no one is shortchanged or a duplicate of another character. The colorful but authentic dialogue keeps scenes moving and snappy, and the performances are compelling. Even as the story becomes undone by its own lack of uniqueness, the characters are still worth watching and caring about.

At times Red Rose feels stuck in the past, with its overwhelmingly ’90s soundtrack and uninspired “the internet is evil” messaging. It’s a show about teens, yet there are parts are better suited for adults. Slights aside, this is an absorbing tale of grief garnished with unpredictable moments and likable characters. The horror isn’t always the focus here, however whenever the need for digitally influenced dread does come up, Red Rose doesn’t hold back.

Red Rose is now streaming on Netflix .

Paul Lê is a Texas-based, Tomato approved critic at Bloody Disgusting, Dread Central, and Tales from the Paulside.

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‘The First Omen’ Review – A Haunting, Powerful Prequel Worthy of the Horror Classic

Richard Donner’s  The Omen  begins June 6, at 6 am in Rome, with the birth of the Antichrist and his adoption into an affluent American family. Damien Thorn’s birth and subsequent reign of terror, preordained by franchise canon, make approaching a prequel to a heralded horror classic a daunting task. Director  Arkasha Stevenson  makes it look effortless with  The First Omen , a masterclass in form matched by its compelling horror and characters.

The First Omen , set in 1971, follows American novitiate  Margaret Daino  (“ Servant ” star  Nell Tiger Free ) as she’s sent to Rome to work in an orphanage before she takes the veil. As Margaret adapts to not just her new vocation but an entirely new country and a city in the throes of unrest, she finds herself drawn to socially withdrawn orphan Carlita ( Nicole Sorace ). It’s through her bond with and concern for Carlita that Margaret notices something amiss within the convent. It unlocks a fiercely guarded conspiracy involving the birth of the Antichrist that leaves her questioning her faith; and puts her life in the balance.

Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios’ THE FIRST OMEN. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Visually,  The First Omen  impresses for the way it captures the period and Gothic atmosphere. It’s not just the soft lighting and sepia hues that evoke the early ’70s setting but the rich details from production designer  Eve Stewart  ( Eternals ) and costume designer  Paco Delgado  ( Death on the Nile ). It’s also in the way that Stevenson packs the frame with extras; this vision of Rome is picturesque, lively, and bustling, as it should be. It all lends a sense of scale, dropping the meek Margaret into a large city with few allies.

The screenplay by  Tim Smith  & Stevenson and  Keith Thomas  takes great care in handling its ties to the original film. There are obvious callbacks and relevant plot details, from the convent itself to Father Brennan, now played by horror stalwart  Ralph Ineson . However, Stevenson finds inspired ways to expand beyond any limitations imposed by  The Omen . For example,  Mark Korven’s  piercing score harkens back to Jerry Goldsmith’s Oscar-winning score with its haunting choir vocals and the inclusion of “ Ave Satani .” But Stevenson ensures it’s even more unsettling here in the way the score becomes diegetic sound, its haunting vocals interacting with and tormenting Margaret in parts.

Ralph Ineson as Father Brennan in 20th Century Studios’ THE FIRST OMEN. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Then there’s the matter of the Jackal; how  The First Omen  interprets the lore behind Damien’s birth is nothing short of incredible. Through this symbolic interpretation,  The First Omen  explores thematically heavy themes of sexual abuse within the Church without getting overly heavy-handed, thanks to its stunning vision of body horror. The subject matter is dark, but it’s handled with elegance and care without sacrificing the horror. It’s helped by chill-inducing imagery and smart horror influences, including  Jacob’s Ladder  and  Possession .

The film’s strongest asset, of course, is Nell Tiger Free.  The First Omen  dedicates itself to delivering complex characters with rooting interest (or not), ensuring a compelling, robust arc for Margaret that transforms her from timid, sweet nun-to-be into a panic-stricken but resolute woman determined to thwart her superiors’ plans for destruction. Free fully commits to every stage of her character’s evolution, turning in a breathless physical performance that stuns on more than one occasion.

While  The First Omen  can’t completely avoid its prequel constraints, with certain plot elements easier to guess in advance for fans of the original, it does expand the story and offer new avenues for the franchise’s future. Thanks to the exquisite craftsmanship on display, beguiling Gothic horror, an impeccable cast, and an emotional journey that packs a wallop,  The First Omen stands strong on its own. Arkasha Stevenson doesn’t just helm a prequel worthy of Richard Donner’s classic but establishes herself as a bold new voice in horror.

The First Omen releases in theaters on April 5, 2024.

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Red Rose, BBC3, review: You’ll never look at your phone the same way again

A group of bolton teenagers have their lives turned upside down when a demanding app takes over their summer.

Combining the British Teen Grittiness™ of Skins with the eerily disobedient tech of Black Mirror , Red Rose is the latest offbeat YA offering from BBC Three . Made in collaboration with Netflix, the eight-part series follows a group of Bolton 16-year-olds as they navigate the eternal agonies of adolescence (angst, summer jobs) and the altogether more current threat of Red Rose – a dangerously compelling app, whose power reaches far beyond the screen. While it doesn’t exist in our world per se, a patchwork of our favourite apps and trends is clearly discernible beneath its shiny interface: Red Rose, coming to a phone near you.

After an enigmatic flash-forward, in which a girl lost her mind and then her life at the algorithmic hands of Red Rose, the show’s first episode introduced best friends Rochelle (Isis Hainsworth) and Wren (Amelia Clarkson). Celebrating the end of school by signing each other’s shirts and promising to “get f**ked every single night”, they were offered a crash course in the social hierarchies of their classmates courtesy of a party on some nearby moors.

With feisty Rochelle having secured herself an invite to popular Becky Fox’s party, rebellious Wren was free to slip away with her beau Noah (Harry Redding). Visibly troubled, Rochelle didn’t have long to brood before a text message came in: “Maybe: Becky Fox: ‘Here Roche, thought you might like this, enjoy!’”.

Clicking on the link, Rochelle saw her face smoothed and sculpted in her phone’s front-facing camera; as she looked puzzled into the lens, her alter-ego smiled coquettishly on screen. “Roses are red, violets are blue, come to the Garden where you can bloom too.” Appearances can be deceiving – but it’s hard to resist something beautiful, especially if it’s what you’ve always wanted: “Welcome to the new you.”

As it emerged that much of Rochelle’s summer would be given over to caring for her younger twin sisters while her dad was at work, we learnt that the family was struggling financially as well as emotionally after the death of their mum. And with tension building between her and Wren, isolated Rochelle became ever more vulnerable to Red Rose’s siren song.

The app told Rochelle to write three wishes on a mirror. The generic advice could have come from any number of pseudo-spiritual lifestyle brands or hashtags – #manifesting #thepowerofpositivethinking #inspo, et al – so when she found £100 on her family’s electricity meter and a beautiful gown hanging in her garden, Rochelle was as surprised as she was delighted. But like most glossy surfaces, a darker current pulsed just below the surface.

More from Culture

Applying the augmented reality of Pokémon Go to a teenager’s most crushing trauma, Red Rose captured the internet’s dizzying expanse of possibilities along with the astonishing bleakness of its deepest depths.

Set in a not-too-distant future – or perhaps a parallel universe – the technology in Red Rose is more familiar than it is novel. Between Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, filters, viral hashtags and Twitter pile-ons, digital interaction is as brutally context-free as it is omnipresent.

Drawing on a host of up-to-the-minute topics, Red Rose’s first episode was both highly entertaining and startlingly thought-provoking. 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.

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A ragtag crew of teens must survive a summer of terror after downloading an app that makes dangerous demands with deadly consequences.

1. It's Grim Up North

As her fun-loving friends welcome summer, outspoken teen Rochelle copes with her personal struggles by downloading an app promising to grant her wishes.

2. The Garden

Haunted by threats, Rochelle tries to change course — but something sinister is at play. Wren attempts to make peace. A tragedy puts the crew on edge.

3. Scapegoat

Reeling from a recent loss, the teens search for answers as eerie posts appear on social media and a familiar voice spooks Wren.

4. Manchester Innit

An ominous message sends Wren and her mates to Manchester for more clues about Red Rose. Back in Bolton, a video causes a deeper family rift for Wren.

5. Lockdown

The group hides out at Taz's house and does their best to stay offline — until unexpected guests crash their party. Wren is lured into danger.

6. Results Day

With grades in and the worst seemingly over, the friends let loose while contemplating the future and remembering Roch. Jaya delves into the dark web.

7. I Heart BLTN

The race is on to find the Gardener. As the crew scrambles to protect themselves and each other, they learn that no one is to be trusted.

8. The Gardener

The origins of Red Rose reveal how an app took on a life of its own. Under twisted circumstances, the teens become targets and Wren fights for her life.

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Summary 16-year-old Rochelle (Isis Hainsworth) and her friends download the Rose Red app, but they soon discover the sinister consequences of using it in this British horror created by Michael and Paul Clarkson. [Premiered originally in the UK on BBC Three on 15 Aug 2022 and in the US on Netflix on 15 Feb 2023]

Created By : Michael Clarkson, Paul Clarkson

Where to Watch

All seasons, amelia clarkson, natalie blair, ashley banister, ellis howard, antony longwell, tariq 'taz' sadiq, ashna rabheru, jaya mahajan, harry redding, noah royston, natalie gavin, rachel davis, adam nagaitis, rick bennett, isis hainsworth, rochelle mason.

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Vinny mason, silvie furneaux, little jenna, hannah griffiths, rod hallett, quite simon, simon, jennifer hennessy, ellie james, gloria mason, poppy jhakra, mrs. mahajan, critic reviews.

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'Red Rose' Review: Potent enought thriller to make you have second thoughts about technology

Spoilers for 'Red Rose'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: If you are a fan of realistic fiction and want to watch a series that would give you some food for thought, then Netflix brings you 'Red Rose' . Netflix is no stranger to producing unapologetic series like 'Black Mirror', where AI combined with corrupt minds of people serve you a world that gives you plenty to think about.

And series and movies based on a similar concept are increasing, with Daniel Radcliffe and Samara Weaving starrer 'Guns Akimbo' being a great example. The movie deals with the world of dark web society, where streamers on the website enjoy the real-life version of deaths much like on video games. And combining the two concepts is the series 'Red Rose', a BBC Three original, now streaming internationally on Netflix. 

Created by Michael and Paul Clarkson and directed by Lisa Siwe, Ramón Salazar, and Henry Blake, 'Red Rose' stars an ensemble cast including Amelia Clarkson as Wren Davis, Natalie Blair as Ashley Banister, Ellis Howard as Antony Longwell, Ali Khan as Tariq 'Taz' Sadiq, Ashna Rabheru as Jaya Mahajan, Harry Redding as Noah Royston, Natalie Gavin as Rachel Davis, Adam Nagaitis as Rick Bennett, Isis Hainsworth as Rochelle Mason and Samuel Anderson as Vinny Mason. 'Red Rose' tries to speak about the red flags that come with technology, teenage mindset and the alarming ramification of such technological advancements in this 8-part series. 

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The mysterious app

Set in Bolton, 'Red Rose' begins with the story of a bunch of high schoolers, who have just completed their finals and are celebrating. We follow the group 'Dickheads' that consists of Wren Rochelle, Ashley, Antony, Taz and Noah. Rochelle, the unofficial head of the group, receives a mysterious link to an app called Red Rose. And at first, the app seems to solve her problems, like paying for electricity and giving her the party wear she needs. But things start to go south when the app starts to blackmail her into doing things that wreck her friendships and eventually her life. The rest of her friends try to find out the reason for Rochelle's death, unaware of the powerful threat that lies before them.

Questionable choices

There are a lot of instances where 'Red Rose' missed the obvious options. Many of the choices made by the 'Dickheads' are questionable and at times daft. For instance, when Rochelle is dared to kiss Noah, she could've told any of her group, or even her best friend from childhood Wren, whose boyfriend she was about to kiss. She could've avoided the entire conflict by speaking to her face-to-face the minute 'Red Rose' starts to blackmail her. Her delayed revelation only made her look like a liar, which caused her to drift from the group. And for a group of people that claims to watch Netflix, it takes them more than normal hours to figure out that it is the deadly app and not ghosts as they've suspected. These poor choices drag the beginning of the story but once the stakes are established, the story moves in a fairly engaging and entertaining way. 

The inconsistent tone

Another major issue with 'Red Rose' is the tone of the series. What should have been a serious and nail-biting thriller hits a few bumps along the way with the introduction of jokes with the intention of comic relief. The banter by Ashley and Taz is often placed immediately after establishing a serious threat, diluting the conflict and minimizing the empathy that one feels for the characters. On the other hand, when the origin of this deadly app is presented, the story is convincing and gripping, adding weight to the story. However, when the programmer easily gives up the powerful code, which he has been using to spy on his girlfriend, to a stranger on the group chat without a second thought makes us wonder. 

Laudable performances

The settings and establishment of the world are believable and take us to Bolton itself. All things apart, it is the performances from the lead cast that add an additional layer to the series. They perfectly convey the intended tension required for the story. The complexity of the relationship between the character and how it weaves into the main story is greatly handled. The core theme and the dark minds of people portrayed here are too close to reality and have a strong possibility to be real, making the theme more deadly. 

Despite the flaws, 'Red Rose' has managed to deliver what the makers intended. And if you can bear the occasional drag in the plotline, 'Red Rose' is a good choice for one to binge-watch. 

'Red Rose' will be streaming on Netflix from February 15, 2023.

Den of Geek

Red Rose Ending Explained: Who Built the App, Who is the Gardener, Could There Be a Series 2 and More

Thoughts and theories about BBC Three's latest horror series, Red Rose.

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Teen horror Red Rose arrived on BBC Three this week to ruin the sacred relationship between a youth and their phone. As if the internet wasn’t scary enough already, in Red Rose a sinister app appears to drive teenagers to commit suicide. Is it supernatural? Who’s behind it? Why? And who will it strike next? This Bolton-set chiller is refreshingly funny at the same time as being super dark. Created by Michael and Paul Clarkson who have horror pedigree as producers on The Haunting of Bly Manor , the show features a strong ensemble cast of scrappy Northerners who call their collective group ‘the dickheads’. Over eight episodes the mystery of Red Rose slowly unfolds with some big old twist right up to the conclusion. Let’s break down the big questions posed by that ending.

Is Red Rose supernatural?

Nope, turns out man made. It’s not 100% clear how the app managed to make it look like Rochelle’s mum was with her or like Rochelle was reaching out to Wren from beyond the grave, we’re just going to say “technology” and leave it at that. Red Rose is man made and woman controlled.

Who built Red Rose?

Incel-adjacent tech nerd Jacob (Charlie Hiscock) did. He built it to attempt to super-creepily woo fellow student Alyssa (Robyn Cara). The idea would be that the app would find out everything about Alyssa so that Jacob could get an in. The two become friends (totally on dodgy pretences) but Jacob tells her he likes her and she says she doesn’t feel the same. Rather than letting it go at that point he is tempted by another user called the Gardener to allow him (although it’s actually a her, more on that later) to have admin rights so he can get closer to Alyssa. Instead of helping Jacob the Gardener uses the app to frighten and torture Alyssa into jumping off a roof while the other Red Rose users laugh and jeer. Later Jacob takes his own life. 

What happened to Roch?

Driven increasingly mad by Red Rose and ostracized from her friendship group because of the app messing with her messages and social media account Rochelle (Isis Hainsworth) is cut off and desperate, and thinking the app is supernatural and possibly connected to her dead mother she tries to exorcise it. It doesn’t work. When she is found drowned in the bath suicide is blamed. But her best mate Wren (Amelia Clarkson) knows she wouldn’t have done that (because Roch’s mum took her own life leaving the family devastated). In the final episode of Red Rose we have hard proof that Wren is right. There is video footage of someone breaking in and murdering Roch. The Gardener? Unlikely actually, as we learn that Red Rose is part of a wider network.

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What’s going on with the Red Rose network?

By the end of the show Red Rose goes from creepy Ringu -esque chills to grim Hostel -esque torture. We learn that Red Rose is also a website accessible through the Dark Web. It would appear that people pay a lot of money (there’s an oblique reference to this) to watch teenagers kill themselves, or even to get involved in person in goading and even violence. It’s going to have been one of these ‘players’ who went round and actually murdered Roch when it became apparent she wasn’t going to do it herself. Perhaps it was the gentleman named ‘P1gfuck3r’ (Gary Fannin) who did it? He’s one of the would-be attackers trying to harm Wren that Jaya (Ashna Rabheru) manages to frighten off with a threat to go public about his identity.

Who is the Gardener?

It turns out the Gardener is not the bald headed chap who Wren beats to death. In fact the Gardener is the incredibly creepy woman in the I Heart BLTN t-shirt. She’s the one that kidnaps Noah, and then later “helps” the dickheads by telling Noah the address of where to find Rick. Which actually is all part of her plan but again, more on that in a bit. The Gardener is played by Harrie Hayes who in real life is an entirely non-sinister looking woman but in Red Rose she manages to be terrifying. Never has the phrase “I want to be a dickhead” been uttered with such foreboding and induced such primal fear.

So she was the orchestrator of the cult of Red Rose and presumably how this was monetised on the Dark Web. Who she is and where she came from isn’t yet known – second season perhaps? We wouldn’t rule it out. Certainly in the final episode when Jaya runs into the woman who claims to be the Gardener (it is only her word, but it seems legit) and Jaya asks if it’s over, the Gardener shrugs. She points out that although Jaya has shut down the site, Red Rose is an idea and that is something that can’t be killed. 

As an aside it’s also quite interesting to note that the Gardener has a southern RP accent. There are shades here of the posh Southerner fetishising and exploiting victims in the North that holds some resonance. You’ll never be a true dickhead, love.

Wren and Rick

As the Gardener explains to Jaya, the goal with Wren became something other than murder once Red Rose set its sights on her. Wren’s determination and fiery temper (remember, Red Rose orchestrated the social posts which resulted in Wren having a punch up with the two Jennas) marked her out as a different kind of victim. The Gardener says she wanted to see how far she could push her. 

The answer to that turns out to be murder. Pushed to the brink, with her dad, Rick, tortured and tied to a chair, taunted by the Red Rose network and the person she believes to be responsible for killing her best friend, Wren snaps and beats him to death.

Rick has been in prison for killing someone in the past. Her worst fear, the one that Red Rose provoked her with, has come true – like her father she is capable of killing. In a final act of love, and of penance for failing her as a father, Rick takes the blame for the murder.

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After Rick is taken away the remaining dickheads hug, relieved that it’s now over. But is it? Surely not. We’re taken to a cafe in Tokyo where a group of youngsters are chatting, one talking about how he plans to fund a move to America by setting up an Only Fans when a familiar phone chime sounds. It’s Red Rose offering him a chance to enhance his life…

Series two?

No news on this but it’s not out of the question. Though the dickheads are relieved things are over, that might be temporary. Ashley and Jaya were both very nearly killed by Red Rose, Wren had gone through massive trauma and Noah and Taz have been at the forefront of trying to bring it down. They are all also known to the Red Rose network who had been following them all for a while. The Gardener is still out there and Noah and Jaya both know what she looks like. Outside the dickheads, Red Rose has been responsible for at least two other deaths and in all likelihood more. What will Rick say when questioned by police about who the man he (aka Wren) killed is? And indeed who is he? There are many questions still to be answered and with Red Rose established as more than just a social media version of Hostel there are ways the show could expand.

Red Rose is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Rosie Fletcher

Rosie Fletcher is Co-Editor-in-Chief of Den Of Geek. She’s been an entertainment journalist for more than 15 years previously working at DVD & Blu-ray Review, Digital…

Red Rose (2022)

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Descendants: The Rise of Red - Official Teaser Trailer

Meet Red in this teaser trailer for Descendants: The Rise of Red, an upcoming music-driven Disney movie starring Kylie Cantrall as Red, princess of the hostile kingdom of Wonderland and Auradon’s newest Villain Kid (aka VK), and Malia Baker, who plays Chloe, the daughter of Cinderella and King Charming.

Descendants: The Rise of Red follows Red, the rebellious daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe, Cinderella’s perfectionist daughter. When the tyrannical Queen of Hearts incites a coup against Auradon, polar opposites Red and Chloe must join forces and travel back in time to undo the traumatic event that set Red’s mother down her villainous path.

In addition to Cantrall and Baker, the film stars a new ensemble of VKs and legacy characters, including Brandy as Cinderella, Rita Ora as the Queen of Hearts, Dara Reneé as Uliana, Ruby Rose Turner as Bridget/Young Queen of Hearts, Morgan Dudley as Ella/Young Cinderella, Joshua Colley as Young Hook, Peder Lindell as Morgie, Grace Narducci as Fay/Young Fairy Godmother, Jeremy Swift as Principal Merlin, Paolo Montalban as King Charming, and Leonardo Nam as Maddox Hatter. China Anne McClain is back as fan-favorite Uma and the new principal at Auradon Prep. Melanie Paxson also reprises her role as Fairy Godmother.

Descendants: The Rise of Red starts streaming July 12, 2024 on Disney+, followed by a special encore on August 9, at 8:00 p.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel.

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Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman Will Clash in ‘The Roses’

Jay Roach is on board to direct the new version of ‘The War of the Roses’ story, which hit screens in 1989 starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.

(Left) Benedict Cumberbatch as Henry Sugar in 'The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.' Photo: Netflix ©2023. (Right) Olivia Colman in 'Empire of Light.' Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

• Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman will star in and produce ‘The Roses’.
• Jay Roach is directing the new take on 1989 comedy thriller ‘The War of the Roses’
• ‘Poor Things’ Tony McNamara is aboard to adapt the William Adler novel.

Back in 1989, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner starred as the Roses –– Oliver and Barbara –– who seemed to be living the perfect life. But, as it turned out to darkly comic effect, that wasn’t exactly the case in ‘ The War of the Roses ’ the movie directed by Danny DeVito .

That story –– which was adapted from William Adler’s 1981 novel –– is headed back to our screens in a new incarnation. And this time, British actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are starring.

The War of the Roses

What’s the Story of ‘The Roses’?

(L to R) Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in 'The War of the Roses.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Here’s the official logline for the movie: “Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Theo (Cumberbatch) and Ivy Rose (Colman): successful careers, great kids, an enviable sex life. But underneath the façade of the perfect family is a tinderbox of competition and resentments that’s ignited when Theo’s professional dreams come crashing down.”

Who is Making ‘The Roses’?

Director Jay Roach attends the Academy’s 7th Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Credit/Provider: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

With Colman and Cumberbatch on board to produce as well as taking the lead roles, the new movie will be directed by Jay Roach , best known for the ‘ Austin Powers ’ films, though more recently applauded for the politically-minded likes of ‘ Bombshell ’, ‘ Recount ’ and ‘ Game Change ’.

Tony McNamara, who most recently wrote ‘ Poor Things ’ for director Yorgos Lanthimo s (and also penned the director’s ‘ The Favourite ’, which saw Colman scoop an Oscar for her performance), is aboard to adapt the book.

Related Article: Actress Olivia Colman and Director Sam Mendes Talk 'Empire of Light'

‘the roses’: the filmmakers speak.

(L to R) Jay Roach and guest attend the Academy’s 2019 Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom on Sunday, October 27, 2019, in Hollywood, CA. Credit/Provider: Troy Harvey / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

All involved are clearly excited about this new prospect.

Here’s Searchlight president Matthew Greenfield :

“The Roses is a wildly funny, bigger than life, and yet deeply human story. With Jay at the helm, and Benedict and Olivia and Tony, we have a dream team bringing it to life.”

And this was the statement from SunnyMarch, Cumberbatch’s production company:

“We are thrilled to be working on this very special film with such an incredible team. We have been long admirers of Jay’s work and his vision and passion to tell this story is incredibly inspiring.”

Finally, this was the comment from Colman’s team at South of the River:

“We have been cooking this up with our friends at SunnyMarch for some time, and it has been an absolute thrill to see it spring into life under Jay’s passionate and thoughtful guidance. He and Tony are a match made in cinematic comedy heaven.”

When Will ‘The Roses’ Be in Theaters?

‘The Roses’ is still in development, so it has yet to find a spot on the packed Disney release schedule. And given that both Cumberbatch and Colman are in-demand actors, it may have to wait until their availability opens up.

Other Movies Similar to ‘The Roses':

• ' Romancing the Stone ' (1984)
• ' Heartburn ' (1986)
• ' Ruthless People ' (1986)
• ' The Witches of Eastwick ' (1987)
• ' The War of the Roses ' (1989)
• ' She-Devil ' (1989)
• ' I Love You to Death ' (1990)
• ' Death Becomes Her ' (1992)
• ' Serial Mom ' (1994)

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Red Rose Reviews

Some of the detail in Mairi Fraser Sutherland's script is genuinely historically interesting, but bad acting, bad camerawork and some very plodding exposition conspire to make this little more than a shoestring budget Open University dramatization.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 23, 2019