Cranked Up TV is a haven for some of the most original– and extreme– horror movies streaming today. Coupled with new originals, it’s a must.
In 2024, Cranked Up Films launched a massive slate of horror titles alongside their streaming service, Cranked Up TV. At the time, Director of Development Phil Garrett remarked, “We want movies that are achievable for us as a smaller production company and independent studio. And we want to work with filmmakers who are passionate about doing this.” Garrett and I are aligned in our championing of indie horror. The genre as we know it is built on a bedrock of small, passionate creators (just look at the forthcoming era of YouTuber-to-Horror Juggernaut), though in the digital age, it’s all too easy to overlook platforms like Cranked Up TV simply because there’s so much out there.
I had the pleasure of checking out Blood & Rust, their latest original premiering on May 19. Jeremy Herbert’s vampire epic is bloody good fun and one of the most striking and original vampiric tales this century. You can check out a trailer for the film here. Additionally, I’ll be spotlighting five hidden gems currently streaming on the channel horror fans are definitely going to want to check out. And right now, new subscribers can secure two months of access for just $2.88 with code GETCRANKED. Plenty of time to watch Blood & Rust and these other five gems.
Piranha (1972)
Courtesy of Seventh Seal Distribution
Wildlife photographer Terry and her brother Art go to Venezuela for a photo shoot. They hire Jim Pendrake to guide them through the jungle. However, the trio run afoul of evil local hunter Caribe.
Now, this isn’t Joe Dante’s Piranha, but it’s a sweaty, hot, hot gem hidden within the greater pantheon of creature features. It’s a cheapie, but a novelty nonetheless. If you love scary hunters and nature striking back, Piranha is worth taking a bite out of.
Night of the Rats (2025)
A quiet Midwestern town becomes ground zero for an ecological nightmare when a mutated colony of rats transform into fast-breeding, hyper-aggressive killers. As the swarm spreads through homes, farms, and back roads, two scientists must work together to stop the outbreak before the rodents devour every living thing in their path.
Rats! What else is there to say? Rodents have had plenty of love in the horror genre, and last year’s Night of the Rats is one of the best. It’s nasty, gnarly, and oh-so fun.
YellowBrickRoad (2010)
An entire town’s population walks up a mountain trail and disappears. Years later, a group of intrepid explorers take a mind-bending trip up the same road and find an ancient evil still lurking in the New England woods.
Jesse Holland and Andy Mitton’sYellowBrickRoad is probably the most recognizable title here. A cult oddity, you’ve likely seen it– or at least heard of it– but whether it’s your first or fifth time, it’s a trip worth taking. And, whoa, is it a trip.
Don’t Leave Home (2018)
An American artist’s obsession with a disturbing urban legend leads her to an investigation of the story’s origins at the crumbling estate of a reclusive painter in Ireland.
I love Irish horror, so Don’t Leave Home has always been a modest favorite of mine. In our review at the time of release, we wrote, “Undeniably inspired by British horror, it’s a slow burn that you won’t regret giving your time to.” It’s atmospheric and certifiably haunting, and one I’d recommend putting on with the lights dimmed way down low.
Wormtown (2025)
One year into a plague of flesh-eating, mind-altering worms, the nocturnal town of Ashland, Ohio, has embraced the parasites’ rule. Under cult-like Mayor Joshua, zealous Ranchers spread their gospel—by persuasion or by force. A trio of uninfected women cling to survival through scavenging, extreme hygiene, and evasion. But everyone breaks eventually, unleashing betrayal, sacrilege, and body horror.
In our review of Wormtown last year, we wrote, “It’s not just stomach-churning, but it’s also heartfelt and poignant, a unique genre experience that isn’t afraid to make you cry and nauseous in the same beat.” It’s the kind of original that mandates a Cranked Up TV subscription, and if you do subscribe, it’s what I’d recommend starting out with.
There’s plenty more worth streaming on Cranked Up TV, so take it from me. Get in there, dive into Blood & Rust, and be certain to check out the sundry treasures hiding in their catalog. If you’re a horror fan, it’s a must.
