Crypt TV

Lore & Background

Crypt TV was formed after Jack Davis, then a student at Duke University, met filmmaker Eli Roth at a dinner party in 2013. They launched a 'six-second scare' contest in October 2014, which was featured on Good Morning America and received over 15,000 submissions. Roth showed the contest to horror producer Jason Blum, who became Crypt TV's first investor. The company officially launched in April 2015 in Los Angeles with three employees: Davis as CEO, Darren Brandl as COO, and Kate Krantz as CCO.

In March 2017, Crypt TV raised $3.5 million in funding led by venture capital fund Lerer Hippeau Ventures. The company has raised $3.5 million from past investors. In September 2018, it won at the Streamy Awards in the 'Action or Sci-Fi' category. Crypt TV partnered with Facebook Watch in September 2018 to produce a 10-episode series about The Birch, which premiered on October 19, 2019. This was the first part of a five-series deal, with subsequent series including Stereoscope, Kinderfänger, Mira Mira, and Woman in the Book.

In May 2021, Crypt TV characters appeared as downloadable content skins in the video game Dead by Daylight. The company also struck a deal with NBC's Peacock to produce an eight-episode series, The Girl in the Woods, which premiered in October 2021. In 2023, Crypt TV released its first English-language feature film, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster, a reimagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. On June 22, 2022, Screen Gems acquired rights to Crypt TV's next feature film, Island of the Dolls, based on La Isla de las Munecas in Mexico City.

Reader's Guide

Crypt TV's significance lies in its pioneering approach to horror content tailored for mobile and short-form digital platforms, leveraging social media to test and develop viral monster characters. By building a 'Crypt Monster Universe' of interconnected characters like The Birch, The Look-See, and Giggles the Clown, the company created a new model for horror entertainment that blends traditional storytelling with influencer-style engagement. Its partnership with Facebook Watch and Peacock demonstrated the viability of digital-first horror series, while its expansion into feature films and VR experiences (such as the 2022 'Haunted House: Trick-VR-Treat' with Meta) showed adaptability to emerging technologies. The company's legacy includes proving that short-form horror can achieve mainstream success, influencing how horror IP is developed and monetized in the digital age. Its characters have appeared in video games, merchandise at Spencer's Gifts, and live attractions at Knott's Scary Farm, cementing their cultural footprint.

Did You Know?

• Crypt TV was founded after a 'six-second scare' contest in October 2014 that received over 15,000 submissions.
• The company's first investor was horror film producer Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions.
• On April 4, 2024, Crypt TV premiered The Faceless Lady on Meta Horizon Worlds, the entertainment industry's first-ever scripted original live-action VR series.