In recent years, Mike Flanagan has shifted the meaning of the horror genre with projects like The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass. While each is incredibly unique storywise, the way grief and pain have been portrayed is unlike any other. While jump scares and freakishly real CGI tend to play a part in his series (as they do in many horror movies and TV shows), a larger aspect is how Flanagan dives into the way agony and internal dread manifest into terror. His most recent project with Netflix, The Fall of the House of Usher, is no different.
What is The Fall of the House of Usher about?
The Fall of the House of Usher is loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s 1898 short story of the same name. Edgar Allan Poe is known for his dark and haunting words, essentially being the godfather of gothic romance, so the Netflix series is a fantastic homage to the feeling Poe elicits in his stories.
While many of the characters in the series have the same names and have adapted some of the characteristics of those in the short story, the series itself depicts the corruption of the wealthy and the direct effects it has on society.
We find ourselves watching the downfall of the Usher family and their pharmaceutical empire, observing how greed, power, and deceit ultimately led to their demise.
Mike Flanagan told Vanity Fair, “Looking at the Usher family as an example of cancerous American privilege, our answer to the Trumps, or the Kardashians, or—more relevant to us—the Sacklers, we wondered how Poe would see some of these dynasties.”
If you’re a fan of his work, you might also see a few familiar faces, including Kate Siegal, Carla Gugino, Rahul Kohli, Samantha Sloyan, Zach Gilford, and Henry Thomas.
How spooky is this show?
The “eat the rich” mentality is strong here, with the real monsters in the series being the selfish authoritative people in power willing to ruin the lives of anyone standing in their way.
It also isn’t entirely riddled with jump scares, so when it does happen, it’s even more impactful and heart-stopping.
But the scariest part? Each episode paints a vivid picture of the main characters dying off in horrific ways, mirroring their deep-rooted fears and desires.
Let’s just say there is a lot of blood, guts… and melting flesh.
Where to watch The Fall of the House of Usher
To tune into the goodness and gore yourself, all episodes are currently streaming on Netflix. But this may be the last chance you get to watch a Mike Flanagan special on the massive streaming platform, with Flanagan and his creative partner Trevor Macey soon jumping over to Amazon.
If you haven’t had the chance to check out The Fall of the House of Usher yet, there are still a few days left till the spooky season is over, so get in while it’s hot.
Lead Image Credit: Netflix
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