The Fall Of The House Of Usher (2023)

Roderick Usher talks to Auggie Dupin in his mother's house, telling him how he is guilty of the death of each of his children.

'The Fall Of The House Of Usher' is Mike Flanagan's latest (and last) miniseries adaptation in collaboration with Netflix. Based on the writings of Edgar Allan Poe, the series majestically combines several of his stories into a modern homage to the original Gothic style. Reimagined in a very original way, TFOTHOU will easily satisfy the need for the gothic in the life of the viewer and will turn the direction of their thoughts towards analysis and search for real "wealth". Visually it is grandiose, the deaths and their associated parallel stories are never rushed or treated superficially, and without ever forgetting the main narrative thread, the audience is treated satisfactorily with parallel development and an appropriate ending even when it is expected.

Director:  Michael Fimognari, Mike Flanagan   

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Mike Flanagan     

Duration:  1 season of 8 episodes (~1 hour each)   

With: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Mary McDonnell, Henry Thomas, Rahul Kohli, Samantha Sloyan, T'Nia Miller, Zach Gilford, Willa Fitzgerald, Michael Trucco, Katie Parker, Ruth Codd, Mark Hamill, Kate Siegel, Carl Lumbly

Rating: 8.6/10

The Midnight Club (2022– )

A group of young people suffering from terminal illnesses maintain a pact that they will contact the others if they die, a pact that is the basis of the storytelling club they belong to.

'The Midnight Club' is a dramatic horror series created by Mike Flanagan for Netflix, one of their many collaborations. Almost every episode has at its center a short story "made up" by the club members, which are macabre, sci-fi or just meaningful stories, but almost always supernatural. The film has a lot of teenage drama and more, interesting characters, built really well in quite a lot of detail, and a natural evolution of the viewer's expectations that are not fully satisfied, however it doesn't fail to deliver the desired message to its destination.

Director:  Mike Flanagan and others   

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Mike Flanagan, Leah Fong   

Duration:  1 season of 10 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Iman Benson, Igby Rigney, Ruth Codd, Annarah Cymone, Samantha Sloyan, Zach Gilford, Heather Langenkamp, Katie Parker

Rating: 8/10

Hush (2016)

A deaf-mute writer living in isolation is attacked by a masked killer.

A horror film of the slasher/home invasion flavour that bears the signature of the man who gave us The Haunting Of Hill House and Gerald's Game. With well-constructed suspense and original ideas, its watching is not without frustrations related to certain choices the main character makes, imposed only for stylistic reasons rather than logical or viewer satisfaction. The film is a little disappointing because of the high expectations but overall a successful one that manages to be real without pushing the limits of plausibility.

Director:  Mike Flanagan    

With: John Gallagher Jr., Kate Siegel, Michael Trucco, Samantha Sloyan

Rating: 7/10