The Shocking Demise in The Fall of the House of Usher: Unveiling the Influence of Planet of the Apes

Warning: The article contains spoilers for The Fall of the House of Usher.

Summary

In the Netflix series, a morally corrupt pharmaceutical executive endures the gruesome and enigmatic demise of his offspring. These savage deaths draw inspiration from the chilling works of Edgar Allan Poe, including one instance that pays homage to a character from Planet of the Apes.

Carla Gugino highlights the importance of Terry Notary's assistance in creating an intense death scene. This scene, one of the harshest deaths in The Fall of the House of Usher, required the expertise of a consultant who previously worked on Planet of the Apes. The new Netflix series, developed by Mike Flanagan, brings together familiar cast members from his previous works, including the Haunting of Hill House. Inspired by the writings of Edgar Allan Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher centers around the titular family and their patriarch, Roderick Usher (played by Bruce Greenwood), a corrupt CEO of a pharmaceutical company who witnesses the mysterious and brutal deaths of his children.

The death of Camille L'Espanaye in the third episode of House of Usher is one of the most brutal among the cast. In an interview with Tudum by Netflix, Carla Gugino, who portrays the enigmatic Verna, shared her experience filming the scene. Gugino mentioned collaborating with Terry Notary, a renowned stunt double and movement choreographer known for his work on the ape sequences in the Planet of the Apes movies. Below is her quote:

"The intensity of the scene was undeniable. Observing Kate's reaction to the ape's behavior reassured me that we were successfully capturing the intended emotions."

The Fall Of The House Of Usher Distinguishes Every Death

All of Roderick's companions meet their demise, some in horrifying ways, though each experience is unique. Take for instance, Camile, who upon discovering her imminent death, simply shrugs and remarks, "I've had my fair share." She signifies that she has lived a fulfilling life and has no intention of begging for her survival. The show chooses not to explicitly show Camile being torn apart. This stands in contrast to Perry's demise in episode 1 of The Fall of House of Usher, where Perry and a whole group of individuals meet their end as acid rains upon them from the sprinklers.

In episode 5 of The Fall of the House of Usher, there is a surprising twist involving Victorine LaFourcade's demise. Despite Verna's lack of involvement, it appears that her paranoia and actions contribute to her death. The series also explores the Usher offspring's deservingness of their respective fates, with Victorine being willing to engage in potentially harmful treatments on humans. While Leo may be the most compassionate of Roderick's children, he too is not spared from the consequences.

Although The Fall of the House of Usher is relatively lighter compared to other works by Flanagan, it still delivers powerful performances and a few unforgettable deaths. This serves as a fitting goodbye from Flanagan, as he departs from Netflix and embarks on a new journey with Prime Video for future projects.

Source: Tudum by Netflix