The Unspoken Truth: The Hidden Connection between Midnight Mass and the Supernatural

Summary

Midnight Mass avoids using the word "vampire" to explore deeper themes of faith, guilt, and fanaticism, distinguishing itself from traditional vampire stories.

By abstaining from the use of the word "vampire," the show escapes the limitations imposed by conventional vampire folklore and clichés, paving the way for an original and intellectually stimulating storyline.

Drawing a parallel with The Walking Dead's avoidance of the term "zombie," Midnight Mass introduces its own terminology for its supernatural beings, resulting in a rejuvenating and unpredictable narrative that delves into the complexities of human struggles and beliefs.

The creature in Midnight Mass is undeniably a vampire, although the show purposefully avoids using that term. The decision to omit any explicit explanation about the creature's nature is rooted in the larger themes of the series and the intent to avoid being strictly categorized as a "vampire show." Following the success of Mike Flanagan's previous Netflix horror series, The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor, he took a different approach with Midnight Mass, delving into deeply personal fears such as faith, guilt, sobriety, forgiveness, loss, and death.

Set on the isolated island of Crockett Island, Midnight Mass revolves around a dwindling community searching for belief, coinciding with the arrival of a charismatic young priest. As the characters' faith is tested, they witness seemingly miraculous occurrences attributed to God, which are eventually revealed to be the result of the vampire creature in Midnight Mass, mistakenly referred to as an angel by the characters. The town's inhabitants consume the vampire's blood in communion, believing it will heal them, only to succumb to becoming blood-sucking vampires themselves. Through a juxtaposition of Catholic and vampiric lore, the dangers of religious fanaticism are explored. The absence of the term "vampire" in the show has caused confusion among viewers, leading to speculation about the true identity of the creature.

Why Mike Flanagan Avoided The Word Vampire In Midnight Mass

The supernatural being that threatens Midnight Mass's town is undoubtedly a vampire, although the term is never mentioned in the entire series. This omission primarily stems from the religious perspective of the Midnight Mass characters, who view the events as a divine gift and therefore refer to the creature as an "angel." In an interview with Netflix Geeked (via Twitter), Flanagan offers a more specific and significant rationale for avoiding the word "vampire." According to Flanagan, Midnight Mass transcends the traditional vampire narrative by representing "fanaticism and fundamentalism" in a profound manner. While the creature holds considerable significance in Midnight Mass, the series should not be considered a typical "vampire story."

The horror director further contends that if they were to use the term "vampire," the show would be confined to the expectations formed over centuries of vampire lore. Works such as Bram Stoker's Dracula and Stephen King's Salem's Lot have shaped numerous conventions and anticipations associated with vampires, which would inevitably overshadow and restrict Midnight Mass within established mythology.

Instead, Midnight Mass strategically employs visual cues and familiar tropes to unmistakably present the creature as a vampire, albeit in a unique interpretation within the context of the show. By refraining from labeling it solely as a "vampire story," the focus of Midnight Mass remains on the human characters and the conflicts stemming from their beliefs, rather than reducing the creature to a mere monster.

Flanagan further delves into the connections between vampire folklore and biblical imagery, such as the references to "rivers of blood" and "angels slaughtering children," weaving them into Midnight Mass to establish a religious association with the vampiric creature. This incorporation of vampire elements enriches the horror themes of the series, effectively bringing the most terrifying aspects of the Bible into a more relatable and familiar form of a horror monster. By consciously avoiding the explicit use of the term "vampire" (as mentioned by Kate Siegel on Twitter), Midnight Mass skillfully sidesteps the baggage that comes with centuries of mythological interpretations, allowing the creature to seamlessly align with its own profound themes instead of being confined by genre expectations.

Midnight Mass Made The Right Move By Dropping The V-Word

By never explicitly mentioning the word "vampire," Midnight Mass ingeniously presented these timeless creatures on its own terms, crafting a distinctive narrative around them. The Vampire genre has undergone a transformative phase for quite some time now, with Bela Lugosi's portrayal of Dracula vastly differing from Edward Cullen in Twilight.

Despite the constant redefinition of genre tropes, certain fundamental rules should ideally be adhered to, yet Midnight Mass skillfully bypassed these conventions. The evidence of this wise decision shines through in the show's impressive 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and widespread critical acclaim.

Similar to the approach taken in 28 Days Later, where the word "zombies" is never uttered, Midnight Mass ingeniously crafts a fresh vampire narrative without ever mentioning the word "vampire." Embracing a genre does not entail adhering to its conventions - in fact, this is where the most captivating and thought-provoking ventures stem from. Midnight Mass emerges from this same principle and emerges as a superior creation.

Midnight Mass Not Saying Vampire Is Similar To The Walking Dead Not Saying Zombie

The Walking Dead adopted a similar approach to portraying zombies as Midnight Mass does with vampires. In the context of The Walking Dead, the undead are referred to as Walkers, Creepers, Lurkers, and various other names, but the term "zombie" is never used by the characters. Unlike the vampires depicted in Midnight Mass, the zombies in The Walking Dead are assigned different names by different groups due to the vast geographical scope of the show. If Midnight Mass were not limited to a single small town, it is possible that a similar naming diversity would apply to the vampire characters in the series as well.

The Walking Dead diverges from Midnight Mass in its approach to the use of the term "zombies". Midnight Mass avoids stereotyping its "angels", while The Walking Dead exists in a world where zombies are not a part of popular culture, which differs from the real world. Similar to Midnight Mass, this concept works in favor of the show. The true horror in The Walking Dead primarily arises from how the surviving humans treat each other, rather than the attacks from the Walkers. By refraining from using the term "zombies", the show can emphasize the development of its monstrous elements, both human and undead.

Consequently, when the characters in the show first encounter Walkers, there are no preconceptions or myths from popular culture regarding how to kill them or what to expect. Instead, the characters must learn about the Walkers' characteristics, weaknesses, and how to protect themselves as the series progresses. This approach creates a more compelling narrative and enhances the construction of the show's world. The same principle holds true for Midnight Mass.