Unleashing Terror: Mike Flanagan's Latest Netflix Series Redefines Modern Horror

Summary

Mike Flanagan's The Fall of the House of Usher promises a visually stunning and stylistically diverse approach.

Flanagan's skill in blending chilling horror with wit and levity is evident in the initial glimpses of the forthcoming miniseries, where darkness and gore take on a humorous and playful tone.

The visual approach taken in The Fall of the House of Usher appears to mirror Flanagan's past works such as The Midnight Club, rather than embracing the raw and gritty aesthetic found in The Haunting of Hill House.

Without revealing too much, Mike Flanagan's upcoming Netflix series, The Fall of the House of Usher, already appears to be a visually enticing treat. The horror genre relies heavily on visuals, and directors have various approaches to creating a visually aesthetic horror experience. Some, like Dario Argento and Mario Bava, embrace a rich color palette featuring deep reds and vibrant primary colors. Others prefer a more subdued palette of grays and greens, giving their films a hauntingly washed-out look, as seen in Cure (1997) and Ju-On: The Grudge (2002).

In previous works such as The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, Flanagan followed the latter approach, using darker color palettes that complemented the weighty themes and intense emotions of the stories. However, this is not his only visual style. For instance, The Midnight Club (2022), a young adult adaptation, showcased a more colorful and vibrant aesthetic, while The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) featured a lighter, nostalgic color palette reminiscent of the 80s, perfectly suited to its remote setting. Now, early glimpses of Flanagan's highly anticipated Edgar Allan Poe adaptation suggest yet another unique visual style from the talented filmmaker.

The Fall of the House of Usher Looks Colorful (And That’s Good)

The early photos of Netflix's upcoming miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher are highly stylized, resembling The Midnight Club's genre pastiches rather than Midnight Mass's more restrained tone. According to Flanagan, The Fall of the House of Usher is vibrant, dark, bloody, wicked, funny, aggressive, scary, and hilarious. Although The Midnight Club's revival of '90s horror anthology shows showcased many emotional moments characteristic of the director, the anthology format also allowed for playful sci-fi narratives and gorier horror plots. Based on these initial images, it seems that Flanagan's next show will continue with this approach.

It appears that Flanagan is fully embracing this approach for his adaptation of Poe's work. This could be exciting for The Fall of the House of Usher, as the miniseries could give the writer/director the freedom to indulge his more extravagant instincts. While Flanagan's best pieces have explored profound themes of mortality, morality, and family, he is also a highly skilled horror filmmaker who knows how to terrify audiences and deliver a satisfying story. Similar to his 2019 underrated sequel to The Shining, Dr. Sleep, The Fall of the House of Usher could provide Flanagan the opportunity to work with broader characters in a visually captivating environment.

How Fall Of The House Of Usher's Style Compares To Other Mike Flanagan Horror Shows

The initial impression of The Fall of the House of Usher is highly promising, especially following the vibrant and energetic adaptation of The Midnight Club. This shift from a lively atmosphere to a more solemn and funereal setting in Midnight Mass was well-received, solidifying Flanagan's talent across various tones. However, when examining Mike Flanagan's early images for The Fall of the House of Usher, they appear closer in style to the fantastical worlds of The Haunting of Bly Manor or The Midnight Club, rather than the grounded setting of The Haunting of Hill House.