Unmasking the Haunting Secrets: Unveiling the Edgar Allan Poe Easter Eggs in Fall of the House Of Usher

Warning: Some SPOILERS lie ahead for The Fall of the House of Usher!

Summary

Production designer Laurin Kelsey reveals a series of concealed Edgar Allan Poe Easter eggs in The Fall of the House of Usher. These include graffiti in Perry's bathroom, featuring a quote from "The Masque of the Red Death," and stained-glass artwork in a bar that portrays scenes from Poe's stories.

The show's creator, Mike Flanagan, ingeniously incorporates Poe's literary works by constructing an overarching narrative, along with directly adapting individual tales in each episode. Notably, episodes are dedicated to iconic tales such as "The Black Cat" and "The Raven."

Flanagan's successful adaptation-driven storytelling and incorporation of Poe's poetry have garnered a commendable 90% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Within The Fall of the House of Usher, production designer Laurin Kelsey skillfully integrates various nods to Edgar Allan Poe's works. This Netflix horror drama revolves around a morally corrupt pharmaceutical company CEO and his family, who become targeted by a woman from his past. As a result, shocking secrets are unveiled, accompanied by a rising body count. Created by the talented Mike Flanagan, the series showcases a talented ensemble cast, which includes both seasoned collaborators and fresh faces, such as Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Kate Siegel, T'Nia Miller, Rahul Kohli, and Mark Hamill.

Prior to the show's release, our website had an exclusive conversation with Laurin Kelsey to discuss her contributions to The Fall of the House of Usher. When asked about the presence of Edgar Allan Poe Easter eggs in the show, the production designer shared some of her favorite hidden details. These include graffiti in Prospero's home referencing the story on which his episode is based, as well as stained-glass in a bar teasing upcoming tales. Take a look at what Kelsey revealed below:

I enjoy reaching a point where we can incorporate these details for viewers to discover. There are actually quite a few Easter eggs, and one of my favorites is Perry's party space and bathroom. Somewhere online, I came across incredible graffiti—a poem scribbled on a wall. While it was actually an anti-Trump statement, I found it fascinating and fitting for Perry's character. So, in the bathroom, we have a large paragraph from The Masque of the Red Death scrawled across the wall as part of the graffiti. It's a fun, hidden element. Another example is the stained-glass in the 1970s bar behind Verna. It features various imagery and stories from Edgar Allan Poe, such as The Black Cat and a horse. The glass is dimly lit in amber hues, creating a mysterious atmosphere. Furthermore, there are smaller, harder-to-find details, like the house numbers representing years associated with Edgar Allan Poe, such as the year of his birth or death. These are just some of the fascinating and enjoyable hidden elements for viewers to uncover.

How Fall of the House Of Usher Adapts Poe's Works

Save for his adaptations of Stephen King's Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep, Flanagan has garnered recognition for his distinctive ability to weave together beloved horror elements while remaining faithful to the essence of the original works. Notably, The Haunting of Hill House created an entirely new narrative by only borrowing the setting and character names, yet capturing the psychological depth of Shirley Jackson's renowned novel. The Haunting of Bly Manor followed in a similar vein, drawing inspiration from Henry James' The Turn of the Screw but introducing its own twists and modifications throughout the season.

Flanagan's approach to The Fall of the House of Usher closely resembles his adaptation of Christopher Pike's The Midnight Club. He creates an overarching story for his characters while directly incorporating various stories in each episode. Each episode is titled after the Poe tale it is based on, including "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Black Cat," "Murder in the Rue Morgue," "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Pit and the Pendulum," and "The Raven." The first episode, in particular, received significant attention in the show's marketing. Gugino's character, Verna, wears a skeleton mask and red robe reminiscent of the figure in Poe's short story and the episode concludes with the death of everyone at Prospero's party.

In addition to the stories themselves, Flanagan frequently incorporates Poe's poems throughout The Fall of the House of Usher. The majority of these poems are recited by Greenwood's character, Roderick Usher, or Verna. Similar to Flanagan's previous adaptations, his collaboration with Netflix has been highly successful. The series holds an impressive 90% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who praise Flanagan's ability to blend dark comedy with the horror and despair found in Poe's source materials.