Unveiling the Untold Secrets: 20 Mind-Blowing Easter Eggs & Hidden Details in 'The Fall of the House of Usher'

The Fall of the House of Usher, directed by Mike Flanagan, is a Netflix horror miniseries that cleverly incorporates Easter eggs and hidden details relating to both Edgar Allan Poe and the Flanaverse. The story revolves around the Usher family dynasty and the grave consequences they face due to a pact made with a demon named Verna. The miniseries has garnered high praise, largely due to Flanagan's masterful storytelling, which seamlessly blends elements from various Poe stories and poems.

Beyond its title and plot, The Fall of the House of Usher is brimming with allusions to Poe's works. While many of these Easter eggs reference Poe, there are also nods to other films and TV shows within the Flanaverse, the horror genre created by Mike Flanagan. This fusion of clever references, compelling narrative, and well-developed characters is sure to make The Fall of the House of Usher one of the most popular adaptations of Poe's work.

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20 Eliza Usher

Eliza Usher, depicted in The Fall of the House of Usher, embodies the figure of a devout mother to Roderick and Madeline. This character amalgamates the characteristics of both Edgar Allan Poe's biological mother and his adoptive mother. The name Eliza is derived from his birth mother, who tragically passed when Poe was merely two years old. Usher's persona is influenced by Poe's adoptive mother, Frances Allan, a notably religious woman.

19 Rufus Griswold & Roderick Usher’s Rivalry

During the miniseries, the contentious working dynamic between Rufus Griswold and Roderick Usher escalates into open hostility. This clash between Usher and Griswold echoes the historic feud between Edgar Allan Poe and Rufus Griswold. In real life, Rufus Griswold held roles as a literary anthologist, critic, and editor. When they first collaborated, Poe took umbrage with Griswold's inclusion of author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whom Poe accused of plagiarism. Their already strained relationship deteriorated further when Griswold assumed Poe's position, securing a higher salary. Following Poe's demise, Griswold sought retribution by continuously besmirching his name.

18 Another Brick In The Wall

The Fall of the House of Usher commences with the sound of thunder followed by the melodic strains of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall." The accompanying visuals flash between enigmatic images. The utilization of the song "A Midnight Dreary" in the opening of The Fall of the House of Usher episode 1 serves as a homage to Fortunato's demise in "The Cask of Amontillado." In this abbreviated tale by Poe, Fortunato is enticed into catacombs where Montresor entombs him alive using bricks.

17 Roderick & Madeline's Ouija Planchette

The initial installment of The Fall of the House of Usher introduces the first mention of other properties within the Flanaverse. Within the flashback scene from 1962, we catch a glimpse of young Roderick and Madeline with a planchette on their nightstand table. This subtle Easter egg alludes to Mike Flanagan's film, Ouija: Origin of Evil, which adds an extra layer of significance. Notably, Lulu Wilson, the actress portraying Young Madeline, also utilized the planchette in that second Ouija movie.

16 Fortunato Pharmaceuticals

Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, the company founded by Roderick Usher and the Usher family in The Fall of the House of Usher, plays a central role in the miniseries. It not only drives the plot, but also serves as a reference to one of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. The name of the pharmaceutical company is derived from the unfortunate victim in "The Cask of Amontillado," which is fitting considering that, like the titular character, it meets its demise by the final episode.

15 Morrie & Lenore Watch The Raven (1935)

There's a scene in episode 6 of The Fall of the House of Usher titled "Goldbug" where Morrie and Lenore watch The Raven, a 1935 movie featuring Bela Lugosi. In the film, a neurosurgeon recreates Edgar Allan Poe's ingenious devices within his chamber of torment. It is worth noting that this is perhaps the most obvious reference to Poe's work, as The Raven is one of his most well-known poems. Moreover, the movie stands as one of the finest examples of horror films inspired by the writings of Edgar Allan Poe.

14 Jenny’s Hush Mask

A subtle reference to the Flanaverse can be found in episode 2 of The Fall of the House of Usher, titled "The Masque of the Red Death." During the extravagant masquerade orgy hosted by Prospero Usher, Jenny dons the mask of the unnamed killer from the 2016 horror film Hush, hinting at the impending danger. As the episode progresses, it becomes evident that only one person survives the deadly masquerade.

13 Dr. Alessandra Ruiz

12 The Oculus Mirror

The Lasser Glass from Oculus is a recurring element in every Mike Flanagan movie and miniseries, including this latest addition to his portfolio. In episode 1 of The Fall of the House of Usher, when Roderick and Madeline visit Verna's bar, the mirror can be seen in the background between them. Just like in Oculus, the glass in this Poe-inspired miniseries has a sinister influence, causing people to become homicidal and suicidal. Its presence in the scene suggests that if Roderick and Madeline strike a deal with Verna, everyone's fate may be sealed.

11 Camille Scolding Her Assistant

Throughout The Fall of the House of Usher, Camille humorously utters, “Damn it, Toby! Toby, dammit!” While this may appear to be a mere exclamation, the dialogue holds a delightful hidden reference within the miniseries. Camille’s scolding pays homage to Toby Dammit, a character from Edgar Allan Poe’s 1841 short story "Never Bet the Devil Your Head." In the original source, Toby Dammit vexes the narrator, and a similar dynamic is mirrored between Toby and Camille.

10 The Ligadone Opioid

In The Fall of the House of Usher, the medication Ligadone shares striking similarities with the real-life drug OxyContin. However, it is also a homage to Edgar Allen Poe's "Ligeia." This particular short story delves into the inescapable nature of mortality, a theme that is also prevalent in the miniseries. Furthermore, "Ligeia" revolves around a narrator struggling with an opioid use disorder. Acting as a highly addictive opioid, Ligadone inflicts death upon countless users and perpetuates the widespread occurrence of opioid use disorders.

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9 Roderick Usher Experimental

In The Fall of the House of Usher, the testing facility previously known as Roderick Usher Experimental is now referred to as R.U.E. by the Fortunato company. This change in name is due to Roderick's desire to distance himself from the controversies surrounding the facility. Interestingly, the Usher family humorously refers to it as R.U.E. Morgue, a nod to the deaths that have occurred within its walls. The name R.U.E. Morgue is taken from the Edgar Allan Poe story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," which depicts gruesome murders committed by an ape. However, in the miniseries, the storyline is flipped, with the apes themselves becoming the victims of murder.

8 The Experimental Mesh Heart Design

The design of the mesh heart in The Fall of the House of Usher incorporates overlapping disks that resemble an eye, serving as a subtle allusion to the vulture eye featured in "The Tell-Tale Heart." In Edgar Allan Poe's short story, the presence of the vulture eye deeply disturbs the narrator and drives him to commit murder against the old man. Similarly, the mesh heart in Vic's office serves as a constant reminder of her guilt, intensifying every time she gazes upon the device. The combination of the model's appearance and the accompanying sound of a heartbeat ultimately compels Vic to take the life of Alessandra.

7 Vic’s Office Decoration

In The Fall of the House of Usher, small visual elements are cleverly incorporated to foreshadow character deaths. A notable example is the presence of a pendulum decoration in Vic's office, which directly alludes to Edgar Allan Poe's "The Pit and The Pendulum." This subtle detail also serves as a hint towards the tragic demise of Frederick Usher, the eldest child, who tragically meets his end when he is gruesomely cut in half by a piece of sheet metal.

6 Verna’s Driver's License Address

The demon Verna assumes various secret identities to visit each member of the Usher family. In episode 3, titled "Murder in the Rue Morgue," of The Fall of the House of Usher, she takes on the persona of Pamela Clemm, a woman who suffers from heart problems. On Verna's driver's license, her address is listed as 1849 Reynolds Street. This clever reference is an homage to Edgar Allan Poe's death, as Poe passed away in the year 1849, and it is rumored that he uttered the name Reynolds on his deathbed. Given Verna's embodiment of death, it is fitting that her chosen alias would draw inspiration from this aspect of Poe's life.

5 C. Auguste Dupin

Carl Lumbly portrays C. Auguste Dupin in The Fall of the House of Usher, where he serves as the assistant district attorney tasked with investigating the Usher family and Fortunato for numerous decades. The character's name is derived from a recurring figure found in Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. The original Dupin is a renowned detective who tackles murder and blackmail cases in Poe's works such as "The Murder in the Rue Morgue," "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt," and "The Purloined Letter."

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4 Roderick Usher’s Expensive Cognac

In the beginning of The Fall of the House of Usher, Roderick Usher consumes a bottle of Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne worth four million euros. This particular detail serves as an intricate Easter egg due to its multiple implications. It alludes to “The Cask of Amontillado,” where Montressor deceives Fortunato by offering him a luxurious alcoholic beverage.

However, the Cognac also refers to the Poe Toaster, a significant figure in Edgar Allan Poe's tales. The Poe Toaster, known by the alias, was responsible for leaving three red roses and a bottle of cognac at Poe's gravesite every year on his birthday for a century. Despite numerous witnesses, nobody dared to unveil the identity of the enigmatic Poe Toaster. Similarly, in The Fall of the House of Usher, only Roderick and Madeline possess the knowledge of Verna's true identity, making it a mystery for the rest of the Usher family.

3 Morrie & Lenore Come Across Gerald’s Game

In episode 6 of The Fall of the House of Usher, titled "Goldbug," there is a notable Easter egg from the Flanaverse. Lenore and Morrie stumble upon Gerald's Game, a horror film directed by Mike Flanagan, while browsing through movies on Netflix. Fortunately, they decide against watching it since it would have involved Morrie's grandfather participating in disturbing sexual games with a malevolent demon, which is also present in both projects.

2 Gris’ Manner Of Death

Roderick and Madeline committed the murder of Rufus “Gris” Griswold by restraining him and entombing him within the brick wall, allowing the Ushers to assume control of the Fortunato company. This resembles the demise of William Hill in The Haunting of Hill House. The preceding Flanaverse miniseries unveils the fate of Gris’s body. Additionally, akin to Hugh hearing the specter of William, Roderick is haunted by the sound of bells on Gris’s jester costume.

1 The Mummification Of Madeline

The conclusion of The Fall of the House of Usher portrays Roderick administering drugs to Madeline and embalming her, which directly alludes to Edgar Allan Poe's less popular short story, "Some Words with a Mummy." In contrast to Poe's typical horror tales, this particular story falls within the realm of satire, making this reference one of the least significant hidden messages in The Fall of the House of Usher.