October is here, which means it’s time to celebrate the 31 days of sacred ancestral feasts known as “Ghost Season.”
Obviously, our favorite way to celebrate is by revisiting beloved horror classics from years past.
But while most pop culture sites focus on Movie It’ll keep you up at night, and we here at TV Fanatic love looking at the most memorable horror limited series – specifically those created by Mike Flanagan.
For the uninitiated, Flanagan is basically the streaming world’s answer to Stephen King:
He’s prolific and popular; while his stories are filled with chills from the supernatural realm, he’s usually more interested in moments of genuine poignancy than cheap jump scares.
While non-Netflix subscribers may be more familiar with Flanagan’s feature films (Hush, Oculus, and the corresponding King adaptation Doctor Sleep), in recent years the horror master has been spotted directing The sprawling, deeply personal streaming program is often reminiscent of Flanagan’s work.
Starting with 2018’s The Haunting of Hill House, Flanagan has produced five limited series as part of his development deal with the OG streaming giant.
Each one offers plenty of thought-provoking horror.
So whether you’re new to his work or you’re wondering which of Flanagan’s favorites are the most worthy of a second watch, check out our final (and, of course, highly subjective) ranking of his memorable Netflix projects :
Hill House is Haunted
With a loose adaptation, in fact a very loose adaptation, of Shirley Jackson’s 1959 classic novel, Flanagan’s first foray into the world of television drama is about the traumatic nature of encounters with the spirit world. The consequences are as interesting as the titular ghosts themselves.
The show uses the non-linear, flashback narrative style that Flanagan often favored, centering on the increasingly troubled Klan family.
When a couple of professional house flippers (Flanagan favorites Henry Thomas and Carla Gugino) purchase the ominous Hill House, they move in with their five children and prepare for a lengthy Renovation works.
But as you might have guessed, the house had other plans.
Obviously, haunted house stories are nothing new, but Flanagan puts a new spin on the usual tropes through a narrative that flows seamlessly between past and present, exploring the trauma of the world’s most unfortunate real estate deal. sexual influence.
It’s a psychologically charged gothic horror film with apologies to ghosts, and it’s probably the best haunted house series ever made.
Her stoic demeanor might say otherwise, but somewhere in there, Shirley Jackson’s spirit is very proud.
midnight mass
If you were disappointed by the recent Max adaptation of King’s 1975 novel Salem’s Land (and you should be), then Midnight Mass may be just what you need to satisfy your need for a nuanced small town. Desire for a Vampire Legend.
Arguably Flanagan’s richest and most personal work, the series focuses both on the human struggles of the residents of Crockett Island and the supernatural events that surround them.
The show mines common vampire tropes and finds a satisfying gold mine of subtext.
The longings of the alcoholic, the religious seeker’s pursuit of immortality, and the general desire for eternal youth all find their due here.
The prodigal son returns to his troubled hometown, where a vampire infestation is rapidly deteriorating, a story whose theme undoubtedly owes its origins to King’s original exploration of the question: “What if Dracula showed up in rural America?”
However, in this case, the student may have overtaken the teacher.
The Haunting of Bly Manor
Usually, when horror fans gush about the ending of a favorite movie or series, they mean that the story delivered the final scare that left them stunned.
But “The Haunting of Bly Manor” gave a completely different and unforgettable ending.
We won’t spoil it here, but trust us when we say the series finale will have you dabbing your eyes and blaming it on seasonal allergies.
“Bly” is a spiritual sequel to “Hill House,” which can be a little uneven at times.
It’s not quite as creepy as its predecessor, and at least one requires so much patience that we can’t help but think its primary function is to satisfy Netflix’s episode order.
But the framing device leads to a conclusion in which a mysterious narrator (Carla Gugino! Again!) offers unforgettable lessons about the meaning of love, loss, and grief.
Is it really dusty in here, or is it just us?
Gerrard’s game
What did you say? Is this a movie or a limited series?
Well, you’ve got us there. But no discussion of Flanagan’s contributions to Netflix would be complete without this deeply disturbing adaptation of King’s equally thrilling novel.
This news is sure to surprise you and includes Carla Gugino and Henry Thomas, as well as Bruce Greenwood, who also features prominently in the next entry on this list.
Like “Hill House,” the film is psychologically complex and manages to create nail-biting suspense out of the story of a woman who spends much of the film handcuffed to a bedpost . No easy task!
Unfortunately, the film goes off the rails a bit in its third act, which can only be described as…well, horrific. You have been warned.
The Fall of the House of Usher
This is the first dark comedy in Flanagan’s series, and many of its tonal cues come from an unexpected source—HBO’s Succession.
While imitating the greats is usually a good thing, the fast-paced banter of Jesse Armstrong’s signature corporate satire is a difficult trick to pull off.
An attempt to reinterpret Edgar Allan Poe’s gothic tale of a family’s downfall (which, like Hill House, is Very Loose adaptation) through such a specific lens may be a mistake.
As with all Flanagan projects, there’s a lot to appreciate here.
Greenwood is really sharp as the wealthy patriarch, and Henry Thomas (did we mention Flanagan likes this guy?) shines in his filthiest role (complete with unfortunate man bun).
Yet while Flanagan’s scathing critique of corporate America is enjoyable, the series exhibits neither the horror nor the poignancy of its predecessors, and a plot structure that’s revealed from the start leads to a certain The predictability undermines many attempts to turn things around.
midnight club
Look, we’re big fans of Mike Flanagan here at TV Fanatic — which is why we’re painfully aware that the director’s first young adult movie is a big hit and miss.
What’s so nostalgic about a YA horror series like Are You Afraid of the Dark? Instead, it feels like a slow-paced, overly serious attempt at something more noble.
We respect Flanagan’s refusal to be boxed in, and his unwavering belief that horror and the heart can and should coexist.
It is worth noting that for all our youthful energywe are not part of the target demo for this show.
But sometimes, even the most well-intentioned experiments fail, and frankly, “Midnight Club” has us looking at the clock and longing for sleep.
Over to you TV fanatics! Hit the comments section below to share your thoughts on Mike Flanagan’s incredible work!
Watch The Haunting of Hill House online
