This amazing series was one of the biggest horror sensations of the last year. Some even refer to it as the best series released on Netflix in 2021 and even one of the best in its history! While his new series, The Midnight Clubwas released this Friday, October 7, it’s time to tell you about Mike Flanagan’s best series: midnight sermons.
midnight sermonsat the end of the horror
After the success of The Haunting of Hill House and its sequel, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Mike Flanagan made his return in September 2021 with a new horror series for Netflix, but this time with something different and original, without being based on literary classics of the genre. With actors like Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel and the incredible Hamish Linklater, Mike Flanagan gave us an interesting reimagining of a specific style of supernatural fiction.
The action takes place on an isolated island, within a very modest and religious fishing community. Riley Fynn (Zach Gilford) returns to his native land after his release from prison: he was convicted and sentenced for homicide after driving while intoxicated and under the influence of drugs. This homecoming isn’t exactly exciting, but could be an opportunity for him to completely let go of his addictions and leave his demons behind.
However, something even worse awaits him when he returns. After the death of the previous priest, a new young priest arrives in the community and dazzles everyone with his candor and his sermons… but he hides much more. Riley lost his faith a long time ago, which takes him away from his liturgies, but he will start to investigate him a little more and will discover his terrible secret.
A strong and very personal series
Although Mike Flanagan did not, with midnight sermonsadapted from a Stephen King novel (which he already did with Doctor Sleep), details of the author’s mythology are present in the series, including the supernatural and religion which are ultra-present, as well as the exploration of the lowly communities of America. The atmosphere he creates with the elements at his disposal never ceases to be very real and human.
Of course, the series remains a very personal project for Flanagan. “Jalways thought it was the best project I’ve ever done“, said the director of the series in an interview, talking about the personal issues he chooses to address here that give each character a dramatic richness, namely addictions and religion. His way of introducing emotions in terror was already present in The Haunting of Hill Housebut here he brings it to its maximum expression.
It is true that it also pushes quite far certain elements that may offend some viewers, such as its tendency to solemnity or the dialogues prolonged until they sound like soliloquies. But midnight sermons also offers us the best moments of the horror genre in recent years, really rich characters and an interesting emphasis on spirituality, linked to the monsters of the present. Just over seven hours of authentic fantasy wonderment!
midnight sermons is available on Netflix.
Article written in collaboration with our colleagues from Sensacin.