One of the best horror shows on Netflix brilliantly defies expectations and bends many rules surrounding vampire storytelling. It only lasts for seven episodes, which makes it ideal for a binge with absolutely no interruptions. While fans of horror might have several other vampire-centric shows to choose from, the one in question is one of a kind and remains one of Netflix’s best offerings in the genre.
With a line of critically acclaimed horror movies, Mike Flanagan had already established himself as a talented horror filmmaker before he turned towards the small screen. This proved to be a major milestone for the director after his first Netflix show, The Haunting of Hill House, proved to be a massive hit. Flanagan soon became a household name as he delivered one incredible horror series after another.
One of these horror shows on Netflix was Midnight Mass, which, unlike most of his other shows, did not directly adapt any books. While some might argue that The Haunting of Hill House is Mike Flanagan’s best TV show, Midnight Mass seems far more bingeable and arguably even more satisfying towards the end than any other horror series on Netflix.
Netflix’s Midnight Mass Is Better When Treated As One Big Movie
Unlike most Mike Flanagan shows that feature compelling conflicts from the very beginning, Netflix’s Midnight Mass starts slowly. While it does have a few intriguing hooks in the beginning, it is hard to predict where it is heading in its early chapters. However, when the show finally establishes its narrative footing and starts revealing the true scope of its story, it becomes impossible not to stay invested.
Midnight Mass does not dabble with typical horror tropes surrounding paranormal entities or haunted homes. Unlike The Haunting of Hill House, it also expands its focus to an entire community living on an isolated island instead of merely focusing on one family. Even when its “vampire” story starts to unfold, the show never uses the term “vampire” to define its central monster.
Instead, it highlights how the monster is nothing but a bleak reflection of religious fanaticism and humanity’s desire for control and immortality. However, before these thought-provoking aspects of the series become evident, one has to sit through some of its slower bits, where it features everything from long expository dialogues and ritualistic buildup to extended scenes of atmospheric world-building.
Since Midnight Mass intentionally takes time to find its feet, viewers who treat it as a full-fledged movie have a better shot at making it to its better story bits. Watching it in parts might work for a few viewers, but it is best enjoyed when treated as one big movie that keeps getting better with each new chapter.
Midnight Mass Is (Arguably) Mike Flanagan’s Best Series
Owing to its structure, complex themes, and slow-burn storytelling approach, Midnight Mass did not enjoy the same commercial success as Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House and The Fall of the House of Usher. It is still, arguably, Mike Flanagan’s best small-screen creation because of how boldly it confronts faith, mortality, addiction, and the human need to assign meaning to suffering.
Instead of constantly featuring jump scares and jumping from one horror set piece to another, Midnight Mass sits with uncomfortable ideas. It even forces viewers to question whether the central “monster” is a “vampire” or an “angel.” It also refuses to provide concrete answers to any of these questions and even ends its run on an ambiguous note.
Unlike most of Mike Flanagan’s other horror shows, Midnight Mass is also completely original. It has traces of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot in its story, but it ultimately moves away from traditional vampire or “infected island town” tropes to focus on something far more introspective.
While its emphasis remains on Christian belief systems, its portrayal of the psychological weight of faith when it becomes inseparable from fear and guilt is universal. Even after all these years, the Netflix horror show holds incredibly well and deserves as much attention as some of Mike Flanagan’s most mainstream creations.
