Halloween 2021 Review #23 – ‘Midnight Mass’
Midnight Mass is different from everything else I’ve recently watched. Rather than being a movie, it’s a limited series on Netflix. Originally, my idea was to watch horror movies every day but I’ve yet to see Midnight Mass and with how long it is, it only made sense to replace a movie with it.
It’s by Mike Flanagan, the man behind The Haunting Of Hill House and Bly Manor. It stars Katie Siegel, Zach Gilford, Rahul Kholi, Samantha Sloyan, Hamish Linklater and Henry Thomas.
Midnight Mass focuses on a small fishing island where everyone knows everyone. Riley (Gilford) returns home after four years in prison for killing someone while drunk driving. The past is still haunting him and his faith is lost.
Meanwhile, a new priest arrives, replacing their old one who’s apparently ill.
Throughout the series, the characters face several tests. Whether it’s through faith, hope or their beliefs in one another. Not everyone can be trusted, and not everyone should be. It’s certainly a story you can’t watch unless you’re paying attention to it.
Midnight Mass is one of Mike Flanagan’s best. It weaves in a thrilling mystery with great character work. He has this ability to bring out the worst and best in the same character with ease. Of course, this is also down to the brilliant portrayals of the actors.
It delves into the religious world and shows various opinions of it. The show doesn’t take a stance. It leaves everything open to interpretation while guiding the viewers along.
At seven episodes around an hour each, it’s not a slog. It can be watched in a day if you have the time, and there’s a certain point that makes you want to keep watching.
Against his other series, Midnight Mass is above The Haunting of Bly Manor but below The Haunting of Hill House. Still, it ranks highly in my eyes and any horror fan should watch it.
In short, anytime Mike Flanagan creates a horror, there’s a high chance I’ll love it.
