On Friday, Oct. 8, Netflix released the fourth series in Mike Flanagan’s horror and thriller genre TV series Midnight Club. This series follows a group of terminally ill teenagers as they navigate the complexities of death and loss with each other. Before watching this series, I also watched the three previous ones, including:
The Haunting of Hill House:
“The Haunting of Hill House” follows the Caine family after one particularly odd summer in their childhood. Their father and mother bought the property in hopes of renovating it and selling it. However, following a series of strange and unfortunate events, the kids are forced to leave Hillhouse in the middle of the night, leaving their mom behind. Years later, they are brought back to face their mental and physical demons.
This series is by far my favorite series from the shows by Flanagan. It’s raw and emotional and gives us a deep dive into the intricacies of grief. Following the tragic loss of their youngest sister, the remaining four struggle to pick up the pieces in their ways.
The Haunting of Bly Manor:
Following the success of “The Haunting of Hill House,” Netflix released “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” which was released in October 2020. The series follows a young au pair as she navigates life at Bly manor with just the staff and two children in her care. The villa is filled with secrets, tragedies, and ghosts.
While this series was less scary than its predecessor, it contained the same level of thought and care. The beautiful backdrop of the English countryside in the 1980s, paired with the feeling of unlocking the mysteries of the manor, made this the perfect cozy fall thriller I was searching for.
Midnight Mass:
“Midnight Mass” was released on Netflix in September 2021. The series tells the story of “Crockett Island,” a small Catholic fishing island. At the beginning of the series, you are introduced to a young man who spent four years in prison for a drunk driving incident resulting in a pedestrian’s death. His arrival is paired with the mysterious appearance of a young priest desperate to revive the dying faith of the community.
In all honesty, I have not finished this series for personal reasons, but I understand its importance. Mike Flanagan wrote this series as a commentary on his upbringing in the Catholic church.
Mike Flanagan can write a series that simultaneously excites, terrifies, and intrigues his audience. I would highly recommend this series to anyone! This spooky season takes a deep dive into the Midnight Club.
By Rachel Van Horne, Associate Editor