Midnight Mass

Netflix | Release Date: September 24, 2021

7.6	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 113 Ratings

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AMJ1508Oct 12, 2021

Prone to pretentious, rambling monologues in the middle of character interactions which fully break immersion. These had me skipping entire scenes and did nothing to advance the story. In general much of the series feels forced in the way aProne to pretentious, rambling monologues in the middle of character interactions which fully break immersion. These had me skipping entire scenes and did nothing to advance the story. In general much of the series feels forced in the way a 16 year old's bad poetry does. The series as a whole feels nicely paced until the second to third episode, by which point it becomes a fairly tiring watch and fails to decide what redeeming message it's trying to send, if any at all. Plus points are the relatively novel/interesting premise and stellar (With a capital S) performances of Hamish Linklater and Samantha Sloyan. I see a lot of positive reviews on here citing the lack of jump-scares as the reason for negative reviews - the truth is much of it is just plain bad from an artistic perspective. Middling to bad - not a total dumpster fire but a missed opportunity to make a slick, compelling modern horror series. the average score on here yet further evidence that Netflix are succeeding in keeping people happy with total mediocrity.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

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ScienceAdvisorSep 25, 2021

The laziest ending to a season since Game of Thrones. Six great episodes all destroyed by schizophrenic characterization, chaotic plot, total lack of continuity in what is shown on screen, with absolute confusion being the goal. This is howThe laziest ending to a season since Game of Thrones. Six great episodes all destroyed by schizophrenic characterization, chaotic plot, total lack of continuity in what is shown on screen, with absolute confusion being the goal. This is how not to end a season. If you think at all, the entire story unravels and contradicts itself, many times over. If you could only watch the first six episodes then it is a 7/10, but without a payoff there is no reason. 4/10… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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Oz_MomotaroNov 7, 2021

This is an incredibly frustrating serious - there is quite a bit to like (and surprise/delight) about the choices; however, there is more to annoy and fatigue. The choice to attack religious questions is brave, however, the approach is to useThis is an incredibly frustrating serious - there is quite a bit to like (and surprise/delight) about the choices; however, there is more to annoy and fatigue. The choice to attack religious questions is brave, however, the approach is to use unrealistic and plodding monologues to hit us over the head. The twists/turns when they come often feel undeserved, or just un-characteristic for the people that have been created over the 7 episodes. There was a lot of promise in this series, but it actually ends up being about 4 episodes of padding and poor writing, with perhaps 3 episodes of quality art. While there are some interesting things here, it's buried under a morass of confused morality and inconsistent characterisations.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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DwydeShrudeOct 16, 2021

The middle episodes get really squishy with metaphysical monologues that don't matter or progress the story. I get "character development" but most of these episode could be rewritten to cut 10 minutes off.

Other than those spots of uselessThe middle episodes get really squishy with metaphysical monologues that don't matter or progress the story. I get "character development" but most of these episode could be rewritten to cut 10 minutes off.

Other than those spots of useless dragging dialog, I was entertained. I liked the foreshadowing and the slow play of what happened to the priest was suspenseful. The characters were pretty good compared to most shows I see these days. I didn't really buy the change in Father Paul at the end, it just "happened" without an explanation of any depth. Here is where some of that time from those long-winded monologues could have been better spent.

Overall it was pretty good but could have been great if condensed in the middle (by a lot) and expanded some at the end?… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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ozymandias79Sep 27, 2021

Lots of filler and very predicable. After skipping the filler, there's may be a 2 hour movie.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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FadeBlackNov 15, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I thought this was an absolutely phenomenal, brilliant TV show...until the last episode.

What I loved about the first 6 episodes, other than the delightful way they slowly creeped in the vampire story, was just how honest and balanced the show was about the different approaches to faith, and no faith. We had Riley, the atheist who can not accept that a loving God would bring so much suffering to the world. Bev, the fundementalist nutjob who condemns others and thinks herself better than everyone because she can quote endless Bible verses out of context - sadly, she is a reflection of much of religious history. Erin, the hopeful, good-hearted believer who believes in a loving God. And of course, Father Paul, who understands the complexities of the Bible and deep down wants what's best for everyone, but blinds himself to the truth and the harm that his actions are doing - unfortunately another consequence of religion when it fails. The characters had fascinating discussions about faith, which felt very true to life.

The last episode, however, I was not a fan of.

First, and least important - I know for storyline purposes they had to find a way to kill all the vampires, but I mean c'mon. Even with every building burning, if they had even half the will to fight the 50 or so vamps could have put together a very rough makeshift shelter to hold them over the day, and then figured out how to leave the island the following night. They all collectively gave up on trying to survive way, way too easily. I guess you can blame it on them being confused/struggling with guilt, but in terms of means for survival they were far from hopeless.

But the much bigger problem I had with the last episode was the theological stance that it took. It wasn't just religion that metaphorically burned away, but faith too. Father Paul seemed to silently renounce his faith, while a select few of the vampires sung church songs to their death, which fits quite cozily with the atheist charge that faith is just a means to comfort the weak minded.

And then the crescendo of Erin giving up on her belief in a personal God and a Heaven, and somehow trying to paint that as a comforting positive "because we are all made of stars" and all that. Which you know quite clearly reflects the show runner and the writers' point of view, but is devoid of any and all honesty. If death robs us of our "self", all our hopes and dreams and personality and character and love - and the chance to see our loved ones again, then that is complete and total existential horror. Really doesn't matter if your "energy" goes to the prettiest pinkest galaxy in the cosmos; it means death has won over everything we value to be human. Whether that is indeed what awaits or not is not the question, the truth is that it is not comforting or hopeful at the slightest, and you have to be lying to yourself as much as the most radical fundementalist to somehow perceive it as good, or even a neutral fate. And the above would be fine if that was just another character's view of things, but it wasn't just that - it seemed to be the show-runner stamping out all the positive portrayals of faith in the show, and leaving us with his atheistic take on death.

If people don't mind that, then that's fine, but for me it definitely invalidated and took away from the fascinating conversations and contrasts of faith the show had been building up until the last episode. A real shame, honestly.… Expand