Netflix | Release Date: September 24, 2021
7.6
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 113 Ratings
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87
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18
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8
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10
SpewingMcgregorNov 25, 2021
The best TV series I've seen all year. If you like well fleshed out characters, mystery and top notch acting then look no further. Please go into this as blind as possible as I did and you'll get the most out of it.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
ThoughtfulScoreNov 29, 2021
Midnight Mass is fantastic, and it's important to go in blind. It expertly plays with many of the themes of religion, human nature, forgiveness & how easily peoples' beliefs can be twisted. There are a few graphically violent scenes nearMidnight Mass is fantastic, and it's important to go in blind. It expertly plays with many of the themes of religion, human nature, forgiveness & how easily peoples' beliefs can be twisted. There are a few graphically violent scenes near the end of the series, and the themes are very heavy, yet the show manages to be fun and entertaining throughout. Probably the best show I've seen made for Netflix. Highly recommended! Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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8
jamessSep 26, 2021
Mike Flanagan' s Midnight Mass was hinted at in his earlier home invasion thriller Hush. It was the novel that the lead character had written. Hush was a tidy little thriller that rushed you into the action. Midnight Mass takes it's time.Mike Flanagan' s Midnight Mass was hinted at in his earlier home invasion thriller Hush. It was the novel that the lead character had written. Hush was a tidy little thriller that rushed you into the action. Midnight Mass takes it's time. Like an eight hundred page Stephen King novel that takes several chapters introducing the characters and world they live in before the spooky stuff starts to occur. Like the CBS series Evil, Mass explores supposed miracles, religions role in society and, most importantly, angels and demons. The cast is outstanding with an award worthy performance by Hamish Linklater as the pastor. Give it a chance and you'll not be disappointed. Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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10
Bafb1Sep 26, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As someone who's never particularly religious, i didn't think that a religious horror was gonna hit me. But damn, this show actually hit me on another level. Nothing scarier than people who do bad things in the name of God. Ty Mike, u never fails me Expand
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7
TheQuietGamerOct 20, 2021
The thing that has made Mike Flanagan stand out in the modern age of horror has been his understanding of the importance of strong character work in the genre. On top of coming up with uniquely unsettling concepts and petrifying scenarios, heThe thing that has made Mike Flanagan stand out in the modern age of horror has been his understanding of the importance of strong character work in the genre. On top of coming up with uniquely unsettling concepts and petrifying scenarios, he has always ensured the people in his stories are just as compelling as the supernatural terrors they face. It's an aspect of his style that he's been able to explore to the fullest extent ever since he's made the move from feature-lengths to miniseries.

More so than anything he's made prior this is a human drama that just so happens to have a monster in it. The majority of the "action" consists of watching the inhabitants of the small island fishing town struggle with things like guilt, regret, redemption, religious faith, death and so much else. Usually through lengthy conversations. Flanagan portrays all of this with his usual sense of empathy. He genuinely seems to get why humanity is this way and doesn't appear to hold it against anybody, despite having no trouble depicting and serving justice to the most heinous of those among us.

Despite the narrative being centered around a Catholic church, he never condemns religion as an inherently bad thing like so many others would. He never condemns anyone or anything at all. Rather he simply critiques how religion can be misused to justify abhorrent behavior. The overall message being to look past the race, beliefs, or creeds of others. Midnight Mass isn't telling you to agree with everybody as it realizes that's impossible. Rather it's asking you to accept that there are those with different beliefs and lifestyles, not judge, and continue going about your own life. A moral I can get behind 100%. Now let me tell you why I think this is one of the weakest efforts of Flanagan's career thus far...

No, not because it isn't scary. Few though they may be, these are some of the most effective frights tactics he's come up with to date. The first problem I have is evident from the very start. The whole thing looks really cheap to the point where I was regularly taken out of the experience by the obvious green screens and lackluster CGI. It becomes clear that the bulk of the SFX budget went into the absolute parade of blood and fire that is the finale, which explains why it's so rough visually early on. However, you mean to tell me Netflix could give upwards of $90 million to David Ayer and Michael Bay, but couldn't slip a few extra bucks to the guy who gave them The Haunting of Hill House which is likely STILL the best content the streaming service has to offer? Unreal.

My other issues stem from the writing. Characters have a tendency to talk in really unnatural ways. Like how at one point a teenage boy uses the phrase "good and truly" as if he's from the 1600s or something. It's bizarre. The biggest and most egregious fault of all though is the ginormous plot hole resting at the center of the script. I can't go into details for fear of incredibly significant spoilers, but suffice to say it very easily ruins any sense of believability.

Between this and The Haunting of Bly Manor (which he admittedly had a less hands-on role in), I'm ready for Flanagan to return to movies where a smaller running-time forces him to deliver tighter, more focused narratives while leaving a smaller amount of room for these kind of mistakes to creep in. Especially since his last two films were the outstanding Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep. This is still solid enough for me to recommend it to you based on the strength of its well-realized characters, their dynamics, and the internal dilemmas they face. As well as for the creative twists it puts on one of the oldest creatures of the night ever to grace the screen. Just know that it is flawed in a way we're not used to from him.
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7
MeritCobaOct 10, 2021
I find it hard to score this short series because I find such scoring to be inadequate. Instead of a review, you can see below some highlights. For me, this is more an aid to storytelling.

Now, the first thing I found standing out is the
I find it hard to score this short series because I find such scoring to be inadequate. Instead of a review, you can see below some highlights. For me, this is more an aid to storytelling.

Now, the first thing I found standing out is the visuals. The episodes have beautiful shots of all kinds: wide shots, long shots, (slow) pans and close-ups. These visuals are expertly placed to help the story along. For example, one of the other main characters, the priest, is in one shot on one end of the screen, while the other end is empty, but you know that just off-screen, something unsettling is happening. The second thing in this series is the long dialogues. These conversations often tell the audience something about a person or the relation between the two persons involved.

These conversations are both a weakness and a strength. When done well, they feel natural such as the conversation between the priest and the (self-proclaimed) atheist prodigal son. However, these conversations sometimes start to become overlong expositions or attempts to cover over plot holes. An example of the latter is the explanation by the sheriff when asked why he refuses to take action. The problem with his long answer is not only that it is an unexpected exposition but that we are explicitly told that he isn't just some backwater sheriff. He was a high ranking FBI officer that worked for a particular anti-terrorist organization. The latter doesn't fit with the fact that several people disappear in a tiny community in a short amount of time, and he does nothing. Even if he were reluctant to investigate because of his past, that same past would have triggered many alarm bells.

The third thing I noticed is that when the story progresses, we get to a point where people start to behave out of character because the plot needs to happen. The problem here is that it is evident that the story is building up to something but that the outside world should be kept at bay. Isolation is an essential element of horror, but at the same time, the story is faced with the challenge of instant communication. This problem is especially apparent when the doctor has clear proof that there is something going on. But instead of instantly calling in aid(she thinks it is a disease), she dallies until she can take the boat to the mainland. This makes her appear irresponsible negligent.

The odd thing is that many of the weaker elements are entirely unnecessary. Make the sheriff an elected official who has a second job as a store clerk and no FBI background. He is in a dead end job he wants to escape from. So now that things are happening, he isn't eager to involve outsiders because he is dependent on the community and wants to solve the cases himself. A nurse can replace the doctor. She has the means to provide basic healthcare and enough skill to know something odd is going on but lacks the equipment, confidence and prestige(specifically if you make her young). These changes also do away with the long conversations, as you can now work them into everyday conversations. The nurse might be reluctant to call in a doctor, and when she does, the doctor might be hesitant to break their routine because she doesn't entirely believe what is going on. The sheriff might call some state or federal agency on the mainland and downplay the events: "Need, any help?". "Well, these two guys, you know... one of them is a deadbeat drunk, and the other has been known to disappear for days. I am sure I can manage."

Towards the end, the story goes off the rails. The story must have a climactic scene that requires everyone to be there. So they must be cut off from the mainland. But if this happens before the event, people will catch on and attempt to flee(or call in the marines), but if it happens after, people might escape(and call in the marines). So the story has everyone appear for the final scene even though it is obvious something terrible is going on. (The story even has that the mayor send away both ferries for repairs, which is ridiculous as a mayor is unlikely to have that power, but in addition the group who find out mention that they could take any boat to the suspicious guy (which is sheer stupidity) and he apparently can sabotage all available ships without anyone noticing, and that in a fishing village. And even then, they could have exposed him by telling the other villagers about the sabotage).

The series starts well, and I would give two thumbs up to the actors. Also, the story focuses on the people and does not explain or show the horror except at key moments. But the end is botched. It is interesting that someone once mentioned that even the experienced Stephen King is not good in endings. He is not alone.
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9
TheWaffleNov 1, 2021
Midnight is a glorious combination of mystery and cosmic horror. The show does an excellent job of setting the stage and manipulating the audience, and it's chock full of genuinely shocking and upsetting moments. Often, this is done by justMidnight is a glorious combination of mystery and cosmic horror. The show does an excellent job of setting the stage and manipulating the audience, and it's chock full of genuinely shocking and upsetting moments. Often, this is done by just making the audience watch as the show takes a Bible passage literally and demonstrates it on-screen. Expand
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8
Alper2003Mar 19, 2022
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A group of people living an isolated island have a routine life until their reverand comes back differently. Very good acting also amazing storyline brings ys a great mystery show. At first it looks like you a cliche story but i can assure you it's not. All in all you should see this one if you like vampire shows. Expand
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8
RMckayAug 13, 2022
Wowzers what a surprise in this provoking series! A lovely deconstruction of theology, of all shades. It's a slowburn and dialogue driven, which may not please the action and gore horror fans. This is a series to ponder well after it's over.Wowzers what a surprise in this provoking series! A lovely deconstruction of theology, of all shades. It's a slowburn and dialogue driven, which may not please the action and gore horror fans. This is a series to ponder well after it's over. It's portrayal of all things surreal are fantastic even if the CGI budget may have been a little light. There are flaws, yes... but all in all, I found this to be highly engaging, especially if you're the type that likes to think about the arbitrary nature of certain western philosophies and western spirituality. And boy does Hamish Linklater bring a realistic life to his character. I had only seen him in comedies before this, but gosh does he nail this role. Great little overlooked series! Expand
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8
JLuis_001Oct 18, 2021
''Never made much sense to me.
We all say there's a heaven.
And it's waiting for us. Then we claw, fight, beg for a few more minutes at the end. Minutes''. Slow, it moves slowly. This is a dense mystery. Midnight Mass it's a horror story but
''Never made much sense to me.
We all say there's a heaven.
And it's waiting for us.
Then we claw, fight, beg for a few more minutes at the end.
Minutes''.

Slow, it moves slowly. This is a dense mystery.
Midnight Mass it's a horror story but it's also a thriller about the manipulation of faith and religion, and how people use it to justify actions that have nothing to do with deities or divine revelations but with their own moral compass.

Netflix gave Mike Flanagan the opportunity to carry out a project that he has had in mind for a long time, and what Frank Darabont has achieved with the stories of Stephen King in the drama terrain, he has done it in the horror realm.

And it's not that this story is an adaptation of King's work, but the influences are brutal, especially, and most all from Salem's Lot, but still Midnight Mass stands on its own, revealing when it should and developing when it must.
It doesn't take much to guess what's going on, but the entertainment is more than solid.

There are only seven episodes in this show, little more than seven and a half hours that I enjoyed plenty, and for me, it makes up a lot for the disappointment I had with The Haunting of Bly Manor.

If you have Netflix, this is a must-watch.
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10
RichardSayreSep 30, 2021
MIDNIGHT MASS feels so much like Mike Flanagan adapting another sprawling 600-page Stephen King novel, only somehow even better. Jammed packed with interesting characters and never once feeling bogged down, Mike Flanagan has crafted hisMIDNIGHT MASS feels so much like Mike Flanagan adapting another sprawling 600-page Stephen King novel, only somehow even better. Jammed packed with interesting characters and never once feeling bogged down, Mike Flanagan has crafted his horror masterpiece here that challenges even the works of King, the true master of character driven horror. The scary moments creep up on you with perfectly drawn out dread and when it finally arrives, Flanagan really shows he knows how to work it. At times a meditative look at faith and family, home and trauma; at others, a straight up terrifying horror story. This series puts most modern horror to shame, and while some may call it talky, it only proves Flanagan's writing prowess. He takes hold of you by the collar every scene and doesn't let go, only tightens his grip and amps it up until you actually find yourself recoiling, even if it's nothing except one person speaking to another. It's been a long time since a horror movie/series has made me decently scared and made me think so much. Mike Flanagan has done it. This man is a genius. Expand
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8
AhlgrenAug 27, 2022
This is a good horror/fantasy that might feel a lite slow to some, but its wort giving it a chance.
Im really supriced that i missed this.
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7
UncleWillardOct 6, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It had me at the beginning and most of the way through, but the ending was unsatisfying. I love the conversations about faith, belief, religion. There were some truly beautiful moments in there, but that ending betrayed it all. Not the worst, just disappointing on contrast to such great drama. Honestly, the vampire plot was less interesting than the character development. I did want more about the old vampire though. And a plot where he uses religion as a grooming mechanism is pretty great. Religious vampires! I think this would have made a great, multi-season vampire show. Them exporting that new religion to the mainland and all that would entail. Expand
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9
SepherimJan 3, 2023
Midnight Mass es una miniserie simplemente excelente, que mezcla toques de terror, de misterio pero sobretodo de horror en su tratamiento de un tema tan clásico pero siempre interesante como es la religión. Los personajes son todosMidnight Mass es una miniserie simplemente excelente, que mezcla toques de terror, de misterio pero sobretodo de horror en su tratamiento de un tema tan clásico pero siempre interesante como es la religión. Los personajes son todos interesantes y muy creíbles, soportados sobre unas interpretaciones muy sólidas que hacen que, aunque los capítulos sean lentos, vayan permitiendo conocer la vida de esta pequeña comunidad y toda la mierda que hay debajo. Porque en este caso el horror humano es el centro de esta historia, los sentimientos modos y maneras en obramos, el peso de la culpabilidad y la busca de respuestas, o huir de los problemas. Temas universales que aquí se cultivan y cuidan a fuego lento haciendo que comprendamos a cada uno de los personajes y por qué actúan como actúan, y haciendo con ello que el horror se sienta más visceral, más profundo y más humano. Expand
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7
MullonOct 29, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There's a very good five-episode series in here about a small isolated town that gets a new priest and evil follows in his wake. Unfortunately it's also got about two episodes worth of tedious, pretentious monologues and unnecessary subplots with minor characters in it too. Also, by the end I thought it was really ripping off Salem's Lot by Stephen King. If you're feeling daring I would recommend skipping the first two episodes, you're smart enough to figure out what's going on. Expand
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10
trasondanosAug 22, 2022
It has been a long time since a television series has touched me the way Midnight Mass has. The camerawork is expert. The music is breathtaking. The story is utterly terrifying. There is an aspect to each character on Crockett Island that isIt has been a long time since a television series has touched me the way Midnight Mass has. The camerawork is expert. The music is breathtaking. The story is utterly terrifying. There is an aspect to each character on Crockett Island that is so singular, making it really easy to distinguish between the many faces on screen. Ensemble projects can have a hard time capturing an audience’s attention, but I binged this with my grandparents in one day. I think that is proof enough of the power of Mike Flanagan’s storytelling. Expand
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8
geewahNov 29, 2021
Mike Flanagan's best work for Netflix thus far.
A real slow burn for the the first 5 episodes, that then explodes into a full on and in your face thrill ride for it's final 2 episodes.
The only real letdown is that some of the monologue can
Mike Flanagan's best work for Netflix thus far.
A real slow burn for the the first 5 episodes, that then explodes into a full on and in your face thrill ride for it's final 2 episodes.
The only real letdown is that some of the monologue can be drawn out and quite tedious at times.
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9
LumdogOct 11, 2021
This is very intelligent and effective horror. It relies on atmosphere and deep characterisation, rather than predictable cheap jump scares. You think it's one thing and then it'll completely turn things on it's head. The unpredictability wasThis is very intelligent and effective horror. It relies on atmosphere and deep characterisation, rather than predictable cheap jump scares. You think it's one thing and then it'll completely turn things on it's head. The unpredictability was so refreshing. It's story and dialogue are developed with such care, and it respects the audience enough to not spoon feed them information and let them join the dots; unlike a lot of films these days. Definitely recommend. Expand
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9
Mike_EzeJun 5, 2022
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. Collapse Expand
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8
KwolterNov 4, 2021
This series has become my all time favorite of scary movies, and I watch a lot of scary movies. It does start slowly, but it turns up the heat about halfway through. IT IS WORTH THE WAIT. Horror is subjective; what scares me might be harmlessThis series has become my all time favorite of scary movies, and I watch a lot of scary movies. It does start slowly, but it turns up the heat about halfway through. IT IS WORTH THE WAIT. Horror is subjective; what scares me might be harmless to someone else. I was raised strict Catholic so it affected me deepl Expand
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8
FvnfvnfvnNov 17, 2021
Being possibly the most audacious of Mike Flanagan's of creations to date, Midnight Mass does an amazing job of combining horror and mystery to create an original take on the horror Genre. At time this series is grating and slow, at otherBeing possibly the most audacious of Mike Flanagan's of creations to date, Midnight Mass does an amazing job of combining horror and mystery to create an original take on the horror Genre. At time this series is grating and slow, at other times it is tense and mesmerizing, but rarely is it boring. Strong character writing provides a backbone to a thriller setting which feels fairly unique in world where most horror films take place in the suburbs or the woods. One of the strongest elements of this show is its sense of mystery, carefully weaving troupes in with a core story about religious fanaticism and the danger of falling victim to a mob mentality. Even when you know what is happening in the story there is still an over looming sense dread that keeps the actions of characters feeling authentic and not they simply happy to push the plot forward.

This however is coupled with a troupe from other Flanagan creations(The Haunting of Hill House which is decent in it's own right) the dramatic monologue. Although here is it use more sparing and to better effect, especially in the scenes with Father Paul when he is preforming mass. All in this series many not be for the more gore loving, jump scare fanatics which have kept series like Halloween and Friday the 13th alive somehow. However this does not take away from its originality, feeling more kin to something like A24 film rather then a generic Blum House Production. I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a decent follow to movies like Hereditary and Midsommar.
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9
SaintRonanApr 10, 2023
Incredibly well done. Actors did a fantastic job. Loved the aesthetic. Storyline was original and engaging.
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7
Arnak101Dec 22, 2021
An alright TV show that feels more like a boring, drawn-out movie. They seem to think this is much more thought-provoking and deep than it really is.

If you are not an atheist, or you were christian at some point, this might have some
An alright TV show that feels more like a boring, drawn-out movie. They seem to think this is much more thought-provoking and deep than it really is.

If you are not an atheist, or you were christian at some point, this might have some revelations (zing!) in a store for you. Muslims or atheists or any others wont find anything new here.

If this ended after 3 episodes, after "the reveal", this would have been much stronger, leaving some room for interpretation and thought. As is, there is not much interesting or new for non-christians here. Just a horror story with some religious subtext (and pretty much every horror story has one).

Cinematography and acting are so impressive, however, that i cant give this lower than 7. Even if i was bored at pretty much every episode exept the third one.
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9
MarlaIsBackJun 24, 2022
Midnight mass, another Mike Flanagan's banger, this TV serie is really intelligent and it's really easy to get hooked by this one
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8
SuqMadickOct 8, 2022
It's almost entirely dialogue driven, which works out since the writing is great. I see other reviewers complaining about the monologues, but they serve to provide character development about the characters. On top of the dialogue, it is wellIt's almost entirely dialogue driven, which works out since the writing is great. I see other reviewers complaining about the monologues, but they serve to provide character development about the characters. On top of the dialogue, it is well written in terms of screenplay, and Midnight Mass pulls the rug out from under the viewer's feet. This show is poignant and sad and beautiful and 100% worth taking the time to watch. Expand
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10
phoenix_prjctDec 27, 2022
Final Thoughts:

Midnight Mass is a credit to its genre, using its focus on religion to ask challenging questions and answering with opposing, thought-provoking answers. Its supernatural horror backdrop provides mysteries and miracles, and
Final Thoughts:

Midnight Mass is a credit to its genre, using its focus on religion to ask challenging questions and answering with opposing, thought-provoking answers. Its supernatural horror backdrop provides mysteries and miracles, and surprisingly stunning scares showcase excellent pacing. Most of all, none of that detracts from the show’s strength: its community. Emotional and personal, Midnight Mass has something for everyone, a true experience that stands tall on its own and needs no further elaboration. 

For an in-depth look and more reviews, visit my site: https://thephoenixprjct.com/midnight-mass-limited-series-in-depth-review/
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10
thebethbentleyJan 15, 2023
I love Mike Flannagan, and I loved this series just as much. I wasn't sure what to expect when I tuned in to the first episode, but I'm glad I stayed. Mike is a brilliant storyteller who knows how to pace his stories and characters for anI love Mike Flannagan, and I loved this series just as much. I wasn't sure what to expect when I tuned in to the first episode, but I'm glad I stayed. Mike is a brilliant storyteller who knows how to pace his stories and characters for an impactful horror that would make Mary Shelley and other romantic gothic literature pioneers proud. Is it perfect? No, but in my eyes it is. I still get chills thinking about the final episode and how hard I cried when the credits rolled. Thank you, Mike, for inflicting emotional trauma on me, I love you. Expand
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