27 October 2023 , 09:00
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If you're up for a spot of unsettling horror this Halloween, why not plump for a rather underrated but no less spellbinding series currently languishing in the vaults on Netflix?
Midnight Mass was recently recommended on the Netflix Daily Updates Facebook page which urged followers: "If you have NOT seen Midnight Mass binge it for Halloween 10000/10.” A staggering 13k liked the post and a sizeable 1.7k commented on it – largely saying it was a 'great' and 'fantastic' show, while 1.8k shared the post. Midnight Mass currently enjoys a critics score of 87 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience score of 78 per cent, so something is definitely pointing towards it being spooktacularly good.
Released to little fanfare or hype in 2021, Midnight Mass has grown in stature thanks largely to word-of-mouth, lending the sprawling seven-parter an enviable cult status and regarded as something of a hidden gem.
What's it about?
This slow-burning supernatural miniseries really relishes ratcheting up the tension over its unfurling episodes. Midnight Mass centres on a charming young priest who joins the church of a small island township.
It isn’t long before an array of spectacular miracles happen – the blind can see and the paralysed can walk. Perhaps inevitably, all is not as it seems, however, and there is a dark secret right at the heart of this religious revival. Let’s just say the priest isn’t necessarily using the powers of good here. Created by Doctor Sleep’s Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass offers a stark and uncompromisingly bleak deep dive into the rites and traditions of Christianity, and the horror often lurking in scripture.
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The theme of how religion can be used to corrupt and manipulate has, of course, been done to death – but never quite like this. Watch out for stellar performances from a cast that includes Hamish Linklater, Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli and Zach Gilford.
Who made it?
Midnight Mass was created and directed by the very talented Mike Flanagan, who is best known for his work in horror films and television series. Flanagan has received much praise from critics for his masterful craftsmanship and refreshing lack of reliance on jump scares. The auteur's films, all of which he directed, wrote, and edited, include Oculus (2013), Hush (2016), Before I Wake (2016), Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016), Gerald's Game (2017), and The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep (2019). He also created, directed, and served as showrunner on the series The Haunting of Hill House (2018), The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020), Midnight Mass (2021) and the teen horror series The Midnight Club (2022) as well as the current Edgar Allan Poe adaptation The Fall of the House of Usher.
Why viewers like it
Posting on IMDB, reader benjaminskylerhill said: "This is NOT a horror. It is an extremely intelligent religious drama that contains some horror elements. And you know what? It is MAGNIFICENT at what it does."
Lucaschriskowalski claimed it was a hidden gem, saying: "There wasn't much hype before its release and I purposefully didn't read too much about it. The underlying topic is familiar but the way it has been told here was new. More of this please Netflix."
UniqueParticle called it spectacular: "Yet another well-filmed series by Mike Flanagan! Starts off quite mysterious, spooky, and intriguing characters around a wonderful town. Midnight Mass doesn't seem to have much horror in it yet amazing direction all around. For sure Mike is always a master of his craft! I love the mini series more than I expected."
Andrewchristianjr said: "What really makes the show scary as hell is the concept. I got goosebumps and scared, not because of ghosts, not because of monsters but because of humans and their thoughts. Everything comes full circle and is so well written and I felt so happy and sad at what was going on while also in awe at how beautifully written and shot it was."
Have YOU seen Midnight Mass yet? Did you like it? Let us know in the comments below