One Line Review: Midnight Mass, Mike Flanagan’s new Netflix series, exposes a dramatic tale of faith and bigotry.
Youtube Trailer Midnight Mass
Starring: Kate Seigel, Jack Gillford
Director: Mike Flanagan
Release Date: 24 September 2021
Introduction
The differences between the inhabitants of a small community on Crockett Island increase with the return of an ex-con (Zach Gilford) and the arrival of a young priest (Hamish Linklater). Unexpected miracles and a renewed religious fanaticism coincide with the presence of the father, but what cost do these inexplicable wonders bring?
Behind the midnight mass
Midnight Mass is the new series from Mike Flanagan, the mind behind the critically acclaimed anthology The Haunting (here are our reviews of The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor ), who this time offers an epic seven-episode drama where fear is just an excuse to formulate a strong analysis on religious fanaticism and faith.
As with his first production for the small screen, The Haunting of Hill House, Flanagan takes control of the direction of each of the pieces that make up this fiction. It is not a minor fact, because when viewing the product in its entirety we can denote an organic fable where nothing is left to chance and everything fits into an outcome as energetic as it is formidable; something that did not happen with The Haunting of Bly Manor, since by delegating the position to different directors the work presented some technical inequalities despite its admirable narrative.
In addition, we must highlight a curiosity about the new Netflix production, related to its creation process. Midnight Mass was a fictional novel that appeared in the director’s previous feature films ( Hush, Gerald’s Game ), but this series is based on an original idea that Flanagan himself introduced several years ago into his own cinematic universe.
Welcome to Crockett Island
Kate Siegel, Rahul Abburi, Crystal Balint, Matt Biedel, Alex Essoe, Annarah Cymone, Annabeth Gish, Rahul Kohli, Kristin Lehman, Robert Longstreet, Igby Rigney, Samantha Sloyan, Henry Thomas, and Michael Trucco are the protagonists of this choral drama of dyes supernatural and slow pace that presents much of its strength in perfectly crafted characters. The inhabitants of the lost island town where the story takes place are people beaten by life to whom the arrival of a mysterious priest will restore their faith in religion. We can hardly write these lines without spoiling the events that occur from this premise, but we will try not to reveal more information than necessary so as not to ruin the experience.
In advance, we must warn you that if you are looking to encounter a tale of frenzied horror and frenetic pace, Midnight Mass is not for you. To label it “Absolutely terrifying” is to invite disappointment from those who expect wholesale scares. What its creator meticulously constructs from minute zero is a tale of a calm nature that directly reflects like a mirror the daily life of the inhabitants of Crockett Island. Here the protagonists present wounds that will begin to heal thanks to this renewed way of seeing religion, and as each situation improves their lives, the production grows in development and expectations.
The bases are established a priori, setting the tone that we will find until an explosive end. Just as the arrival of Father Paul unleashes chaos in the less-than-idyllic county, the outcome begins to feel like a bomb that could explode at any moment.
Midnight Mass devotes much of its time to extensive conversations between its characters. This, far from being heavy, endows the story with a great dramatic charge that will serve to know revelations, motivations, and decisions of each one. Little by little, we will reveal great secrets behind each face and we will realize that nothing turns out as it really seems. This is where the paranormal factor comes into play, which although it offers few segments completely related to horror, manages to insert themselves at the right moment and impact our retina fiercely.
On the other hand, in addition to offering an elaborate script, there is also a great setting work when creating this small world that contrasts perfectly with the sinister events that occur during the episodes.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, Midnight Mass has all the elements to become one of the best productions of the year, making it clear that Mike Flanagan’s previous successes were not a stroke of luck.
