There may not be a new “The Haunting of” anthology coming to Netflix, but that doesn’t mean Mike Flanagan is done scaring the beejezus out of us. That’s because he’s returning to the streaming platform for all new scares called “Midnight Mass.” The new series, where he acts as writer, director and executive producer, tells the tale of a small, isolated island community whose existing divisions are amplified by the return of a disgraced young man (Zach Gilford) and the arrival of a charismatic priest (Hamish Linklater). When Father Paul’s appearance on Crockett Island coincides with unexplained and seemingly miraculous events, a renewed religious fervor takes hold of the community – but do these miracles come at a price?”
Flanagan has become one of the most prominant contemporary horror directors of our time and is the mind behind such titles as “The Haunting of Hill House” and “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” as well as major films like “Doctor Sleep.” Each one of those are successful in their own right, so you can be sure horror fans will be interested in “Midnight Mass.” And unlike “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” which was directed by a handful of directors other than Flanagan thereby making it less cohesive in tone, Flanagan will direct all episodes of “Midnight Mass.” So you can expect to see more of a follow through and steadiness.
Additionally, Flanagan wrote a letter that declared “Midnight Mass” one of his “favorite project so far.” It both celebratory and personal as the creator opens up about being three years sober and how the darkness at work on the fictional island can be a reflection of the darkness born from human nature and how that darkness unfortunately inhabits our own world.
And despite the overly dark tones, the letter offers a ray of optimism that even in the darkness and absence of light and hope, people will still sing.
The seven episode limited series also stars 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.
The series is executive produced by Flanagan and Trevor Macy for Intrepid Pictures.
All seven episodes of “Midnight Mass” premieres globally on Netflix on September 24, 2021.
