In Mike Flanagan’s newest Netflix mini-series “Midnight Mass” viewers are treated to a fleshed out horror story that brings to light applicable issues to society. While Flanagan’s previous Netflix series “The Haunting of Hill House” and “The Haunting of Bly Manor” featured ghost-centered stories, “Midnight Mass” focuses more on showcasing horrors that can be found in the real world.
“Midnight Mass” is a look at the tragedy that can follow religious extremism. The series has beautiful visuals and intriguing monologues that provide a look into the psyche of each character.
Netflix released the mini-series on Sept. 24 to a large wave of excitement from fans. While “Midnight Mass” is not a part of “The Haunting” series, it contains all the style and charm that made the other series so beloved. Returning for this series are Kate Siegel, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Annabeth Gish, Alex Essoe, Henry Thomas and Robert Longstreet.
The series takes place in a religious community living on an isolated island, where some begin to experience supernatural phenomena after the arrival of the new priest Father Paul (Hamish Linklater). Father Paul’s mysterious miracles bring the town a renewed passion for religion, but some are skeptical about what is really going on in St. Patrick’s Church.
“Midnight Mass” has received a lot of attention because of its themes of religion and faith. The community on Crockett Island is one where most of the residents seem to attend the Mass at St. Patrick’s, and those that don’t — like Sheriff Hassan (Kohli) who is Muslim — are treated as outsiders. In seven episodes, the series referenced passages and verses from the Bible, including the names of the episodes themselves.
The show makes the case that religion is not inherently good or bad; it is in the hands of the individual that makes it seem one way or another. Having faith doesn’t simply make someone a “good” person, it can just amplify those natural senses of compassion and kindness. The show successfully tells this cautionary tale to audiences in a comprehensible way.
Most residents on Crockett Island desire to give forgiveness or be forgiven. The series touches on self-forgiveness with Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford), who comes back to his hometown struggling to deal with the consequences of his actions on the mainland. Riley’s breakthrough conversation along with various others are heartbreaking and honest depictions of the struggle that comes with releasing feelings of guilt and anger.
The series is filled with characters that viewers will love and love to hate. Bev Keane (Sloyan) is frustratingly realistic as she pushes her religion and faith onto everyone that enters her line of sight. She is an unbelievably loyal religious extremist and she can bring out frustration in the viewer which is a testament not only to her well-written character but also her believable acting.
The entire cast is well-selected and most characters fleshed out. The relationship between Sheriff Hassan and his son Ali Hassan (Rahul Abburi) beautifully illustrates the fears parents can have when their children want to explore other avenues of faith. Joe Collie’s (Longstreet) struggles with his alcoholism and guilt and the bond that he forms with Riley is raw and down-to-earth. Every character faces their own struggles, internal fears and regrets, and it is fascinating to see how each of them deals with their feelings.
The one minor setback is the show’s slow pace. It takes a bit for the plot to start ramping up, and there are cases where the story will stop for a character to give a monologue for several minutes. This may deter some, however every monologue has a purpose, is brilliantly written and explains the characters inner thoughts and feelings.
“Midnight Mass” is an absolute must-see for anyone with a Netflix account. The characters are intriguing and relatable, the setting is well built and fleshed-out and the overall story is captivating. While the limited series starts off at a slow pace, by the end every moment has paid off into an ending that is up for the viewers to decide.
Edited by Elise Mulligan | emulligan@themaneater.com