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The Fall of the House of Usher, The Haunting of Hill House, and the Mike Flanagan Cinematic Universe (MFCU)
- Thread starter Conditional-Pancakes
- Start date
- Entertainment OT
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Also, one of the reviewers coined the term "Flanacanon". So it's something to add to "Mike Flanagan Cinematic Universe (MFCU)" and "Flanaverse" :p
Reviews definitely look positive. I really liked Hill House but I couldn't get through Bly Manor. Definitely will check this out over the weekend
QB1 and Mike Flanagan! I had no idea about this show until today and holy hell, it comes out this Friday!
IMO, Hill House is the best show ever on Netflix. Throw in our favorite QB and the hype is immediately through the roof! Can't wait to watch with the wife!
IMO, Hill House is the best show ever on Netflix. Throw in our favorite QB and the hype is immediately through the roof! Can't wait to watch with the wife!
Pretty great thread here. :) Thanks to the Hill House maze at Horror Nights, I am gaining interests in this guy's work again. I actually did see Hush a couple years back, and I really liked it. Maybe I will add Doctor Sleep for my 31 Days of Horror viewing this year.
At some point I will finally see Hill House and go from there!
At some point I will finally see Hill House and go from there!
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I really liked it, and certainly enough for me to consider seeing these shows at long last. The bent neck lady is cool, along with that tall man and one zombie ghost that I think appears in the cellar. Some nice stuff with transparent walls too.
I love the atmosphere of the maze in general, being someone loves the likes of Disney Haunted Mansion, so I could use more of that. XD
Edit: Just saw the Something Is Killing the Children news, holy shit. I hope it turns out well, cause the comic is fantastic.
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I'm so jealous you got to experience that maze, it seems so fun. And The Haunting of Hill House is such a fantastic show, go watch it now! And then come back here to tell us what you think :)
And yeah, the Something Is Killing the Children project really is intriguing. I'm not familiar with the comic, but I think I'll try to read it before Flanagan releases his version.
Horror Nights was so much fun, well long lines and caution about Covid aside ha ha. Even gotten a bit of Hill House merch with the button set they were selling.
At the earliest I'll probably get on Netflix for Jojo Part 6 in Dec, so I will starting watching then. :D That or if I find the blu-ray/DVD copy on sale.
Finally got caught up on this thread since I decided to revive my effort to watch all of Flanagan's available movies.
I watched Hush last night despite my initial hesitation as I am not at all a fan of home invasion scenarios. Surprisingly, though, it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would and I ended up really enjoying the tense atmosphere that was presented. Plenty as been said about the lead performances, so I won't rehash that here. I do especially appreciate how they don't really make Maggie out to be a victim and, instead, presented this as a showdown between her and the intruder. I did immediately notice/recognize the Midnight Mass book, so that's a cool Easter egg. I will probably end up watching this again with my wife soon as I think it's something she would enjoy.
Next up will likely be Oculus or Ouija: Origin of Evil. Haven't decided, yet.
Beyond that, I'm a bit nervous to check out Gerald's Game and it's always been the one that I just didn't see myself watching. To be completely transparent, sexual trauma has been present during several periods in my life and this movie seems to press on that topic a bit - so that has me a bit nervous but Flanagan tends to take very thoughtful approaches to some difficult topics. We'll see if I ended up watching it - I'm not quite sure, yet. Also - the references in this thread to the "hand scene" in this movie sound pretty gruesome... not sure I can handle that, lol.
Lastly - can't wait for Midnight Mass. Haven't been this excited for a show since... well, probably since Bly Manor!
I watched Hush last night despite my initial hesitation as I am not at all a fan of home invasion scenarios. Surprisingly, though, it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would and I ended up really enjoying the tense atmosphere that was presented. Plenty as been said about the lead performances, so I won't rehash that here. I do especially appreciate how they don't really make Maggie out to be a victim and, instead, presented this as a showdown between her and the intruder. I did immediately notice/recognize the Midnight Mass book, so that's a cool Easter egg. I will probably end up watching this again with my wife soon as I think it's something she would enjoy.
Next up will likely be Oculus or Ouija: Origin of Evil. Haven't decided, yet.
Beyond that, I'm a bit nervous to check out Gerald's Game and it's always been the one that I just didn't see myself watching. To be completely transparent, sexual trauma has been present during several periods in my life and this movie seems to press on that topic a bit - so that has me a bit nervous but Flanagan tends to take very thoughtful approaches to some difficult topics. We'll see if I ended up watching it - I'm not quite sure, yet. Also - the references in this thread to the "hand scene" in this movie sound pretty gruesome... not sure I can handle that, lol.
Lastly - can't wait for Midnight Mass. Haven't been this excited for a show since... well, probably since Bly Manor!
Don't you mean... re-hush it? *rimshot*
Don't you mean... hand-le it? *rimshot*
I'm so sorry. Please don't threadban me.
Pumped for this.
Rewatching Hill House now, and (to me at least) it is just one of the saddest things ever. The juxtaposition of the kids vs the severely emotionally damaged adults is just almost too much for me at times.
Rewatching Hill House now, and (to me at least) it is just one of the saddest things ever. The juxtaposition of the kids vs the severely emotionally damaged adults is just almost too much for me at times.
I did say that I'm so sorry! What more do you want from me?! *runs away crying*
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Let me reveal what happens in the movie while trying to limit other spoilers as much as I can. That way you'll be able to make an informed decision about whether to watch Gerald's Game or not.
The main character, the one played by Carla Gugino, was sexually abused once by her father when she was around 12. You see a flashback where it happens (you don't see anything graphic or too explicit, but you know what happens) and others showing the subsequent emotional abuse from the father. The whole movie kind of revolves around the impacts it all had on her life.
And like you guessed, Flanagan's approach is very tactful, and everything has a real narrative purpose. It's never exploited for shock value. It's all very well done.
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Hill House is so emotional. The juxtaposition, like you say, is so masterfully done. This show is such a masterpiece.
I do also think the emotional aspect of Bly Manor – while executed completely differently than Hill House – is also very impactful.
I just can't wait for Midnight Mass.
You're out of control!! :p
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There's a cheaper dual pack of Hill House / Bly Manor being released in the middle of October if it's something that interests you :)
(Well, cheaper than buying the two series separately...)
Oh I see Doctor Sleep was removed from HBO Max, sigh. I love but hate this service now ha ha.
Eh screw it, I'll probably check it out from my local library since I be grabbing some other stuff for next month anyway. Hell I could probably do that with Hill House also, although I will keep that 2 series collection in mind.
Eh screw it, I'll probably check it out from my local library since I be grabbing some other stuff for next month anyway. Hell I could probably do that with Hill House also, although I will keep that 2 series collection in mind.
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The Hill House Blu-ray set doesn't have any behind-the-scenes extra or stuff like that, but three episodes (1, 5 and 10) have an Extended Director's Cut version. And they're all great. For example, the Director's Cut for episode 10 adds a lot of stuff to the visions the characters are having when trapped in the Red Room. I think they're really worth it.
Also, four episodes (1 extended, 5 extended, 6 and 10 extended) have a commentary track by Mike Flanagan. Flanagan's commentaries are always special because he's a huge fan of commentary tracks. So he really goes deep into the process of creating and making the show, the meanings behind a lot of what he did, etc. These commentaries are all wonderful. I used them quite a bit for the Hill House write-up in the OP.
I may have to get it then.
Also I'll be watching the first 2 episodes in 90 minutes!
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Me too! I can't wait! 6pm PT / 9pm ET
I don't think there is. What do you think would be the best Ratsky, having a separate OT of having the discussions here?
Sure! If RatskyWatsky thinks it's best to have separate OT, please go ahead :)
Hm, I always thought this was like a news and info thread? New threads will generally generate more discussion than old threads, so I think there would be more posts about the show if there was a separate OT just for Midnight Mass 🤔
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Makes sense! :)
Edit-
The Midnight Mass OT:
Midnight Mass |OT| The End of Everything (Mike Flanagan's new Netflix series)
This little island, so sleepy it might be dead. The isolated community on Crockett Island experiences miraculous events - and frightening omens – following the arrival of a charismatic, mysterious young priest. An original series from Mike Flanagan comes to Netflix on September, 24th. Watch...
www.resetera.com
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To those who could reserve a place for the two episode screener of Midnight Mass, the portal is now open! Just follow the link in the email they sent. They say the event will begin in ~30 mins.
Depending on the format they'll be doing this / if it's interesting / if I have time, I'll try to post a summary (or maybe even a transcript) of the closing Q&A event in the Midnight Mass OT. And my non-spoiler impressions of these first two episodes, of course :p
Depending on the format they'll be doing this / if it's interesting / if I have time, I'll try to post a summary (or maybe even a transcript) of the closing Q&A event in the Midnight Mass OT. And my non-spoiler impressions of these first two episodes, of course :p
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Thanks for this. I still haven't decided one way or another but this is helpful. In the meantime, I'll continue going through the rest of his filmography.
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No problem! Absolutely no pressure, but if you end up watching Gerald's Game please let me know. I would be very interested to know what you think.
In any case, let us know your thoughts about his other movies!
So, Ouija was pretty good. I liked the overall style of the movie including the retro introduction for Universal Studios and the burn marks on the film.
I really enjoy seeing a lot of the same actors in Flanagan's movies as I'm working my way through them, which is probably one of the big reasons I liked this movie. All 4 leads here - Alice, Lina, Doris, and Father Tom - are really good and fun to watch.
Some cool visuals, as well. Nothing special when Michael drops down from the second floor and hangs himself. However, it's pretty creepy when he momentarily comes back to life later and moves while still attached to the bedsheet or whatever he had around his neck.
Anyways, good movie that I definitely would've never watched if it hadn't been recommended here. Flanagan really owns the setting of the movie (1967) and I wouldn't be opposed to seeing more horror from that era. There's a charm/appeal to it.
I really enjoy seeing a lot of the same actors in Flanagan's movies as I'm working my way through them, which is probably one of the big reasons I liked this movie. All 4 leads here - Alice, Lina, Doris, and Father Tom - are really good and fun to watch.
Some cool visuals, as well. Nothing special when Michael drops down from the second floor and hangs himself. However, it's pretty creepy when he momentarily comes back to life later and moves while still attached to the bedsheet or whatever he had around his neck.
Anyways, good movie that I definitely would've never watched if it hadn't been recommended here. Flanagan really owns the setting of the movie (1967) and I wouldn't be opposed to seeing more horror from that era. There's a charm/appeal to it.
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It's surprisingly good, isn't it? And I'll repeat my warning: don't feel compelled to watch the first Ouija movie. It's somewhat fun to see the two stories being related, but the first one is... not good. Especially now that you saw Flanagan's sequel.
It's true that there's definitely a charm to the setting, I agree. And they all had so much fun doing this, it really shows and definitely also adds to the charm and appeal of the film.
It's interesting you watched Ouija before Oculus. Now when you'll watch Oculus you'll see the performance of a much younger Annalise Basso. I think it's interesting to contrast her performances in these two movies.
And I'll repost one of the trailers they released for this film because it's just so silly and fun!
I'll keep that in mind regarding the first Ouija movie. My wife starting watching all these movies with me and she was wanting to track down the first Ouija movie even though it wasn't directed by Flanagan. I'll tell her we should just pass on it.
I pretty much got through the rest of his filmography this week (had already seen Doctor Sleep but none of the others) aside from Gerald's Game which I think I will skip for the time being. A few brief thoughts below:
- I really liked Absentia. The acting was solid across the board except for maybe the Detective Mallory guy. I went into the movie almost completely blind and appreciated the mystery and general reveal towards the end. You can already see some of Flanagan's repeated themes here with the dog trade that gets somewhat reused in Oculus as well as him calling into question what you've seen based on other interpretations of the characters or by way of the supernatural or drugs. Still a bit hard to recommend this movie due to it's low budget nature but I found it very worthwhile.
- Before I Wake was just okay. I do appreciate that Flanagan dabbles in some PG13 horror like this (and Ouija) since I'm sometimes in the mood for lighter fare but this ultimately didn't make a huge impact. Again, he gets generally good performances from the actors and I did care about their journey. I thought the reveal about the Canker Man was strong and made a ton of sense but the ending with hints about the boy's powers and the futures of the people that were taken by the Canker Man just came across a bit clunky to me. Still a solid movie, though.
- Oculus was great fun. The leads were really great together and I enjoyed seeing some of the recycled themes from Absentia in a more fleshed-out form (the dog thing, questioning what you're seeing, etc). I like the parallel timeline structure and the payoff at the end worked for me, although my wife loathed it and I think it ruined the movie for her (lol).
Ive never seen a single one of Mike Flanagan's movies or shows, so figured I would start watching in order of when they were made. i could not find any of his student project movies. The Ghosts of Hamilton Street actually sounded like a fairly interesting premise, but I could not find it anywhere. not even a dvd for sale. So I started at Oculus Chapter 3 and Absentia tonight.
Oculus Chapter 3 was pretty interesting, not much to say about it really. The actor was decent and the dialogue was engaging.
I actually really liked Absentia. Could definitely feel the low budget, and I think it actually hurt it, but not much that they could do. I was not expecting it to be as morbid as it was. The last 15 mins or so were pretty shocking to me. I just wish there was more at the end and showing more.
And I laughed my ass off when it was over, I could only find it on Tubi, and it recommended and started autoplaying Shrek Forever After when Absentia was over.
Oculus Chapter 3 was pretty interesting, not much to say about it really. The actor was decent and the dialogue was engaging.
I actually really liked Absentia. Could definitely feel the low budget, and I think it actually hurt it, but not much that they could do. I was not expecting it to be as morbid as it was. The last 15 mins or so were pretty shocking to me. I just wish there was more at the end and showing more.
And I laughed my ass off when it was over, I could only find it on Tubi, and it recommended and started autoplaying Shrek Forever After when Absentia was over.
Better buckle up; you're just about to start the actual ride. Wheee!
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Yeah, I could never find his student movies either. And according to what Flanagan says about them, the lack of availability seems to be very much on purpose :p
And it's so cool you could watch the Oculus short before the feature film! I'm very interested in knowing how you'll compare them.
Did you spot the Oculus mirror in Absentia?
Looking forward to read your impressions about the rest of his work!
I had skimmed some of your reviews earlier in the thread and saw you mention it was in there, so I was keeping an eye out for it. Cool little detail.
Watched the first two episodes of Midnight Mass with the SO today; absolutely fantastic as always. <3
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I finished it today and I thought it was fantastic. Different in some ways, but a very logical evolution of Flanagan's work.
What really impressed me are all the absolutely jaw-dropping performances across the entire cast. Robert Longstreet, Samantha Sloyan, Kate Siegel, Alex Essoe, Zach Gilford, Hamish Linklater, Rahul Kohli... They are all so impressive.
I won't say more (for now, lol!), enjoy your time with the show!
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Cross-post from the Midnight Mass OT since it's really worth it.
There's an incredibly personal and touching essay written by Mike Flanagan that was published by Bloody Disgusting today. It's a fascinating read.
bloody-disgusting.com
There's an incredibly personal and touching essay written by Mike Flanagan that was published by Bloody Disgusting today. It's a fascinating read.
The Deeply Personal Horror of “Midnight Mass” – Guest Essay by Filmmaker Mike Flanagan
Midnight Mass has been part of me for so long, it’s difficult to remember when exactly it started. There has probably never been a project more personal to me. Its journey to the screen was very long, I’ve changed enormously since I began working on it (as has the world in general) and as of […]
bloody-disgusting.com
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And while I'm at it, let me cross-post the transcription I made of the Q&A event with Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy that took place after the two episode screener of Midnight Mass. I don't want to lose this.
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Oculus- Really liked this movie, I loved how he adapted the short film. My favorite moment in the short was when the character was going over the history of the mirror and its victims. Was really happy to see that back in the film. Going back and forth with the timelines was really interesting. Solid movie.
Hush- Holy shit. This is my favorite movie of his so far. Was on the edge of my seat the entire movie. I dont even really want to say anything about it for people who haven't seen it. Just go watch it if you haven't already. Haven't been that enthralled in a movie in a long time. 10/10
Before I Wake- Unfortunately was not for me. I wasn't too interested or engaged throughout. Its at the bottom of my list so far of his movies. The explanation at the end was ok, but kinda felt like a reach. It almost sort of reminded me more of a guillermo del toro movie. It was also odd
Next up for me is Ouija, but idk if i should watch the first one beforehand.
Hush- Holy shit. This is my favorite movie of his so far. Was on the edge of my seat the entire movie. I dont even really want to say anything about it for people who haven't seen it. Just go watch it if you haven't already. Haven't been that enthralled in a movie in a long time. 10/10
Before I Wake- Unfortunately was not for me. I wasn't too interested or engaged throughout. Its at the bottom of my list so far of his movies. The explanation at the end was ok, but kinda felt like a reach. It almost sort of reminded me more of a guillermo del toro movie. It was also odd
How everyone just got over the death instantly. Like the husband was a really nice character and then nobody really cared that he was gone it felt like.
Next up for me is Ouija, but idk if i should watch the first one beforehand.
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Yeah, I definitely get that. I think there are some very interesting elements and ideas in this movie, but ultimately I feel some of the themes were exploited a lot better in some of Flanagan's subsequent work. I think the Guillermo del Toro parallel you make is very interesting.
You can if you want, but it isn't necessary. The first one really is an aggressively average teen horror film. I personally found it very boring. And Flanagan's film is actually a prequel, so you won't miss anything by not watching the first one at all. Origin of Evil does have a "hidden" sequence at the end of the credits trying to tie the two movies together, though. So I would suggest watching Origin of Evil first, and if you're really intrigued by that sequence then watch the first one if you really feel like it. But be prepared for a very different kind of movie.
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That's right up his alley. I'm excited, especially after Midnight Mass.
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Finally got a chance to watch Oculus and Gerald's Game, even though I'm not much of a horror fan lol. Really enjoy Flanagan's work I guess :)
Oculus was okay but not really my cup of tea. Felt a lot more like a conventional horror flick compared to his Netflix series. Maybe a 7/10 for me? Ending was just really depressing lol
Gerald's Game though, I said Damn! What a film. Never read the novel but I'm a huge King fan and this was unexpectedly amazing. Apparently the ending is a source of contention but I really loved it - thought it was really powerful. Would've hated it if it turned out to be a dream or something lol. Easy 9/10 for me.
Suffice to say, Flanagan is one talented dude :D
Oculus was okay but not really my cup of tea. Felt a lot more like a conventional horror flick compared to his Netflix series. Maybe a 7/10 for me? Ending was just really depressing lol
Gerald's Game though, I said Damn! What a film. Never read the novel but I'm a huge King fan and this was unexpectedly amazing. Apparently the ending is a source of contention but I really loved it - thought it was really powerful. Would've hated it if it turned out to be a dream or something lol. Easy 9/10 for me.
Suffice to say, Flanagan is one talented dude :D