The Fall of the House of Usher is the latest Mike Flanagan horror series to arrive on Netflix, following series like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. This series couldn’t come at a better time of year and it is perfect for the Halloween season; it is also one the best series I’ve watched on Netflix this year since Beef. Flanagan has proven himself to be today’s master of horror, and The Fall of the House of Usher may just be his magnum opus.
The Plot
The series is based initially on the short story of the same name by Edgar Allen Poe, but it also weaves together other stories from Poe like The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven. It follows the wealthy and powerful Usher family, led by twins Roderick and Madeline Usher (played by Bruce Greenwood and Mary McDonnell). The series focuses on their fall from grace as Roderick’s corrupt pharmaceutical company comes under investigation by the government. Along with that, Roderick’s seven children begin dying mysterious deaths and his and Madeline’s past comes back to haunt them and make them face what they’ve done to get where they are today.
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The Critique
As someone who is still working their way into watching more horror, I thought this was an absolutely brilliant series. Flanagan’s appreciation and respect for horror is evident throughout and the way he took Edgar Allen Poe’s work and plopped it right into 2023 was genius. There are numerous pop culture references that don’t feel forced and it lends to helping the Usher family be believable in existing in our world today.
The one worry I had was that the series would be filled with jump scares, which I’m not the biggest fan of. However, while there were some, it wasn’t as many as I anticipated. There are also moments of horror that are more psychological than jump scare, which I appreciated. The Usher family is in many ways responsible for its own downfall, especially in the way some of the children die. I won’t spoil any of the deaths, though some of them are far more gruesome than others, so you should be prepared for that.
Frank Langella was originally cast as Roderick Usher and was recast with Bruce Greenwood taking on the role. After watching the series, I can’t imagine anyone else playing Roderick. It’s a career-best performance for Greenwood in my opinion; Roderick is cold and calculating while having love for his family (some more than others). Mary McDonnell also gives a fantastic performance as Madeline Usher, who in many ways has more power in the company than Roderick does.
While Roderick and Madeline are the main characters, Carla Gugino is the true star of the show as Verna. She is absolutely brilliant and entrancing every moment she’s on screen. I won’t say much more about her character, but the performance she gives is multifaceted and amazing. The supporting cast is fantastic as well, with Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli, and Mark Hamill being the standouts for me. The rest of the Usher siblings are wonderful as well, but Siegel and Kohli are just a step above them. Hamill plays the Usher family lawyer Arthur Pym, a man who is just as cold and calculating as the Usher twins, if not more so.
In Conclusion
Overall, The Fall of the House of Usher is a must-watch when it arrives on Netflix on October 12th. It’s a macabre masterclass that pays respect to the incredible work of Edgar Allen Poe while transporting it into the 21st century. Flanagan has created an incredible work of horror that features career-best performances from Bruce Greenwood and Carla Gugino. It’s something you have to see to believe and is perfect for this Halloween season.
Rating: 10/10
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