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Mike Flanagan - Blog Posts
I’m never going to be over how Midnight Mass literally portrayed the death of an entire community that was already slowly dying, and the moment we finally felt relief and knew it was all over, was when the disabled girl couldn’t feel her legs anymore
Mike Flanagan will make a series about a haunted house, childhood trauma, add in some long ass monologues and a couple of lesbians for good measure, cast his wife in a main role, and I will go crazy Every. Single. Time.
My thoughts on
The Midnight Club (2022)
I just finished watching The Midnight Club last night and couldn't help feel how it was like a beautiful work of art left unfinished. When I started the show, I was really impressed by the way the foundation was laid but several things were left unexplained but we'll get there later.
First off, let's talk about the true essence of the show; the stories. While I absolutely loved the way the characters expressed their unconscious/concious desires through the stories knowing that they wouldn't come true, that the future they paint will continue to remain trapped behind words, I couldn't help but feel that we could've been introduced to this world in a better way.
By the time we learn about Natsuki's story regarding the Japanese myth, it's already progressed into a "frenzy of jump scares" which completely ruined the atmosphere for me and I found myself wanting it to be over as soon as possible.
The next thing I wish to address is Ilonka's character. She is a complex teen who is unable to accept the terminal nature of her life and that she cannot be saved. Initially, I liked her drive to survive but as the episodes carry on, we see her completely lose herself in the desperate attempt to grasp what's left of her life. Her character itself had multiple flaws which were further enhanced by the fact that so many things about her were left unexplained.
Why was Ilonka having visions?
Was it because of her medication? Maybe. But it could also, be due to her being most open to the spiritual aspect of the place. She openly sought to achieve wellness through the nature and was engrossed by the past which might've manifested in the form of visions. Maybe her sharing these thoughts with Kevin was the reason for his own visions.
Another aspect of the show I really wanted to see were the stories coming together in the end (as we had in the haunting series) but was really underwhelmed. There were too many plot holes which raised a lot of questions.
Who is Dr. Georgina Stanton?
In the final episode, her ties to the Paragon are hinted at. I personally found myself drawing ties between her and Regina Ballard (Aceso). Regina, upon performing the ritual had lost her hair which kinda made me think if Stanton had also tried to do the same for her son (resulting in the loss of her hair, being the only survivor).
Who are the old ghosts?
This really got me scratching my head finding answers. Maybe they're yet again manifestations of the negative emotions arising in the kids but I'm not sure. Also, how is Kevin connected to the old woman and why does Ilonka keep seeing her where Kevin is?
All these are left unanswered which really irks the viewers to know more.
(I have not read the books and all my interpretations are solely based on the show)
Happy Birthday @flanaganfilm! Thank you for all the incredible gifts you've given us fans throughout your career!
"Sparrows... In the Bible it says, "The sparrow will not fall to the ground, not even a sparrow, without God knowing." He feels every death."
One of the best scenes in the show-- like what?? A waterfall?-- thats so powerful???
Midnight Mass studies
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What each Mike Flanagan horror series represents: The Haunting of Hill House (2018) The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) Midnight Mass (2021) The Midnight Club (2022) The Fall of The House of Usher (2023)
