Mike Flanagan has developed a reputation as a great horror filmmaker (and TV creator) via movies such as ‘Oculus’, ‘Gerald’s Game’ and ‘Doctor Sleep’ and shows including ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ and ‘Midnight Mass’.
Until recently, he’s been under a big deal with Netflix, where his TV output has been based. But last December, he and producing partner Trevor Macy made a move to Amazon Studios.
Yet the Netflix deal still covers his most recent limited series, ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, which finds Flanagan –– who has adapted Steven King a few times –– here drawing from Edgar Allan Poe’s work.
What’s the story of ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’?
Carla Gugino as Verna in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.
Ruthless siblings Roderick (Bruce Greenwood) and Madeline (Mary McDonnell) Usher have built Fortunato Pharmaceuticals into an empire of wealth, privilege and power.
But past secrets come to light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying at the hands of a mysterious woman (Carla Gugino) from their youth.
The plot for this one takes its inspiration from various Poe stories and poems, including ‘The Pit and the Pendulum,’ ‘The Masque of the Red Death’, ‘Annabel Lee’ and more, weaved in either as narrative elements, settings or character names.
Related Article: ‘Doctor Sleep’ Director Mike Flanagan Confirms Movie’s R Rating
Who else stars in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’?
(L to R) Carl Lumbly as C. Auguste Dupin, Nicholas Lea as Judge John Neal, and Mark Hamill as Arthur Pym in Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.
The cast for Flanagan’s latest also includes Carl Lumbly, Mark Hamill, Michael Trucco, T’Nia Miller, Paola Nuñez, Henry Thomas, Kyleigh Curran, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, Sauriyan Sapkota, Zach Gilford, Willa Fitzgerald, Katie Parker, Malcolm Goodwin, Crystal Balint, Aya Furukawa, Daniel Jun, Matt Biedel, Ruth Codd, Annabeth Gish.
Some of them, such as Siegel (who happens to be Flanagan’s wife), Codd, Thomas and Gilford are Flanagan regulars who have popped in various shows.
Flanagan is directing half of the series’ eight episodes, while Michael Fimognari handles the others.
Here’s what Gugino told Netflix about the series and her character:
“It’s bats**t crazy in the best possible way. It has quite a lot of very dark humor, but also really touches the soul. There is a fantastical supernatural element to the story, and she is the manifestation of that. You could say she’s the executor of fate or the executor of karma.”
The Frank Langella issue
Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher in Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix.
‘Usher’ became somewhat more notable last year when, approximately halfway through filming, Frank Langellawas fired from the role of the older Roderick for inappropriate behavior and comments.
Greenwood, who had worked with Flanagan on ‘Doctor Sleep’ and ‘Gerald’s Game’ (and makes a cameo as a ghost in the background of ‘The Haunting of Hill House’) took over the role.
‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ will land on Netflix on October 12th.
Mary McDonnell as Madeline Usher in Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix.
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