It’s a golden era for horror right now, from long-running franchises to groundbreaking concepts, the horror scene is alive and well. One of the most popular luminaries of the field is Mike Flanagan, and his newest greenlit project is tackling the iconic works of one of the most influential artists in horror history.
Mike Flanagan is a one-man filmmaking army, editing, writing, and directing each of his six feature films. His first proper horror film was 2011’sAbsentia,which was funded via Kickstarter and found a home on Netflix, starting a hard-forged bond between the creator and the platform that has remained to this day. Many of his films are underrated classics, like 2016’sBefore I WakeorHush.He often works with adaptation, like his two Stephen King-based filmsGerald’s GameandDoctor Sleep.Though his films are excellent, he has gained more renown for his limited series, all three of which were released on Netflix to great acclaim. After the excellentMidnight Mass,Flanagan and Netflix announced their next collaboration,The Fall of the House of Usher,an anthology of adaptations of the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
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Edgar Allan Poe lived from 1809 to 1849, a brief life in which he crafted 69 original poems and one full novel. His work now defines the gothic aesthetic, but his work trends into countless other genres, some of which he somewhat invented. It is argued that he popularized the detective story, his works such asThe Murders in the Rue Morguewere a substantial inspirationon Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Poe’s work was middlingly popular in his day, at least until the release of his most iconic piece, 1845’sThe Raven.It was an instant success and catapulted him into the high echelon of American authors, but sadly he didn’t live much longer to enjoy it. A hugely influential figure in several genres, but direct adaptations of his work have a mixed history.
There are over a hundred adaptations of Poe’s poems and short stories, starting shortly after film began being produced and continuing into the modern day. Filmmakers from Roger Corman to Lucio Fulci have taken their shot at Poe stories, to wildly varied results. Corman’s filmsHouse of Usher, Pit and the Pendulum,andMasque of the Red Deathare likely the most iconic Poe adaptations to date. Each of them was releasedin the early ‘60swith horror legend Vincent Price starring, making them hugely popular. Corman later abandoned direct adaptation of Poe’s work, becoming sick of being shackled to the author. Some of his later takes on Poe are deliberate parodies or just slapping names on unrelated films.
Decades later, the method of adaptation shifted slightly. There are countless films that reference Poe, but direct adaptations are a little fewer and further between. Those that have been released recently are often short films, independent pieces, and not theatrically released. Rarely are any of the lesser-known works touched today, it’s mostly justThe RavenandThe Cask of Amontillado.One standout disaster is 2012’sThe Raven.This film is not a direct adaptation of any one story, least of all the one it’s named after, instead it’s inspired by Poe’s work. It’sa murder mystery starringPoe as its main character, dramatizing his mysterious final days. This is one of the only theatrical feature film adaptations of Poe released in the past decades.
Little is known about the upcomingFall of the House of Usher.It will be a limited series in the model of Flanagan’s previous threeand his upcoming one. The series is reported to be an adaptation of several Poe stories, presumably also including the one it’s named after. One could speculate which other pieces Flanagan might try his hand at, some of which are more obvious than others.The Fall of the House of Usheris the tale ofa tragic family manor, consumed with secrets and gradually destroyed by the horrors contained within. The elements that carry the stories are very reminiscent of Flanagan’s other work, gothic set design, family drama, and ethereal horror. The two artists have a lot in common.
Flanagan has demonstrated a gift for adaptation, as well as for original storytelling.BothHauntingseries and severalof Flanagan’s films are adaptations of novels, some of which were truly challenging tasks.Doctor Sleep,for example, tasked Flanagan with creating a sequel to one of the most beloved films of all time and an adaptation of a novel with a completely different plot, fusing Kubrick and King with his own work to create something brilliant. The fact that he mastered that piece implies that he can adapt anything, but Poe’s work is actually a fairly easy leap for him to make.
Flanagan has delved into many of the same concepts, themes, and genres as Poe, while also proving himself a master ofthe on-screen adaptation. Fans of either artist should be waiting with bated breath for news ofThe Fall of the House of Usher.
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