Acclaimed filmmaker Mike Flanagan has been trying to make his horror series “Midnight Mass” for years, and now finally it is set to arrive via Netflix later this month.
As part of a profile piece for Vanity Fair, Flanagan spoke about the new series and says it is the horror elements of the Bible, and the darker aspects of organised religion, that serves as a big inspiration for the series.
The outlet indicates the show explores zealotry and extremism perpetrated by those claiming to have the best of intentions. It also looks at how humans can distort concepts like faith, morality, forgiveness for personal reasons rather than any ‘greater good’ justification they may espouse. Of his inspirations and themes, Flanagan says:
“It’s impossible to separate the Bible as a book from horror literature. It has everything in there. It’s overtly and unapologetically espousing supernatural, horrific events left and right. Even the hero of the story – God, the embodiment of love – drowns the world when he gets angry enough in the Old Testament.
This isn’t about just Catholicism, it’s about the traditions of all of our religions, especially ones that reach back into the ancient world. The ancient world was a bloody and violent and terrifying place where we didn’t understand the nature or the weather, or whether we’d live through the night or through the season. And every single natural function of the planet could be made to feel like a supernatural attack.”
The series explores a small, isolated island community whose existing divisions are amplified by the return of a disgraced young man (Zach Gilford) and the arrival of a charismatic priest (Hamish Linklater).
When Father Paul’s appearance on Crockett Island coincides with unexplained and seemingly miraculous events, a renewed religious fervor takes hold of the community – but do these miracles come at a price?
“Midnight Mass” arrives on Netflix on September 24th.
