Mike Flanagan wrote and directed one of the best horror stories on film, the spectacular remake of "The Haunting of Hill House" which functioned both as a horror story and as a touching, poignant, heartbreaking psychological study of a damaged family. He also wrote and directed the follow up called "The Haunting of Bly Manor," and the modern vampire/demon series "Midnight Mass," as well as directing "Dr. Sleep," the sequel to Kubrick's horror masterpiece "The Shining." So the man has some cred.
For his most recent creation, he took the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, and cleverly strung them together in a continuous, single, new narrative set in 2023 while retaining the underlying action of each story. And it is a stunning, taut exercise in storytelling with an exceptional cast. Flanagan has a sort of repertory of actors he likes to use and many of them who have been with him since "Haunting of Hill House" are here back for more, along with some expert new faces like Mark Hamill (yes, that Mark Hamill, doing a voice), and the exquisite Mary McDonald who literally can do no wrong.
The overall quality of the series is immaculate and like "Haunting of Hill House," "Usher" has a deeper meaning that goes beyond horror, addressing the issues of wealth and greed, unchecked ambition, consumption, addiction, ego, family secrets, grief, and transgression. It is as close to a perfect cinematic experience as you can get.
Recommend? Absolutely. If you're a horror fan, you will appreciate the complexity. If you're not, watch it for the story and not the gore...you won't be sorry.
https://www.netflix.com/title/81414665
https://www.netflix.com/title/81414665
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