I’m still reeling from watching all 7 episodes of Midnight Mass over the last few days. I think it may be one of the best televised dramas I’ve ever seen.
Midnight Mass is a Netflix limited series (i.e., a 7-hour movie split into separate chapters) directed by Mike Flanagan, who is absolutely brilliant. I love long, uncut shots in movies, and Midnight Mass is full of them. This show must have required incredible dedication from the entire cast and crew–can you imagine learning 10 minutes of nonstop dialogue for a scene with no room for error?
I really don’t want to give anything away, because the show presents dozens of mysteries–big and small–that I don’t want to spoil. The most bare-bones description I can give is that Midnight Mass is about a tiny island (just over 100 residents) in modern times. It’s character driven, heavy on thought-provoking dialogue, and it delves deep into religious topics in a rather fascinating way.
It’s also quite creepy. I went into the show thinking that it was going to be scary, like a horror movie, but I think “creepy” is the right word. Yet amidst the creepiness are some incredibly uplifting, heartwarming moments and stunning cinematography. The closest comparison I can think of is the movie Midsommar.
While I’m not sure that Flanagan’s other two Netflix series are for me, I loved Midnight Mass and can’t wait to see what he creates next (and I don’t want to know anything about whatever it is before watching).
What did you think of Midnight Mass?
Jamey, I couldn’t agree more about Midnight Mass and also finished it over the course of a couple days. I also think creepy is the more appropriate word to describe it.
Did you watch Haunting on Hill House or are you under the assumption that it isn’t for you? I only ask cause it is also an incredible story. It is absolutely scarier, but that isn’t what drives the show. If you are up for it I would encourage you give it a chance!
Aaron: I watched a clip from that show a while ago and appreciated the cinematography, but I wasn’t sure it was for me. Does it have the layers of mystery that Midnight Mass does?
I’m not the original commenter, but it’s also a mike Flanagan production and feels very similar. I watched Haunting first and generally don’t like scary things but I was so intrigued I kept watching. And then watched midnight mass and loved it.
I’m not sure I know what your typical show is, but I would not have expected this! I really, really enjoyed this show too, though I can’t say I remember a single long cut. What I found myself thinking about long after the show was over is this question: “What might you accept into your life if you’re looking for miracles?” Midnight Mass’s commentary on faith kept me gripped.
Joe: This definitely isn’t my typical show! 🙂 That’s a fantastic question. I think the questions/discussions from the show that will linger for me the most are those about death.
Jamey: the show is certainly in the horror drama, but it’s more of a story of a family. Certainly lots of mystery as you slowly get more information about each family member as the show goes. The character development is really great. I will say there are a lot of heavy topics through the show so be prepared for that if you are going to give it a try. As much as I liked Midnight Mass I think I enjoyed Haunting of Hill House just a little bit more. Bly Manor wasn’t quite what I expected.
Loved it. Took the idea of a certain religion being a cannibalistic zombie-worshipping death cult and just ran with it!
If you liked Midnight Mass, you should definitely watch The Haunting of Hill House, because it is way better. It’s a story intercut between when the family was there, while the parents were renovating the house to flip it, and when the kids are grown. It’s almost a time travel story, with set ups and pay offs over that time period. Incredible story telling, and great performances.
Thanks! Perhaps I will need to give it a try too.
You can certainly turn it off if you find it’s not for you. 🙂
I will have to put this on my list to watch. Your comment about “long shots” reminded me of a video I saw about the editing and length of shots in the movie “There Will Be Blood.” It was a fascinating way to deconstruct a film, and see how the editing helps to create to mood or feeling of a movie. Check out the you tube video “One Way to Deconstruct There Will Be Blood” by Nerdwriter1.