When Mike Flanagan signed his multi-year overall television deal with Netflix, horror fans got to see the release of a bunch of his new horror shows on the streaming platform over the course of five years. During this time period, he pretty much dominated Netflix's horror lineup with his iconic series such as The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Sadly, Flanagan decided to take his talents elsewhere by leaving Netflix after his deal ended and signed a new overall TV deal with Amazon in December 2022. Although we were sad to learn of his move, it seemed to be the best decision for him and his team, and we can't wait to see what new horror content he creates and releases for the streaming service.
Here at 1428 Elm, we thought we'd have a little fun by ranking all five of Flanagan's Netflix horror shows from worst to best. Where do you think your favorite landed in our ranking?
5. The Midnight Club
The only Flanagan Netflix horror series in this ranking that I didn't enjoy at all is The Midnight Club. I'm sorry, but this show was a complete snoozefest. It was incredibly hard to get through all 10 hour-long episodes. What this horror series struggled with was slow pacing, an inconsistent plot and tone, poorly developed characters, and a lack of real scares.
When you think of Flanagan's previous Netflix horror shows, there were many truly chilling moments spread throughout and the jump scares were actually effective. The Midnight Club didn't deliver that same level of intense, heart-pounding horror, and there was a strong reliance on cheap jump scares, which was really disappointing. Honestly, I wasn't surprised that this show was given the boot after only one season. It just didn't live up to the high standards set by Flanagan's earlier projects.
Here's the show's logline via Netflix Media Center:
"At a hospice for terminally ill young adults, eight patients come together every night at midnight to tell each other stories — and make a pact that the next of them to die will give the group a sign from the beyond."
4. The Haunting of Bly Manor
Following the massive success of The Haunting of Hill House, horror fans were really looking forward to its follow-up The Haunting of Bly Manor. And let me tell you, this show did not disappoint. Was it as good as The Haunting of Hill House? No, in my opinion, but it was still just as entertaining!
Many of the cast members from The Haunting of Hill House returned for this horror project but played completely different characters. From its gripping storytelling to its shocking twists and turns and strong performances, The Haunting of Bly Manor deserves a place on any true horror fan's watchlist.
Here's the show's synopsis via Netflix:
"After an au pair’s tragic death, Henry Wingrave (Henry Thomas) hires a young American nanny (Victoria Pedretti) to care for his orphaned niece and nephew (Amelie Bea Smith, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) who reside at Bly Manor with the estate’s chef Owen (Rahul Kohli), groundskeeper Jamie (Amelia Eve) and housekeeper, Mrs. Grose (T’Nia Miller). But all is not as it seems at the manor, and centuries of dark secrets of love and loss are waiting to be unearthed in this chilling gothic romance. At Bly Manor, dead doesn’t mean gone."
3. The Fall of the House of Usher
The last horror series under Flanagan's deal with Netflix was The Fall of the House of Usher. This show not only did a great job of adapting and modernizing some of Edgar Allan Poe’s stories, but it also excelled at building tension, keeping viewers hooked and constantly on edge with its well-timed reveals and suspenseful cliffhangers.
Here's the synopsis for The Fall of the House of Usher via Netflix:
"Ruthless siblings Roderick and Madeline 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 from their youth."
2. Midnight Mass
What initially caught my attention about Midnight Mass was its intriguing premise, but as I began to watch it, I found myself also taken away by the show's powerful performances and visually stunning cinematography. However, I must say that this series isn't for people who like fast-paced shows. Midnight Mass is known for its slow-burn storytelling. The tension builds with each episode as mysteries unfold, keeping you captivated and eager to find out what happens next. Overall, it makes for a truly memorable viewing experience.
Netflix provided us with the official synopsis for Midnight Mass.
"From The Haunting of Hill House creator Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass tells the tale of 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?"
1. The Haunting of Hill House
Let's talk about the show that started it all, aka Flanagan's best horror series on Netflix. The Haunting of Hill House is the type of show that, no matter how many times you watch, it still manages to captivate you. Each rewatch is as impactful as the first and uncovers new details that you might have missed before.
While it uses slow-burn tension and psychological horror as its primary tools to build suspense, the few jump scares spread throughout are effective when used. Remember that terrifying jump scare where a ghostly Nell suddenly appears in the car between her sisters Theo and Shirley? I still get goosebumps just thinking about that scene!
Here's what The Haunting of Hill House is about via Netflix:
"The Haunting of Hill House is a modern reimagining of Shirley Jackson’s legendary novel of the same name, about five siblings who grew up in the most famous haunted house in America. Now adults, they’re reunited by the suicide of their youngest sister, which forces them to finally confront the ghosts of their own pasts… some which lurk in their minds... and some which may really be lurking in the shadows of the iconic Hill House."