When you're looking for a good horror show, who better to turn to than Mike Flanagan? Time and time again, the talented director has delivered haunting narratives that not only frighten but also touch the heart, blending supernatural terror with emotional depth that leaves you reeling long after the final episode. But while I've watched all of his Netflix series and enjoyed each one, there’s only one that broke me in a way I didn’t expect.
While his other works had already proven his knack for emotional storytelling, this particular show reached a level of intensity and vulnerability that was unlike anything I had experienced before. It wasn’t just the supernatural elements that unsettled me, nor was it the eerie moments of terror. It was the raw emotional depth that took me by surprise. No, I'm not talking about The Haunting of Hill House, although that show certainly left its mark with its heartbreaking portrayal of family trauma.
I’m talking about The Haunting of Bly Manor. Victoria Pedretti took on a new role, playing Dani Clayton, a young woman with a painful past who is hired as an au pair for two orphaned children at Bly Manor, a remote estate in the English countryside. But shortly after her arrival, she begins to sense that there’s something deeply wrong with the manor. It's haunted by various ghosts who are tethered to the manor’s tragic history. But don't go thinking this is just another typical ghost story.
This horror show goes beyond the usual scares and supernatural thrills. It took the typical formula of ghosts and hauntings and transformed it into something much more profound. It wasn’t just about the spirits that lingered in the shadows of Bly Manor. It was about the ghosts we carry within us, the unresolved grief, guilt, and love that refuse to let go. The Haunting of Bly Manor explored the idea that our pasts don’t just fade away with time. They become part of us, haunting us until we confront them.
This is something the protagonist, Dani, struggles with throughout the series. Dani arrives at Bly Manor carrying the weight of her past, specifically, the tragic loss of her fiancé and the guilt she feels over his death. She is not just escaping a physical place but also trying to outrun the emotional trauma that still lingers inside her. The vivid memories of the accident that claimed her fiancé’s life follow her, manifesting in her nightmares and shaping her instinct to keep others at a distance. This is especially evident in her interactions with Jamie (Amelia Eve), the manor's groundskeeper, who later becomes her love interest.
It is through her relationship with Jamie that Dani slowly learns to open up and face her grief. Jamie becomes not only a source of comfort and support but also a catalyst for Dani’s journey toward healing. But just when everything is looking up, the rug is pulled out from under Dani when she realizes that she cannot escape the ghostly legacy of the manor. Without spoiling anything in case you haven't watched yet, Dani is forced to make a heartbreaking choice that ultimately seals her fate, and viewers are left bawling their eyes out over a love story that’s as tragic as it is unforgettable.
"For the rest of her days, the gardener would gaze into reflections, hoping to see her face. Her own lady in the lake. She'd leave the door open at night, just a crack, should she ever come back. Waiting for her lover to return." For the people who watched the entire show, I'm sure this voiceover from the series finale shattered you just as deeply as it did me. Then, that final scene, where a hand rests on the shoulder of one of the main characters. I won’t spoil anything, but for those who’ve seen it, you know exactly what I’m referring to. Cue the tears! That moment still hits me hard every time I think about it.
I definitely went in thinking I would be watching a chilling, atmospheric tale, but what I got was something so much deeper. What I got was an emotional rollercoaster about love, loss, and letting go. Thanks, Mike Flanagan. You managed to craft a story once again that leaves a lasting imprint.
All nine episodes of The Haunting of Bly Manor are streaming on Netflix right now.