All were well-received, but Midnight Mass stands out as Flanagan's only original story amongst the bunch. Midnight Mass centers on Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford), a young man who returns to his hometown of Crockett Island after completing a four-year prison sentence for a fatal drunk-driving incident. Riley's arrival coincides with that of Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater), a charismatic new priest who reinvigorates the town's lapsing faith, only for a series of increasingly disturbing supernatural events to occur.
Flanagan has called Midnight Mass a passion project that grapples directly with his own personal demons surrounding the Catholic Church and his sobriety from alcohol. Not only does this make Midnight Mass stand out amongst his Netflix titles, but also Flanagan's upcoming movies and TV shows, which are all based on IP. If you're looking for a Flanagan series to binge before his Prime Video debut, Carrie, releases on October 7, Midnight Mass makes the perfect rewatch.
Mike Flanagan's Midnight Mass Is Great The First Time, But Even Better The Second
Those who love the dread-inducing element of the horror genre absolutely must watch Midnight Mass for a second time. In its first viewing, Midnight Mass is as much a mystery as it is a horror, with audiences trying to understand and figure out exactly what is going on and who Father Hill is. Knowing what's coming in the end makes Midnight Mass even more terrifying.
A rewatch will also help viewers appreciate Midnight Mass's slower pacing. When it first came out, Midnight Mass was criticized for what many felt was plodding storytelling, especially compared to Flanagan's previous series. However, upon learning everything about who the Midnight Mass characters are, these dense philosophical monologues and conversations feel less like barriers to the show's thrills and chills and more like in-depth, fascinating character studies. Character work has always been a strength of Flanagan's, and he serves his creations well in Midnight Mass.
Is Midnight Mass Mike Flanagan's Best TV Show?
Midnight Mass is certainly Flanagan's most personal show and his biggest creative swing, but it's hard to beat his OG series, The Haunting of Hill House. From a purely critical standpoint, Midnight Mass is his fourth-best show on Rotten Tomatoes at 87%, while The Haunting of Hill House claims the top spot at 93%.
Mike Flanagan TV Shows Rotten Tomatoes Scores
|
Title
|
Critics' Score
|
Audience Score
|
|
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
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93%
|
91%
|
|
The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
|
88%
|
69%
|
|
Midnight Mass (2021)
|
87%
|
79%
|
|
The Midnight Club (2022)
|
85%
|
55%
|
|
The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)
|
91%
|
81%
|
|
Carrie (2026)
|
84%*
|
N/A
|
|
* pre-release
|
There's also the horror factor. As mentioned, Midnight Mass is a masterclass at inducing dread, but that only really comes through on a rewatch. Not everybody revisits TV series after they've seen them once, and Midnight Mass's philosophical scenes and overarching mystery can serve as a barrier to genuine scares in a one-and-done viewing. In contrast, The Haunting of Hill House is straight-up, bone-chilling, ghost story horror from start to finish.
Ultimately, art is subjective, and everyone will have their own opinion about what Flanagan's best series is. However, if the question becomes, "What is Mike Flanagan's best TV show to rewatch?", it's hard to imagine any but Midnight Mass claiming the top spot. So, no matter where Midnight Mass lands in your personal Flanaverse power rankings, it's a show worth paying attention to — more than once.
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Birthdate
May 20, 1978
Birthplace
Salem, Massachusetts, United States
Height
6 feet 0 inches
Notable Projects
Hush, Doctor Sleep, Gerald's Game
Professions
Filmmaker, Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Editor
Discover the latest news and filmography for Mike Flanagan, known for Doctor Sleep and The Haunting of Hill House.
English (US) ·