The beloved genre of horror has allowed storytellers throughout time to express themselves by sharing bone-chilling tales. Very few artists in this genre are able to surpass their peers and achieve greatness; however, Mike Flanagan has done exactly that. All of his tales discuss the terrors of real life while including iconic horror tropes, such as vampires, cults and ghosts.
His storytelling techniques connect reality to the supernatural by portraying characters who face real-life issues, such as addiction, psychological trauma and guilt. Each ensemble experiences moments in which they are morally gray, showcasing how flawed humanity is. To emphasize these issues, Flanagan uses supernatural beings to portray life horrifically. These connections are what make him the king of modern horror.
“Oculus” was Flanagan’s first successful contribution to modern horror. This film revolves around a cursed mirror that distorts reality, driving the owners of the mirror insane. It utilizes themes of trauma and obsession which are interwoven with violent ghost stories. Well-timed jump scares create a tense atmosphere that keeps the audience gripped. Flanagan’s masterful blend of realism and horror in this film lays the foundation for a future full of successful projects. A couple of other movies that reflect Flanagan’s style are “Gerald’s Game” and “Doctor Sleep.”
Flanagan blends painful themes of reality like death and internalized pain with horror in each of his series. By doing so he further exemplifies his expertise in the genre. “The Haunting of Hill House” discusses themes of depression and grief while telling the story of a haunted house that drives residents out of their minds. There are equal parts of tragedy and horror within this series, making it one of his most valuable contributions to modern horror.
“The Haunting of Bly Manor” is another ghost story by Flanagan that focuses more on topics such as self control and escapism. These themes occur as the living attempt to protect themselves from violent ghosts that infect their English countryside manor. To make these series even more compelling to horror fans, Flanagan drew inspiration from popular horror novels in order to create both of these intriguing stories. “The Haunting of Hill House” is inspired by Shirley Jackson’s novel of the same name, and “The Haunting of Bly Manor” draws its source material from “The Turn of The Screw” by Henry James.
Flanagan also wrote “Midnight Mass”and “The Fall of the House of Usher,” both of which were critically acclaimed. “Midnight Mass,” which holds a score of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, gives a commentary on the deceptions of religion, using a horrific vampire as an analogy of deception.
“The Fall of the House of Usher” on the other hand holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This project was inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe, tells the story of a rich family forced to pay for its past mistakes. Both of these stories teach important lessons but still prioritize horror elements.
Flanagan is a major player in the world of modern horror. His terrifying slow-burns will mark him as one of the best horror storytellers of all time. His creativity will eternally captivate horror fans, especially those intrigued by stories that meld reality and fiction.
