A remote island, a charismatic priest, and a haunting reimagining of vampire lore.
In short: Mike Flanagan’s seven-episode miniseries Midnight Mass explores faith, addiction, and grief within a struggling Catholic community. When a mysterious priest arrives on isolated Crockett Island, he brings miracles that divide the town. It is a deeply personal, slow-burn horror story that challenges the boundaries of traditional genre storytelling.
Created by Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass was a long-gestating passion project that the director initially envisioned as a novel and a film script before it finally reached screens on Netflix in September 2021. The series centers on Riley Flynn, a man returning to his hometown of Crockett Island after serving four years in prison for a fatal drunk-driving incident. His arrival coincides with that of Father Paul Hill, an enigmatic priest who replaces the aging Monsignor Pruitt and begins to revitalize the community’s flagging faith through seemingly miraculous deeds.
The production, which filmed in Vancouver between August and December 2020, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Flanagan utilized the setting to examine his own upbringing in the Catholic Church, as well as his experiences with sobriety and atheism. Each of the seven episodes is titled after a book of the Bible, and the narrative weaves these theological references into a story that critics have described as an ambitious meditation on guilt and free will. The series is notable for its unique take on the vampire genre, which departs from conventional tropes to focus on the psychological and spiritual toll of its supernatural events.
Critical reception was largely positive, with the series holding an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Hamish Linklater’s performance as Father Paul received widespread acclaim for its complexity and depth. However, the show also drew criticism for its pacing and heavy reliance on monologues, with some reviewers finding the philosophical dialogue exhausting. Despite these mixed responses regarding its script, the series has been praised for its fair treatment of religious characters and its nuanced representation of Muslim perspectives through the character of Sheriff Hassan, played by Rahul Kohli. Ultimately, the show stands as a polarizing but significant entry in modern horror television.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Midnight Mass (miniseries)
- Also: Wikidata — Midnight Mass · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-midnight-mass-miniseries.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in TV series · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
