Dark Netflix Horror Thriller Will Make You Afraid Of The Dark

What is Midnight Mass about? I’m loathe to give many spoilers for this amazing show, so here are the basics: everything takes place on the fictional Crockett Island, and we initially follow a man who returns home after getting released from prison, having previously killed a young woman in a drunk-driving accident.

He is looking to atone and the arrival of a charismatic priest to this faithful community seems to be just the ticket, but even as the priest begins working literal miracles, it becomes clear that this may be the work of something far darker and more dangerous than God.

Part of what makes Midnight Mass so great is its killer cast, with Zach Gilford playing the troubled man looking for atonement and Kate Siegel playing an old flame offering the comfort that he needs.

Hamish Linklater plays the new priest shaking up this community and Samantha Sloyan plays a dangerously zealous church member and assistant.

Annabeth Gish plays a doctor who is understandably skeptical of the miracles in the community and Rahul Kohli plays a Muslim sheriff who has to constantly fight for the respect of this very Catholic island community.

Those are just a few of the talented actors showrunner Mike Flanagan has assembled to bring his masterpiece to life. For horror heads, Flanagan needs no introduction: he has directed great big-screen scary films like Oculus and Doctor Sleep.

However, he is arguably better known for his spooky television shows, including The Haunting of Hill House and The Fall of the House of Usher.

While Flanagan pours his heart into all of his projects, he has previously admitted that Midnight Mass is a “deeply personal” story that is influenced by everything from his previous alcoholism to his early upbringing in the Catholic Church.

Frankly, that personal passion is quite apparent in the finished series, one which explores themes touching on faith, redemption, and love in a powerful way.

As the friend who introduced me to the series once said, it’s a horror show that can be completely captivating with nothing more than scenes of two characters having an in-depth conversation.

Generally speaking, critics agree with that assessment: on Rotten Tomatoes, Midnight Mass currently has an 87 percent critical rating. Critics generally praised the show for its powerful performances and understated direction which allows the themes of grief and faith to shine through even the bleakest episodes.

And while the seven-episode series is admittedly a slow burn, the narrative payoffs (each crazier than the one before) are completely worth the wait.

As for me, I’m a true believer (as it were) of Midnight Mass. This was my first experience with Mike Flanagan’s style of storytelling (I know, I know, they’re gonna take my horror card away), and I was completely blown away by a show that could be filled with so much style and substance.

I haven’t been excited about a horror show since NBC’s Hannibal, and with respect to Dr. Lecter, this show gives fans plenty more to (ahem) chew on by the time it’s over. 

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If I sound like a complete fanboy of this show, that’s because I am, but you don’t have to listen to me or the adoring critics. Instead, you should make up your own mind about Midnight Mass by streaming it on Netflix today. For maximum effect, stream one episode a day around midnight, but don’t blame me when this series inevitably makes you terrified of the dark.