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Midnight Mass (miniseries)

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Midnight Mass
Genre
Created byMike Flanagan
Directed byMike Flanagan
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes7
Production
Executive producers
  • Jeff Howard
  • Trevor Macy
  • Mike Flanagan
Running time60–71 minutes
Production companyIntrepid Pictures
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)

Midnight Mass is an American supernatural horror streaming television miniseries created and directed by Mike Flanagan for Netflix. The cast features Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, Hamish Linklater, Rahul Kohli and Henry Thomas. The series is centered around an isolated island community that experiences supernatural events after the arrival of a mysterious priest.[1] The series was released on Netflix on September 24, 2021[2] to critical acclaim, with praise for the performances (particularly Linklater's and Sloyan's), themes, and Flanagan's direction.

Synopsis

Midnight Mass tells the tale of a small, isolated island community whose existing divisions are amplified by the return of a disgraced young man and the arrival of a charismatic priest. When Father Paul's appearance on Crockett Island coincides with unexplained and seemingly miraculous events, a renewed religious fervor takes hold of the community – but do these miracles come at a price?

—Netflix[3][4][5]

Cast

The cast for Midnight Mass consists of:[6][7]

Main

  • Kate Siegel as Erin Greene, Riley's childhood sweetheart who is now a schoolteacher on Crockett Island and expecting a child.
  • Zach Gilford as Riley Flynn, a former venture capitalist who returns to his hometown of Crockett Island after spending four years in prison for a drunk driving accident that resulted in a woman's death.
  • Kristin Lehman as Annie Flynn, Riley's devout, forgiving mother.
  • Samantha Sloyan as Bev Keane, a zealous and overbearing member of St. Patrick's Church, and an influential figure in the community.
  • Igby Rigney as Warren Flynn, Riley's teenage brother who works as an altar boy at the church.
  • Rahul Kohli as Sheriff Hassan, Crockett Island's Muslim sheriff who comes at odds with the town's largely Christian population.
  • Annarah Cymone as Leeza Scarborough, the mayor's devout daughter who uses a wheelchair following an injury.
  • Annabeth Gish as Dr. Sarah Gunning, the town's local doctor and Erin's close friend.
  • Alex Essoe as Mildred Gunning, Sarah's aging mother who suffers from dementia.
  • Rahul Abburi as Ali Hassan, the sheriff's son and friend of Warren and Ooker.
  • Matt Biedel as Sturge, the island handyman
  • Michael Trucco as Wade Scarborough, the mayor of Crockett Island.
  • Crystal Balint as Dolly Scarborough, Wade's wife and Leeza's mother.
  • Louis Oliver as Ooker, Warren and Ali's friend who also serves as an altar boy at the church.
  • Henry Thomas as Ed Flynn, Riley's father who works as a fisherman and is reluctant to welcome his son home.
  • Hamish Linklater as Father Paul Hill, the enigmatic new priest at St. Patrick's Church, who arrives to temporarily replace the aging Monsignor Pruitt.

Recurring

  • Robert Longstreet as Joe Collie, the town drunk.

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Book I: Genesis"Mike FlanaganMike FlanaganSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Riley Flynn returns to his hometown of Crockett Island, a fishing village off the coast of Washington, after serving four years in prison for a drunk driving accident that killed a young woman. Having lost his faith over the course of his incarceration, Riley struggles to reintegrate with the town's devout Catholic community, which includes his parents Annie and Ed, teenage brother Warren, childhood sweetheart Erin Greene (who is now pregnant and working as a schoolteacher), zealous parishioner Bev Keane, and Father Paul Hill, also a newcomer who is temporarily filling in for the aging Monsignor Pruitt (whose whereabouts only Paul seems to know). The town is reeling economically after an oil spill that crippled its fishing industry. While out at night to drink and smoke with his friends Ooker and Ali, Warren spots strange movement in a remote area of the island populated by feral cats, which are later mauled by an unseen entity. The following night, Riley sees the figure of Monsignor Pruitt walking along the beach amidst a raging storm, but the figure soon vanishes. The next morning, hundreds of dead cats are discovered along the beach.
2"Book II: Psalms"Mike FlanaganMike Flanagan, James Flanagan, Elan GaleSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
The townsfolk are unable to determine a cause of death for the cats found along the beach. Bev covers the church perimeter with 1080, hoping to fend off potential predators. Father Paul learns that Leeza Scarborough, the Crockett mayor's wheelchair-bound daughter, was paralyzed after being accidentally shot by town drunk Joe Collie. During the island's annual Ash Wednesday potluck, Joe's dog suddenly dies after eating food off the ground. Joe suspects Bev, whom he personally despises for extracting church donations from the townsfolk after convincing them to accept a settlement with the oil company that poisoned the bay's waters, knowing it would benefit the church. Erin witnesses a mysterious creature stalking her property. Riley attends a one-on-one AA meeting with Father Paul, where he expresses his contempt for the doctrine of theodicy, owing to his own guilt over his fatal car accident. During Mass that Sunday, Father Paul insists that Leeza rise from her wheelchair to accept the eucharist; to everyone's shock, Leeza stands and walks.
3"Book III: Proverbs"Mike FlanaganMike Flanagan, James FlanaganSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Crockett Island begins experiencing a religious revival after Leeza's sudden recovery, which the residents are convinced was a miracle. Leeza visits Joe, who witnesses her recovery for the first time, and tearfully expresses the years of hatred she has harbored towards him for causing her life-ruinous injury, only to ultimately forgive him. A moved Joe decides to attend an AA session with Riley and Father Paul. Sheriff Hassan, whose Muslim faith puts him at odds with the town's largely Christian population, discovers that his son Ali is studying the Bible, and unsuccessfully attempts to convince Bev at a town meeting to stop handing out Bibles to public school students. Father Paul collapses in front of Bev and the Scarboroughs, and dies after coughing up a stream of blood, only to suddenly spring back to life. In a flashback taking place the night before his first sermon on the island, Paul sits in a confession booth and reveals the true story of Monsignor Pruitt: near Damascus, Pruitt got caught in a sandstorm and discovered an ancient ruin, where he was attacked by a winged, vampiric creature (which Pruitt asserts is an Angel) that fed him its lifeblood. Pruitt awoke the next morning and found that he was young again, revealing Father Paul to in fact be a young Monsignor Pruitt.
4"Book IV: Lamentations"Mike FlanaganMike Flanagan, Dani ParkerSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
During a routine checkup, Erin is informed by Crockett Island's resident doctor Sarah Gunning that she has miscarried. Distraught, Erin spends the day with Riley, grieving her unborn child and discussing their own respective childhoods and views on the afterlife. The following morning, Erin goes to the mainland to seek a second opinion, where a doctor questions whether or not Erin was really pregnant at all. Meanwhile, Father Paul begins to experience symptoms of vampirism, including burning in sunlight, as Bev deduces his true identity. Unable to perform his duties in broad daylight, Father Paul performs an in-home evening eucharist with Dr. Gunning's elderly mother, Mildred, who is implied to have had a history with Monsignor Pruitt. Later, at the rectory, Father Paul is visited by Joe, who witnesses Father Paul drinking the blood of the Angel, which he has bottled and has been diluting with communion wine. Father Paul murders Joe and feeds on his blood. Bev, Mayor Scarborough and local handyman Sturge discover Joe's corpse and a weary Father Paul the following morning. Bev elects to cover up the murder, believing Father Paul to be justified in his actions and his resurrection to be an omen of the Second Coming of Christ. Seemingly recovered by the evening, Father Paul and Riley meet for AA, and Paul explains to Riley that Joe is absent, visiting his sister on the mainland. Riley knows this to be untrue, however, as Joe had confided to him that his sister had died months prior. Riley leaves the meeting confused, but later returns to the rec center to confront Father Paul, only to be attacked by the Angel, who is seen shedding its blood into a decanter.
5"Book V: Gospels"Mike FlanaganMike Flanagan, James FlanaganSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Concerned over the sudden disappearance of Riley, Erin files a Missing Persons Case with Sheriff Hassan, who hypothesizes that Riley may have relapsed or committed suicide. At the evening Good Friday Mass, Father Paul delivers a sermon rife with militaristic rhetoric, urging the congregation to prepare for war as soldiers in God's army. The homily upsets Mildred Gunning, whose physical and mental state seem to be rapidly improving following Father Paul's visit. Later that night, Riley appears on Erin's doorstep, and asks her to go offshore on a boat with him. Erin, while suspicious, agrees. Rowing far away from the island, Riley reveals to Erin what happened to him: After being attacked by the Angel, Riley rapidly recovered under the care of Father Paul. Father Paul reveals his true identity to him, and tells him that he believes the Angel's blood is a gift from God, and has been mixing it into Communion Wine to heal the residents of Crockett Island. He also believes the new vampiric traits the both of them are developing are marks of God's favor. Bev later affirms this belief, believing that the immortality the blood brings is a sign of the End Times. Riley leaves the rec center, disgusted, and leaves notes for his family and Monsignor Pruitt behind before going to see Erin. Erin, unsure of whether to trust Riley, questions why he has brought her out on a boat. Riley dispels the thought that he'd attack her, saying he brought her out onto the water so "I'd have no place to go." Riley declares his love for Erin, which she reciprocates. As the sun rises, Riley has a vision of the woman he killed in the accident, smiling and taking his hand in hers. Riley combusts and quickly burns away to ashes as Erin screams in horror.
6"Book VI: Act of The Apostles"Mike FlanaganMike Flanagan, James Flanagan, Jeff HowardSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Erin returns to the island after witnessing Riley burn to death and tells Sarah what is happening. Sarah shows Erin the de-aged Mildred and how her blood samples burn under sunlight. Bev convinces Father Paul to share what he has with the other residents. Sarah shares with Erin and Mildred her theory that Father Paul is sharing a virus that creates these strange medical miracles via the wine at church. Sarah informs Sheriff Hassan about her suspicions regarding the church but Hassan refuses to look further, fearing further alienation from the locals. Erin informs Annie of Riley's death but is berated by a furious Annie who refuses to believe her. Erin, Sarah, and Mildred attempt to get the ferry to the mainland but discover Mayor Scarborough has sent the Ferry's away and witness Sturge locking down the fishing boats. That night before Easter mass, Sturge cuts power to the town and sabotages the cell tower. The townsfolk perform a candle-lit march to church before Mass begins. Father Paul performs a sermon revealing he is Monsignor Pruitt to the residents. The Angel arrives at Mass where Father Paul encourages the churchgoers to drink poison in order to die and be reborn. Several residents drink the poison including Leeza's parents, Sturge, Ooker, and Ali. Mildred shoots Father Paul in the head and is attacked by the Angel who swoops her out of the church. The dead churchgoers resurrect as vampires and attack those who haven't drunk the poison. Ed is turned while Erin, Hassan, Leeza, Sarah, Warren, and Annie escape. Erin shoots dead Bev before the group flees into town. A resurrected Bev and Sturge unleash the vampires onto the remaining townsfolk.
7"Book VII: Revelation"Mike FlanaganMike FlanaganSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)

Development

On July 1, 2019, Netflix announced a seven-episode horror series, with Mike Flanagan serving as writer, director and executive producer.[1][8] In February 2020, Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel and Hamish Linklater were announced as lead roles for the series.[9]

Production was originally scheduled to commence in March 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] Midnight Mass entered production on August 17, 2020, in Vancouver, Canada and concluded on December 15, 2020.[11][12][13][14] Production built the town set at Garry Point Park, a seaside public area outside Vancouver, which stood in for Crockett Island.[15]

Release

Midnight Mass was released on Netflix on September 24, 2021.[2]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 94% approval rating with an average rating of 8.5/10, based on 47 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "An ambitious meditation on grief and faith that is as gorgeous as it is unsettling, Midnight Mass's slow boil is a triumph of terror that will leave viewers shaking – and thinking – long after the credits roll."[16] Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 based on 19 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[17]

References

  1. ^ a b "Midnight Mass: What We Know So Far". ScreenRant. January 22, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Petski, Denise (August 9, 2021). "'Midnight Mass': Mike Flanagan's Netflix Horror Series Unveils First Trailer, Premiere Date". Deadline. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  3. ^ "Midnight Mass | Netflix Official Site". www.netflix.com. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  4. ^ Squires, John (August 9, 2021). "[Trailer] Mike Flanagan's Netflix Horror Series "Midnight Mass" Will Premiere in September!". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "'Midnight Mass' Teaser: First Look at 'Hill House' Creator's Haunting New Series (Video)". TheWrap. August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  6. ^ Gemmill, Allie (February 5, 2020). "Mike Flanagan's 'Midnight Mass' Cast Includes 'Hill House' Alums Henry Thomas & Kate Siegel". Collider. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  7. ^ Squires, John (August 17, 2020). ""Midnight Mass": Filming Has Begun on Mike Flanagan's New Netflix Horror Series". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "Netflix Orders New Horror Series "Midnight Mass" from Mike Flanagan & Trevor Macy". What's on Netflix. July 2, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  9. ^ Petski, Denise (February 5, 2020). "'Midnight Mass': Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel & Hamish Linklater To Lead Cast Of Netflix Horror Series". Deadline. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  10. ^ ghermanns (March 13, 2020). "Netflix Delays Production on Mike Flanagan's Midnight Mass". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  11. ^ Flanagan, Mike [@flanaganfilm] (August 18, 2020). "Day 1... here we go" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "Mike Flanagan Netflix Series Midnight Mass Starts Production". Den of Geek. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  13. ^ "Mike Flanagan Marks First Day Of Shooting On New Netflix Horror Series Midnight Mass". Empire. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  14. ^ "DGC BC Production List" (PDF). Directors Guild of Canada. September 18, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  15. ^ St. Clair, Josh (September 24, 2021). "Is Crockett Island From Midnight Mass a Real Place?". Men's Health. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  16. ^ "Midnight Mass (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  17. ^ "Midnight Mass". Metacritic. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
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