Definitive Ranking Of Mike Flanagan’s Netflix Series

TV & Film

Dec 30

The Fall Of The House Of Usher — Image Source: IMDb

Unless you have been living under a rock you have heard the name Mike Flanagan at least once. While it is possible that you heard his name attached to film projects such as Oculus, Hush, or Doctor Sleep you have probably heard his name mostly associated with Netflix and the Flanaverse that they have been building for the last few years. As a huge horror fan myself, it took me until this year to finally try out his projects and I can comfortably say that his name belongs among the greats like Wes Craven and John Carpenter.

Each of his projects is a wholly unique experience that feels like you are watching a work of art rather than a miniseries on a streaming service. Since he is still a fairly new name for many horror fans I wanted to have a definitive ranking of his current Netflix projects so you know where to start! All of these shows are available to stream on Netflix!

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5. ‘The Midnight Club’ (2022)

This is my least favorite of Flanagan’s current projects. It isn’t a bad show in any way it simply doesn’t hold up against the other shows that he has done. The series follows a group of terminally ill young adults who meet each night at midnight to tell scary stories. The series is full of well-placed jump scares and the stories that they are telling are truly horrifying to watch come to life. If you are looking for a project that moves a bit slower then this is definitely the right project to start with.

4. ‘Midnight Mass’ (2021)

This was a great miniseries but like The Midnight Club, it moves very slowly. The overall atmosphere of this project is fantastic and it explores so many of the pitfalls of modern-day religion. There are some pretty great twists in this show, but it still doesn’t hold up to the other shows on this list. The series follows a small group of people who live on a remote fishing island. After their pastor gets sick he is replaced by a new pastor that seems to bring some interesting ideas to the island. This is a fascinating show and one that I think everyone should check out!

3. ‘The Fall Of The House Of Usher’ (2023)

The Fall of the House of Usher is the newest series released and it is also the first Flanagan project I watched. I love this show and have absolutely no notes about things that I wish had been differently. It is easily one of the best pieces of horror I have ever seen. The series gives a modern take to different Edgar Allen Poe works while intertwining them with the story of a rich family that has made some pretty horrible decisions. This show does not have an ending that is going to make you feel happy, but it is spectacular. This show also has the least amount of jump scares, but it does have the most gore.

2. ‘The Haunting Of Bly Manor’ (2020)

It pains me to put this at number two, but when I am ranking shows or movies I take rewatchability into account and I am not sure I will ever be able to rewatch this show. This is the most beautiful piece of content I have ever watched, and I don’t just mean in the horror genre. It has everything you could possibly want in a project: atmosphere, heart, jump scares, phenomenal storytelling, lore, and twists you will never see coming. The reason that this is number two on my list is that my heart has still not healed from the ending. The series follows a young woman who is hired as a nanny for the two children who reside at Bly Manor. As she gets to know the children and the other workers at the manor ghosts from the past come back with a vengeance.

1. ‘The Haunting Of Hill House’ (2018)

The series that started it all! This is the first Flanagan series that hit Netflix and it is based on the book of the same name by Shirley Jackson. This is the second-best piece of content I have ever seen and that is only because Bly Manor has securely taken the first spot on that list. The twists and turns in this show had my head spinning and one of the best-placed jump scares I have ever seen. My husband and I actually had to pause the show afterward and catch our breath. The series follows a broken family that had moved into Hill House with plans to renovate and then sell it for profit. Unfortunately, the ghosts of the home’s past aren’t interested in being sold. The narrative is told through present-day events and flashbacks that eventually overlap for a jaw-dropping climax. This is definitely the project that I would recommend everyone start with!

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