Midnight Mass (miniseries)

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Midnight Mass
File:Midnight Mass Poster.jpg
Promotional poster
Genre <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Created by Mike Flanagan
Directed by Mike Flanagan
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Theme music composer The Newton Brothers
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 7
Production
Executive producer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Mike Flanagan
  • Trevor Macy
  • Jeff Howard
Production location(s) Steveston, British Columbia, Canada
Cinematography Michael Fimognari
Running time 60–71 minutes
Production company(s) Intrepid Pictures
Release
Original network Netflix
Original release September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

Midnight Mass is an American supernatural horror streaming television miniseries created and directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, Hamish Linklater, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Kristin Lehman and Henry Thomas. The plot centers on an isolated island community that experiences supernatural events after the arrival of a mysterious priest.[1]

It was released on Netflix on September 24, 2021,[2] and received positive reviews.

Premise

A young man returns to his isolated hometown on Crockett Island, hoping to rebuild his life after serving four years in prison for killing someone in a drunk-driving incident. He arrives at the same time as a mysterious, charismatic young priest who begins to revitalise the town's flagging faith. However, the community's divisions are soon exacerbated by the priest's deeds while mysterious events befall the small town.

Cast and characters

The cast for Midnight Mass consists of:[3][4]

Main

  • Hamish Linklater as Father Paul Hill, the enigmatic new priest at St. Patrick's Church, who arrives to replace the aging Monsignor Pruitt temporarily.
  • Kate Siegel as Erin Greene, Riley's childhood sweetheart, 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 killing a teenage girl in a drunk driving accident.
  • 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 serves as an altar boy at the church.
  • Rahul Kohli as Sheriff Hassan,[5] Crockett Island's Muslim sheriff, who finds it difficult to fit in with the town's predominantly Catholic 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 has 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.

Recurring

  • Robert Longstreet as Joe Collie, the town drunk
  • Carla Gugino as Judge[6]
  • Quinton Boisclair as The Angel[7]
  • Ebony Booth as Tara-Beth, the teenage girl killed by Riley in a drunk driving accident
  • John C. McDonald as Bowl, a local drug dealer

Episodes

The title of each episode is a book in the Bible. Each episode contains a scene referencing the titular Biblical book.[8]

No. Title Directed by Written by Original release date
1 "Book I: Genesis" Mike Flanagan Mike Flanagan September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Riley Flynn returns to his hometown of Crockett Island, a tiny offshore fishing village reeling economically due to an oil spill that crippled its fishing industry, after serving four years in prison for a drunk driving crash that killed a young woman. Having lost his faith during his incarceration, Riley struggles to reintegrate with the town's devout Catholic community, including his parents, Annie and Ed, teenage brother Warren, childhood sweetheart and expectant mother Erin Greene, and zealous parishioner Bev Keane. The community is also joined by Father Paul Hill, a young priest claiming to be a temporary replacement for the aging Monsignor Pruitt, who is on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. While out at night with his friends Ooker and Ali, Warren spots strange movement in a remote island area populated by feral cats, 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 Flanagan Mike Flanagan and James Flanagan and Elan Gale September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
The townspeople cannot determine a cause of death for the cats found along the beach. Bev covers the church perimeter with the rodenticide 1080, hoping to fend off potential predators. During the night, Bowl, the island drug dealer, is attacked by an unseen assailant. Father Paul meets Leeza Scarborough, the wheelchair-bound daughter of the mayor who was paralyzed after being accidentally shot by the town drunk Joe Collie. During the island's annual Ash Wednesday "Potluck" Festival, Joe's dog suddenly dies after eating food off the ground. Joe suspects Bev, whom he 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. That night Erin, now working as a teacher, witnesses a mysterious figure on her property. Riley attends a one-on-one AA meeting with Father Paul at the town rec center. He expresses his contempt for a God that would allow such evil in the world, owing to his guilt over the 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 Flanagan Mike Flanagan and James Flanagan September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Crockett Island begins experiencing a religious revival after Leeza's sudden recovery, which the residents believe to be a miracle. Leeza visits Joe and tells him of the hatred she has harbored towards him for causing her life-ruinous injury, only to forgive him eventually. 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 Christian population, learns that his son Ali is studying the Bible. Later, he makes an unsuccessful attempt to get Bev to stop handing out Bibles to public school children at a town meeting. Father Paul collapses before Bev and the Scarboroughs and dies after coughing up 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. He reveals the true story of Monsignor Pruitt: near Jerusalem, Pruitt was caught in a sandstorm and discovered an ancient ruin, where he was attacked by a winged, blood-sucking humanoid creature that then fed him its lifeblood. Pruitt awoke the next morning to discover he had regained his youth, revealing Father Paul's true identity as a revitalized Monsignor Pruitt. Paul/Pruitt confesses that he believes the creature that attacked him is an Angel and its blood's healing properties constitute a divine gift that he intends to share.
4 "Book IV: Lamentations" Mike Flanagan Mike Flanagan and Dani Parker September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Crockett's resident doctor Sarah Gunning discovers that Erin's fetus has mysteriously disappeared from her uterus and concludes that Erin has miscarried. A distraught Erin travels to the mainland the next morning for a second opinion, but the doctor cannot find any evidence that Erin was ever pregnant. Father Paul reveals that sunlight burns him after his resurrection, and Bev deduces his true identity as Monsignor Pruitt. Unable to perform his duties in broad daylight, Paul performs an at-home Eucharist with Sarah's elderly mother Mildred, who suffers from dementia but recognizes Paul as Pruitt. Joe visits Father Paul that night and sees him drinking the Angel's blood, which Paul has been diluting with the Blood of Christ and feeding his congregation. Overcome by an insatiable thirst, Paul kills Joe and drinks his blood. Bev, Mayor Scarborough, and local handyman Sturge discover the scene the following morning; Bev elects to cover it up, believing Paul's resurrection to be an omen of the Second Coming of Christ. During an AA session, Paul claims to Riley that Joe is absent because he is visiting his sister; Riley, knowing Joe's sister to be deceased, returns to the rec center late at night to confront Paul but walks in on the Angel shedding its blood into a decanter. Upon seeing Riley, the Angel attacks him.
5 "Book V: Gospel" Mike Flanagan Mike Flanagan and James Flanagan September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Concerned over Riley's sudden disappearance, Erin files a Missing Persons Case with Sheriff Hassan, who hypothesizes that Riley may have relapsed or committed suicide. On the evening of 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 has rapidly improved following Father Paul's visits. 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 what happened to him to Erin. After being attacked by the Angel, Riley rapidly recovered under the care of Father Paul, who revealed his true identity to him and told him that he believes the Angel's blood is a gift from God and has been mixing it into the Blood of Christ to heal the residents of Crockett Island. Riley left the rec center, disgusted, and deposited farewell letters for his family and Pruitt before visiting Erin. Riley tells Erin he brought her on the boat to isolate himself and declares his love for her. Riley combusts and quickly burns to ashes as Erin screams in horror as the sun rises.
6 "Book VI: Acts of the Apostles" Mike Flanagan Mike Flanagan and James Flanagan and Jeff Howard September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Erin returns to the island, where Sarah shows her the rejuvenated Mildred and how her blood samples burn in sunlight, theorizing that Father Paul is inducing medical miracles via the Precious Blood and Erin's consumption of it is what killed her baby. She relays her suspicions to Sheriff Hassan, who refuses to investigate the church, fearing further alienation from the locals. Erin, Sarah, and Mildred attempt to get the ferry to the mainland but discover that Mayor Scarborough has sent the ferries away. That night, Sturge cuts power to the town. At Mass, Father Paul reveals that he is Monsignor Pruitt, unveiling the Angel to a shocked congregation. Pruitt informs them that they all have the Angel's blood and encourages them to drink poison to die and be reborn. Several residents drink it, including Leeza's parents, Sturge, Ooker, and Ali. Mildred shoots Pruitt and is attacked by the Angel. The undead churchgoers resurrect and attack those who have not drunk the poison. Ed is turned while Erin, Hassan, Leeza, Sarah, Warren, and Annie escape. Erin shoots Bev, and a resurrected Bev and Sturge unleash the undead churchgoers onto the remaining townsfolk.
7 "Book VII: Revelation" Mike Flanagan Mike Flanagan September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
The now-turned Mildred reunites with Pruitt; the two were lovers years ago, and Sarah is their daughter. Pruitt brought the Angel to the island to rejuvenate Mildred so that they could have a second chance to be together. Erin and her allies set fire to the boats to prevent the turned churchgoers from leaving. Bev leads the turned on a vampirish rampage, killing anyone they find. Pruitt, horrified by the violence, denounces Bev, and she denounces him as a false prophet. Bev orders her followers to burn down everything except the church and recreation center, which she intends to use as a shelter from sunlight. Erin and her allies attempt to burn down the church and rec center, but Sturge shoots Sarah, Bev mortally wounds Hassan, and the Angel attacks Erin. Erin slashes its wings as she dies to prevent it from escaping. The churchgoers are appalled at what they have done and abandon Bev's cause. Ali burns down the rec center, leaving no shelter for the turned. As dawn approaches, the remorseful townspeople gather to be immolated by the sun while singing "Nearer, My God, to Thee". Leeza and Warren, who rowed offshore to avoid the carnage, are the island's only survivors. They watch the "Angel" attempt to fly away but notice its wings failing. Bev, Ali, Pruitt, Mildred, and the rest of the island's inhabitants die. As Leeza and Warren watch the island succumb to the fires, Leeza's legs become immobile again.

Development

Production

Series creator Mike Flanagan described Midnight Mass as a passion project, one that was "deeply personal" and dealt intimately with Flanagan's upbringing in the Catholic Church, and his eventual sobriety and atheism.[9] He conceived the idea first as a novel, then as a film script, then as a television series that he unsuccessfully pitched to various production companies (including its eventual distributor Netflix) in 2014. Flanagan planted a prop book bearing the title as an Easter egg in his films Hush (2016) and Gerald's Game (2017), as a means of "keeping the idea alive over the years."[10] Prior to the series' production, Flanagan created the critically acclaimed horror series The Haunting of Hill House for Netflix, which released in 2018, as well as its 2020 follow-up The Haunting of Bly Manor.

On July 1, 2019, Netflix announced that Midnight Mass would be a seven-episode miniseries, with Flanagan serving as its writer, director and executive producer.[11] In February 2020, Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel and Hamish Linklater were announced as lead roles for the series.[12]

Production was originally scheduled to commence in March 2020, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] Midnight Mass entered production on August 17, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia and concluded on December 15, 2020.[14][15][16] Production built the town set at Garry Point Park, a seaside public area outside Vancouver, which stood in for Crockett Island.[17]

Music

Midnight Mass
Soundtrack album
Released September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Genre Soundtrack
Length 1:34:57
Label Maisie Music Publishing

The soundtrack for Midnight Mass was released in September 2021. The music for the series was scored by The Newton Brothers, Andy Grush and Taylor Newton Stewart, who have worked with series creator Mike Flanagan on each of his projects since his 2013 film Oculus.[18] The soundtrack features reimagined Christian hymns, along with original pieces from The Newton Brothers.[19]

Midnight Mass track listing
No. Title Length
1. "Abide with Me"   2:41
2. "Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise"   3:12
3. "Holy Holy Holy"   2:25
4. "Lead Kindly Light"   2:31
5. "Come, Darkness"   4:14
6. "Were You There"   2:56
7. "O Sons and Daughters"   3:35
8. "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name"   6:02
9. "Nearer, My God, to Thee"   4:47
10. "The Power of Faith"   3:09
11. "Mortuus Feles"   3:58
12. "Mercy"   4:41
13. "Aftermath"   2:41
14. "Dignity"   6:02
15. "The Sea"   1:56
16. "Angel of God"   2:09
17. "Lead Kindly Light (Instrumental)"   2:50
18. "Faith & Family Blood"   6:01
19. "Prayer"   3:31
20. "Act of Contrition"   2:45
21. "Hurt"   3:02
22. "12th Century Revenants"   2:09
23. "Communion"   1:31
24. "Nearer My God To Thee (a cappella)"   8:02
25. "Body of Christ"   2:42
26. "Were You There (Instrumental)"   5:24
Total length:
 94:57

Release

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

Reception

Critical response

Hamish Linklater received widespread acclaim for his performance as Father Paul.

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports an 86% approval rating with an average rating of 8.10/10, based on 92 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."[20] Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 based on 23 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[21]

Critics praised Flanagan's direction, the performances, and the series' unique approach to the vampire genre. Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly gave the series an "A–" grade and wrote that it "isn't perfect, but it is a keenly affecting, beautifully acted reflection on death, faith, guilt, addiction, and the power of free will."[22] Judy Berman of Time gave it a very positive review, calling it Flanagan's best series yet and praised the performances of Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel and especially Hamish Linklater.[23] Jen Chaney of Vulture called Linklater's performance "phenomenal" and believed he elevated the series to "moments of greatness," writing: "he speaks as if he's discovering his way through every sentence and wants you to come with him."[24] David Fear of Rolling Stone wrote, "the three-layers-deep work that Linklater is doing over these seven episodes is extraordinary." Fear also praised Flanagan's directing, stating that "It’s the way that [he] carefully sets everything into place in anticipation of a bigger-picture nightmare that makes the payoffs so satisfying."[25] Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times called the series "the best Stephen King story Stephen King never wrote" and stated, "even though this is an original work from Flanagan, it feels like a high-level adaptation of a particularly haunting King novel."[26]

The series' writing and pace drew more mixed responses, with frequent criticism directed at the script's perceived overabundance of monologues. Jack Seale of The Guardian gave the series three out of five stars, praising Flanagan's filmmaking, but criticizing the series for its "bloated dialogue" stating that "When the end comes at last, there is a lot of fire and viscera, but no rapture."[27] Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave the series two and a half stars out of four, further criticizing the dialogue and religious themes, stating that the series "can be a little exhausting in its preachiness." Tallerico felt that the series' emphasis on philosophical examination came at the expense of its horror elements, writing, "most of the lengthy conversations are well-scripted, engaging enough in their dialogue, but they also drain a lot of the momentum from the piece." He also criticized the series' visual effects as "generally inferior to both Haunting projects," stating "Flanagan has always worked better with shadows in the dark than when he has to reveal them."[28]

The show's creators insisted that the series was not anti-religious or anti-Catholic.[29] A Catholic priest who reviewed the show said its depiction of how religion treats sin was accurate, but the series showed a poor understanding of how religion treats afterlife,[30] while Premier Christianity states that the show "contains some of the fairest treatments of Christian characters I’ve seen on screen" and "also has a prophetic message to the Church."[31]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2022 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Limited Series Midnight Mass Nominated [32]
Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Hamish Linklater Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Zach Gilford Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Horror Series Midnight Mass Nominated [33]
[34]
Best Actor in a Horror Series Hamish Linklater Won
Zach Gilford Nominated
Best Actress in a Horror Series Samantha Sloyan Nominated
Kate Siegel Nominated
Best Villain in a Series Samantha Sloyan Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials Midnight Mass Pending [35]
Writers Guild of America Awards Original Long Form Mike Flanagan, James Flanagan, Elan Gale, Dani Parker, and Jeff Howard Nominated [36]

References

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External links

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