It's almost October, which means it's almost time for Mike Flanagan to shock and awe us with another Netflix horror series. The writer-director's track record is stellar, delivering deeply-felt scares and emotional trauma with his shows, from The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor to Midnight Mass and The Midnight Club.
However, his final series for Netflix, The Fall of the House of Usher, may be his most ambitious project yet.
Based on the 1839 story by Edgar Allan Poe, the series focuses on siblings Roderick (Bruce Greenwood) and Madeline Usher (Mary McDonnell). The pair have built their company, Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, into a downright empire of wealth and privilege — and they've brought their whole family along for the ride. Based on the trailer, the Ushers are dysfunctional enough to give Succession's Roys a run for their money.
However, the Ushers' problems are about to get a whole lot worse than awkward family dinners. A mysterious woman (Carla Gugino) from Roderick and Madeline's past resurfaces, hellbent on destroying the family. As old secrets come to light and Usher heirs start dropping like flies, Roderick and Madeline must reckon with their legacy. With Poe-inspired horror and classic Flanagan monologues, what better way is there to kick off spooky season?
The Fall of the House of Usher premieres Oct. 12 on Netflix.
