Despite often being overlooked, The Midnight Club is a particularly impactful horror series from Mike Flanagan. Though he’s no longer creating content for Netflix, Flanagan continues to develop new scary stories, including an upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie for Amazon Prime Video. He produced five compelling shows for Netflix, all known for their complex family dynamics, ghosts that affect both children and adults, and heartfelt stories about overcoming trauma. These series also feature memorable haunted houses and surprising twists. From his 2023 reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe in The Fall of the House of Usher, to the emotional depth of his 2018 series The Haunting of Hill House, Flanagan’s horror shows remain consistently engaging and fresh.
Mike Flanagan is great at building suspense and creating unique, non-stereotypical characters, and The Midnight Club is one of his most overlooked works. Though it debuted on Netflix on October 7, 2022, it hasn’t received as much attention as some of his other projects, like the iconic ‘Bent-Neck Lady’ from Hill House or the memorable rain scene in Usher.
Mike Flanagan’s ‘The Midnight Club’ Should Be Praised More
Netflix
It’s tough to beat the incredibly frightening car jump scare from The Haunting of Hill House. Plus, with The Fall of the House of Usher being Mike Flanagan’s last horror series on Netflix, it’s fresh in a lot of people’s minds. However, The Midnight Club is unique – it centers around eight teenagers facing terminal illnesses who find connection and friendship while living at Brightcliffe Manor hospice.
The story is definitely intense, sad, and deeply moving, and that’s actually what makes it so compelling. The characters in The Midnight Club – Sandra, Anya, Kevin, Ilonka, and the rest – are unique compared to those in other shows by Mike Flanagan. While they still get scared by ghosts and monsters, they’ve already faced their biggest fear – knowing they don’t have much time left to live. This makes them surprisingly fearless, and allows the show to delve into important topics like freedom, bravery, and the contrast between growing up quickly and cherishing the simple joys of being young.
One of the most appealing parts of The Midnight Club is how the story is told. The characters gather nightly in the hospice library to share scary stories, which are based on popular young adult horror novels by Christopher Pike from the 80s and 90s. If you enjoyed shows like Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark?, you’ll find a similar comforting but spooky atmosphere here. Because the characters are dealing with life and death, the stories feel more impactful, especially those told by Anya. And thanks to the creator’s skill with suspense, it’s a little more frightening than those classic kids’ horror shows. The show also features a compelling, ongoing story about ghosts at the Brightcliffe hospice.
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Netflix decided not to renew The Midnight Club after its first season, which was disappointing for the creator, Mike Flanagan, as he typically makes longer shows. However, the show’s concise 10-episode run might actually be a strength. Despite a surprising ending, the series feels complete and delivers on its promise, offering a sweet romance, strong bonds between the characters, and a good mix of suspense and development. Even though some mysteries remain, it feels intentional and fitting. While fans await Flanagan’s next project, Carrie (expected in 2026), The Midnight Club is a highly recommended watch for those who enjoy his work.
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2026-01-11 03:34