It looks like Mike Flanagan’s latest excursion into horror was a personal journey.
The seven-episode Midnight Mass is now streaming on Netflix, and writer/director Flanagan explains the whys and wherefores behind its creation–and his personal connection to the project–in a new featurette, as reported by syfy.com. Check out the revealing video on this page.
The series, as explained, tells the story of the isolated island community of Crockett Island whose divisions are heightened by the return of a disgraced young man named Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford) and the arrival of a charismatic priest (Hamish Linklater). When Fr. Paul’s appearance coincides with “unexplained and seemingly miraculous events, a renewed religious fervor takes hold of the community–but do these miracles come at a price?”
The Intrepid Pictures Midnight Mass also stars Kate Siegel, Rahul Abburi, Crystal Balint, Matt Biedel, Alex Essoe, Annarah Cymone and Kristin Lehman.
Lehman, a newcomer to Flanagan’s company of actors, said she went into the series with high hopes. “I asked a few people who’d worked with (Flanagan) before, and the reviews were glowing,” she said. “I was honored and overwhelmed at the concept of joining. Mike is incredibly confident…with lots of humility and heart.”
Flanagan said he has been developing this storyline since before he “had a career. I wanted to tell a story where I would authentically try to inhabit both perspectives that exist within me–about faith and about religion–to see where I came out.”
Producer (and frequent Flanagan collaborator) Trevor Macy added that “the ethos of the show is to ask questions, not give answers. Those questions should really stay with you if we’ve done our jobs right.”
Keep reading Horror News Network for any updates on Midnight Mass on Netflix and for the next project from Mike Flanagan.
