Quickly becoming one of the most respected creators in modern horror, Mike Flanagan blends psychological terror with deeply emotional storytelling. Exploring the themes of grief, trauma, faith, and family dynamics, he relies on slow-burn dread and complex characters rather than senseless jump scares to evoke intense fright.
From terrifying ghost stories to philosophical explorations of death and belief, Mike Flanagan’s films and TV shows have left a lasting mark on the horror genre. As more is revealed about his next big projects (untitled Exorcist movie and Carrie), we dive back into his filmography and rank our favorites.
9. Gerald’s Game (2017)
Adapting a Stephen King novel isn’t an easy feat, but Mike Flanagan turned what feels like an unfilmable story into a seamless, tense, thriller. The story is solely focused on a woman handcuffed to a bed with no way of escape after her husband suddenly dies, leaving the trapped protagonist as the major focal point of the film.
Flanagan has to rely heavily on performance and creative techniques to tell a deeply disturbing, emotionally powerful story, resulting in a surprisingly introspective work within the horror genre.
8. The Midnight Club (2022)
Based on the novels by Christopher Pike, this Netflix series follows a group of terminally ill teenagers living in a hospice who gather every night to tell scary stories. Millennials who used to watch “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” in the 90s could feel a scary sense of nostalgia from the premise alone.
While the show leans more toward a young-adult audience, the themes of mortality and friendship make it a deeply moving watch. While it only lasted one season, The Midnight Club made a big impact on many people thanks to its dramatic elements rather than its horror.
7. Before I Wake (2016)
Following a couple who adopt a young boy whose dreams physically manifest in the waking world while he sleeps, Before I Wake delivers striking visuals and emotional tenderness to juxtapose the horrifying nature of the boy’s nightmares.
This film stands out amongst Flanagan’s other work for the focus on childhood trauma and grief as a way to explore the horror elements of the almost magical story.
6. Doctor Sleep (2019)
Mike Flanagan’s longtime appreciation of Stephen King is at its clearest in this sequel to both the novel and the film adaptation of The Shining. While the original wasn’t as well-received by its author, Flanagan pulls off its successor with exceptional world-building and direction.
The story follows a now adult Danny Torrance (played by Ewan McGregor) as he confronts his traumatic past while trying to protect a young girl with similar psychic powers. While not as obviously terrifying as some of his previous works, Flanagan’s clear appreciation for the subject matter catapults this adaptation and makes for an incredibly satisfying horror film.
5. Hush (2016)
In the film Hush, a deaf writer must survive and fight back against a masked killer stalking her in her home. Using simplicity to his advantage, Flanagan strips the horror elements down to their basic essentials. One house, one victim, and one killer.
With minimal dialogue and tight pacing, Hush is one of the most efficient and nerve-wracking home-invasion thrillers of the past decade, using sound (or its absence) to create an uncomfortable, intense sense of suspense.
Hush taps into the biggest fear of its audience: vulnerability. Maddie has to find strategic ways to keep herself alive, and in that fight, proves that what could be seen as hinderance may actually be her greatest strength.
4. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
Some consider this first entry into Flanagan’s Haunting anthology as his masterpiece, and for traditional horror fans, this truly is the case. Inspired by the novel of the same name, the show has been praised for its acting, production, and directing.
The series follows a family who must confront literal and emotional ghosts from their childhood, and Flanagan effortlessly blends terrifying imagery with heartbreaking character development. Few horror series manage to be as frightening and emotionally devastating at the same time while still delivering twists and turns to keep viewers guessing.
The Haunting of Hill House created what felt like a revolution in the world of TV horror, with many movies and shows in the same genre still compared to it, despite Flanagan’s many works since.
3. The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
This is the second entry in Flanagan’s Haunting anthology and features many of the same cast. Mostly adapted from the novella ‘The Turn of the Screw’ by Henry James, the story shifts from the original’s basic horror to a gothic romance.
With one of the most powerful and emotional endings in modern TV horror, The Haunting of Bly Manor sometimes feels like the forgotten ‘Haunting’ in Flanagan’s creations, but the tragic romance between Dani and Jamie leaves a lasting impression.
The theme of haunting in the series moves beyond traditional ghost stories into a beautiful, devastating, and heavy look into not only star-crossed lovers but also at a mother’s love for her child. And the mania that can come from having to say goodbye too soon.
2. The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)
Inspired by the gothic work of Edgar Allan Poe, this dark series explores the corruption of a powerful pharmaceutical family, with each episode focusing on the mysterious deaths that befall them.
Feeling like one of Mike Flanagan’s most ambitious projects, he weaves together numerous Poe works into a single dark, cohesive narrative, and while Poe himself radiates tragic beauty in his work, seeing it come alive on screen creates a modern gothic saga.
This approach from the creator feels both reverent and inventive. The iconic imagery, poetic dialogue (and performances), and thematic motifs from Poe’s writing are layered throughout. Rewarding viewers who know the source material, while also telling a brand-new, compelling story for newcomers.
The Fall of the House of Usher is stylish, tragic, and steeped in gothic dread from beginning to end. Flanagan took timeless stories and poetry and reinterpreted them through a modern lens with an exceptional cast.
1. Midnight Mass (2021)
Feeling like one of Flanagan’s most personal projects to date, what begins as a quiet story about a struggling group of people is turned upside down when a mysterious, yet somehow familiar, priest arrives to head their church.
What unfolds is a profound exploration of faith, guilt, addiction, and morality in a remote island community, and of the need to believe in something greater than ourselves. What really sets Midnight Mass apart from other horror shows is its philosophical depth, where characters wrestle with the complex questions of forgiveness and the nature of life and death.
The writing and acting of many of the show’s monologues are phenomenal, with reflective speeches from Riley and Erin that transform ordinary moments into powerful meditations on existence. In particular, the discussion on what happens after death captures the show’s emotional core and blends scientific curiosity with spiritual wonder. This theme runs through the story’s horror elements as well as the characters’ everyday lives.
Midnight Mass isn’t just a horror story about supernatural events and strange occurrences; it’s a contemplative examination of belief, community, and the often fragile hope clung to by those facing mortality. The ending is a tragically beautiful tapestry of violence, hope, and acceptance.
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