The Fall of The House of Usher
The Fall of the House of Usher, based on the story by Edgar Allan Poe, is the latest offering from Mike Flanagan, writer, producer, director and editor of Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and The Midnight Club, collectively known by fans as the “Flanaverse.” Just as The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Haunting of Hill House, and The Midnight Club are based on the collective works of an author, rather than a slavishly accurate adaptation of one particular story, The Fall of the House of Usher is an homage to Poe.
The Fall of the House of Usher is set in the present and follows the demise of a pharmaceutical family, seemingly based on the Sacklers of Purdue Pharma. The Ushers, like their real-life counterparts, have developed an opiate, which they have marketed as “non-addictive.” As in real-life, this opiate has caused the addiction and death of millions. The Ushers seem untroubled by this fact and even the family members who aren’t actively working for the drug company, Fortunato, are reaping the benefits of it. Their excess is eclipsed only by their infighting, until the adult children of patriarch Roderick begin dying in a series of outlandish and gruesome accidents.
The Fall of the House of Usher, lovingly captures the dark spirit of Poe, containing references to The Black Cat, The Murders of Rue Morgue, The Cask of Amontillado, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Tell Tale Heart, The Gold Bug and of course, Poe’s most famous work, The Raven. All of the main characters are named after characters from Poe’s literary canon such as Anabelle Lee, Tamerlane, Prospero, and of course, Lenore. Mark Hammil’s character is named Arthur Pym after the protagonist of Poe’s only full-length novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, At one point, Pym makes a sly little in-joke which references the novel.
One of my favorite things about the Flanaverse is how it regularly employs the same actors, giving them an opportunity to show off their range. Henry Thomas, in particular, shows impressive character work and flexibility. Kate Seigel, is bitingly humorous as Camille. Rahul Kohli as Leo, faces the difficult challenge of trying to be unlikable, when he is such a joy to watch. Mary McDonnel, as Madeline, does what she does best, playing the understated WASP with a seething undercurrent of fierce emotion. T’Nia Miller as Victorine at first seems to be the best of the siblings, but soon shows herself to be as corrupt as the rest of her family.
Carla Gugino is darkly radiant as Verna, the mysterious figure who seems to be both punishing and tempting the Ushers. In Gugino’s most compelling scene, she disturbingly and convincingly plays a chimpanzee (don’t ask, I couldn’t hope to explain the context- just watch the scene.) Verna initially appears to be the antagonist of the Usher family, but eventually it becomes evident that their own greed and excess are their real foes.
In my opinion, the best horror is about more than jump scares and chainsaws, it is about what truly scares people. Anyone who isn’t frightened by the rampant materialism and uncheckced corporate greed in our society, isn’t paying attention. The Fall of the House of Usher, makes a timely political statement, using common Poe themes of corruption, greed, revenge, and the beauty of death, showcasing intense and complicated familial relationships, all the while being spooky, good Halloween fun.
