Richard Said

Music, pacing and realistic nature of character interactions lends to a feeling of unease and stress. Definitely a cautionary tale that we should be paying attention to.

Mike Flanagan has figured out a way to intertwine entertaining horror genre with the trauma and grief that we experience in everyday life, and it unfolds at a pace that doesn’t let you forget that it’s a horror series. The emotional connection to the characters comes easy as Flanagan is able to write dialogue that is so emotional that you wonder how much is researched and how much is personal to the writer. Most horror movies are just moments of scares mixed with a lot of filler. As with Hill House and Bly Manor, the filler here IS the REAL story. And it’s beautifully told. Flanagan has a poetic touch when it comes to the experience of death and trauma. The horror aspect of the story is the icing. And where some might feel like there is an attack on religion in the show, in the end the story does emphasize faith and sacrifice. Can’t wait for next year’s story!