The Fall of the House of Usher - (Netflix Series)

[Heinz-Klett]

Trailer:

The Fall of the House of Usher | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube

[lupinskitten]

Looks interesting.

Almost don't wish it had been a period piece now.

[ChaosHD]

Bring on the 20 minute long conversation scenes. My body is ready.

[lupinskitten]

I haven't seen Mary McDonnel since Major Crimes ended, but I mostly fondly remember her from BSG. It'll be fun to see her play such an unapologetic bad-ass ("No, I mean DEAD" hahaha).

Won't lie. I'm curious to see "that scene" that got Langella fired and to see if they left it intact with the new actor, or if they changed it/deleted it to avoid re-stirring up the controversy.

[TwinCitiesBluFan]

Looks good! Definitely going to watch and keep my fingers crossed that it delivers.

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by lupinskitten

So who WAS the actress who got him fired?

Very likely it was actress Ruth Codd. In some published accounts, they say it was the actress who plays Roderick Usher's wife, Juno. That is who plays Juno. The character is described as a former junkie and much younger woman, whom everyone is baffled Usher took as a second wife.

Codd was a makeup artist and barber, who became a famous TikTok personality during the pandemic. From TikTok, she was cast in a previous show that Mike Flanagan produced. This role is only her second acting appearance.

Also, it is notable that she is an amputee, and is missing the lower half of one leg. (She wears a prosthetic). During her TikTok days (the account has since been deleted), she spoke at length about people being 'more sensitive to people with disabilities'. And one of Langella's alleged infractions was 'touching the leg' of his co-star without it being scripted or without consent.

That could be nothing, but I wonder if there is something there.

[lupinskitten]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

Also, it is notable that she is an amputee, and is missing the lower half of one leg. (She wears a prosthetic). During her TikTok days (the account has since been deleted), she spoke at length about people being 'more sensitive to people with disabilities'. And one of Langella's alleged infractions was 'touching the leg' of his co-star without it being scripted or without consent.

That could be nothing, but I wonder if there is something there.

Oh, wow. Yeah. You might be on to something there.

She was excellent in The Midnight Club.

[peschi]

yeah great to see Ruth return, she was the highlight for me in Midnight Club

[lupinskitten]

Thoughts?

Over halfway through. I'm underwhelmed by it. Seems more about f-words and shock value than strong characterization.

I wondered if they'd cut the love scene that got Langella fired and not re-shoot it. So far, it looks like it.

[y2jman]

i finished early this morning i enjoyed it

[Thebunk]

For those who have watched it, is it safe to say that a Monologue Drinking Game is doable with this series like ALL of his other ones?

[EvaDK]

Four episodes in.

It's entertaining in a similar fashion to HBOs Succession. The major difference compared to Flanagan's other Netflix series, is that almost all the main characters are exaggerated and unlikable by design. Flanagan almost relishes in the death scenes - this is not a spoiler btw, you are told who dies very early in the first episode. The main narrative is told via flashbacks.

The characterizations and tone is also why this series can't reach the level of his other works imo. I'm not as invested in them, because I have little sympathy for them. It doesn't evoke dread, sadness or fear either, like Hill House did very effectively. But the actors are having a blast with playing these flawed and unlikable characters and it's very engaging in that way. Greenwood and Gugino are killing it.

My grades for Flanagan's work:

Hill House/Midnight Mass: 9/10
Bly Manor/Doctor Sleep/Gerald's Game: 8/10
Oculus/Ouija OeE: 7/10
Midnight Club: 6.5/10

[lupinskitten]

Finished it. Had some good moments, mired down by unlikable characters (nobody to root for, except Leonore, means I didn't care about any of them and wasn't emotionally affected by their deaths) and the writer's unimaginative use of dialogue (almost constant f-words does not make for exceptional dialogue, especially not when compared to Poe's quotations peppered throughout, as an example of true genius). Overall, I'll probably forget it in a week and never think about it again.

[edmonddantes]

I mean its almost disrespectful to use that title, when the whole thing is just an excuse for flanagan to pour into the screen his usual obsessions, with no connection with Poe's work or universe at all.

I've never liked flanagan, think his only film i liked was oculus, but hes a talented filmmaker and one of the few who can construct a moment of genuine terror, but you just have to wade through so much sh/t to get there, this drama-horror or whatever you call it its not my thing.

But still Ive watched most of his movies and series because hes an interesting and accomplished filmmaker, but this was downright bad, the worst thing Ive seen from him.

[happydood]

Yeah.... I'm two episodes in and so far and I absolutely love this show. Full disclosure: Doctor Sleep is maybe my favorite movie of the last five years and I also love Hill House, Midnight Mass, Gerald's Game and Hush. I got a kick out of Oculus and Ouija Origin of Evil- they have a lot of replay value for me. I thought Bly Manor was ok.

I'm also a Poe fan and return to my Vintage edition Complete Stories annually and I thought there was plenty of inspiration taken from the original works so far. It feels of a piece with how much Shirley Jackson and Henry James found their way into those series and I'm totally fine with his original takes with these classics as merely a basis.

I absolutely relate to Flanagan's sensibilities, but I can imagine they're not for everybody. I can't wait to see how this series plays out, but I'm trying to parcel it out and savor it rather than inhale the whole thing, so will return with my final verdict.

[peschi]

yeah also having a blast, and must say havent heard a monologue yet (2 eps in).

[happydood]

Originally Posted by peschi

yeah also having a blast, and must say havent heard a monologue yet (2 eps in).

And regardless, if there's a point to it, I have no problems. I know some were taken aback by Kate Siegal's monologue at the end of Midnight Mass and it was probably my favorite thing in that entire series.

[Orlac]

Mark Kermode reviews The Fall of the House of Usher - Kermode and Mayo's Take - YouTube

Streaming Review: The Fall of the House of Usher - Episode 1 - YouTube

[edmonddantes]

Originally Posted by happydood

Yeah.... I'm two episodes in and so far and I absolutely love this show. Full disclosure: Doctor Sleep is maybe my favorite movie of the last five years and I also love Hill House, Midnight Mass, Gerald's Game and Hush. I got a kick out of Oculus and Ouija Origin of Evil- they have a lot of replay value for me. I thought Bly Manor was ok.

I'm also a Poe fan and return to my Vintage edition Complete Stories annually and I thought there was plenty of inspiration taken from the original works so far. It feels of a piece with how much Shirley Jackson and Henry James found their way into those series and I'm totally fine with his original takes with these classics as merely a basis.

I absolutely relate to Flanagan's sensibilities, but I can imagine they're not for everybody. I can't wait to see how this series plays out, but I'm trying to parcel it out and savor it rather than inhale the whole thing, so will return with my final verdict.

not trying to sound antagonistic, but Im also a Poe fan, Ive read all his work, poetry, horror, short tales, long tales, and the only references Ive found in this series are tenuous and usually very superficial, like names. In terms of atmosphere I feel is the usual flanagan atmosphere and see no links with Poe's universe.

This was also the impression of the dark corner's guy review posted above, whos a pretty knowledgeable and witty guy. What are we both missing that you did see?

[happydood]

Originally Posted by edmonddantes

not trying to sound antagonistic, but Im also a Poe fan, Ive read all his work, poetry, horror, short tales, long tales, and the only references Ive found in this series are tenuous and usually very superficial, like names. In terms of atmosphere I feel is the usual flanagan atmosphere and see no links with Poe's universe.

This was also the impression of the dark corner's guy review posted above, whos a pretty knowledgeable and witty guy. What are we both missing that you did see?

I don't think you're missing anything. I think these series are merely a synthesis of Flanagan's aesthetic ideas and inspiration he gets from the authors' works. I thought the 2nd episode was a pretty clever take on Masque, but I would by no means call it an adaptation. There wasn't a whole lot of Turn of the Screw in Bly manor either. I just mentioned how much I love the original works to say I have no problem with these two things coexisting.