La Chute de la maison Usher

This is a series that can be in the family drama genre rather than in horror and mystery genres. It's a good drama series that used only enough violence and nudity the story demands.

The fall of an evil pharmaceutical family company known as Usher Family, the death of each of the heirs of that company and the mystery of their deaths is the summary of the series.

The heart of this series is the characters and the actors performances. It really hooks the audience rather than the horror elements of the scenarios.

A binge worthy series created by Mike Flanagan, inspired from the gothic short stories written by the American writer and poet Edgar Allen Poe in the 1800's which Flanagan developed in a way that it is related to the things happening in the present world.

Mike Flanagan is clearly a Poe fan. The fall of the house of usher is my favorite Poe story. The 1960 Vincent Price film of that story is one of my favorite movies of all time. I came into this expecting a similar story told longer. That is not what I got.

After the first episode I was actually kind of annoyed because I wasn't getting it. I didn't get how this was the house of usher. I thought it was beautiful and it definitely grabbed my attention but it wasn't what I was expecting to be. And then after a few episodes I realized what was happening. Every episode is a modern retelling of an Edgar Allan Poe story. And then tying each of those stories into the house of usher. It was genius. Some people will catch that by reading the titles of each episode but I honestly didn't pay any attention to that until I was four episodes in. Obviously the episode title does give away what the story in that episode will be but then the creative journey will show us how it ties to our main story.

I think from start to finish this entire project was so well done. The acting is outstanding. Every special effect was marvelous. The sets were beautiful and unique. The writing and the directing are top knots. There are definitely some beautiful and unique shots in this work. I could honestly write a book about how much I loved this. This is something I will watch again and again.

The Fall of the House of Usher isn't for everyone. It's a slow-burning, ponderous journey into the heart of madness and the mind of opulence.

But, Mike Flanagan understood his assignment.

Though this miniseries is very loosely based on the Edgar Allen Poe short story of the same name, it has almost nothing to do with it. Instead, it uses some of Poe's best works and his most poignant prose to tell a unique tale through the lens of surreal, horrific rapacity.

On that note, the horror elements on display are mostly subdued and thematic, sans a couple of admittedly shocking, fun death scenes. Thus, if you're looking for a visceral horror experience, then you should look elsewhere.

Instead, The Fall of the House of Usher is a strange, dark descent into the soul of a broken family. A family that has been dealing with the devil in bad faith for so long that evil is a pervasive normalcy. A family that has an inevitable price to pay for every deed.

Or is it the tale of the Fortunato pharmaceutical company told from the vengeful perspective of Montresor Flanagan?

Either way, the series is shot exceptionally and the acting is top-tier.

I learned recently that Mike Flanagan has a wave of haters, as all successful creators have, but I've seen him as somewhat of an auteur in the horror genre since he burst onto the scene with Absentia and Oculus. He's a master storyteller, and he understands the essence of horror like few other directors.

You know what the greatest filmmakers and the Adult Film industry have in common? When you see them, you know it.

I just know a Flanagan project when I see it, because he has a defined cinematic style and a measured approach to writing. Everything is both whimsical and grounded at once, which can lend surprising levity to often complex, or even convoluted, plot structures.

And that's probably The Fall of the House of Usher's biggest shortcoming. The pacing is all over the place, especially considering such an outrageous story.

Oddly, I sometimes feel the same way about Poe's stories, so maybe that disparity is intentional.

Still, I found many of the slower scenes, and there are many, to be meandering and circular. Exposition is delivered in long closeups to the background of long strings focusing on long faces.

I think if this were a six hour movie instead of an eight hour movie, it would have been a masterpiece.

But, what I got is still a beautiful, haunting delve into the world of Edgar Allen Poe and the mind of Mike Flanagan. The Fall of the House of Usher was clearly a passion project for all involved, and the story ended with a satisfying finale that gave me chills, just like Poe's best works.

Will I watch it again? Nevermore. But I'm not mad that I did.

I recommend this one to fans of slow-burn cerebral horror or tragic, dark family drama.

8/10 - Great.

A huge family run empire at the height of its powers begins so crumble, as one by one the heirs and offspring begin to die.

It's a binge worthy eight part series, one you won't want to end. It's a twisted look at one greed and vanity can do, even among siblings.

It's dark and twisted, it gets better with every passing episode, Flanagan knows only too well how to spin a yarn, and this is another wonderful series. The final episode was perhaps my favourite segment, how rare for a series to end on such a high note, it's wonderful.

Beautifully produced as you'd expect, you get a real insight into what life is like for those that live with huge wealth, sadly they're all monstrous, every single time you think an Usher has come good, you have to think again.

It highlights what it is to have everything, and what it is to have nothing, only you have to question what exactly is worth having, does wealth amount to anything at all ultimately?

Lots of familiar faces, and they all perform, it's worth seeing for Mark Hamill alone, although it owes a great debt to the versatility of Carla Gugino, who gets some show stealing scenes.

Am already counting down for the next Flanagan series.

9/10.

In the vast realm of storytelling, some tales strike us silent, and this is undoubtedly one of those.

"The Fall of the House of Usher" transports us to a world of opulent elites, drowning in their vices without remorse, willing to sacrifice their own kin for vanity. They believe their wealth can shield them from consequences, but as with all tales, reckoning awaits. This series, a true marvel to my eyes, sparks deep thoughts with its superb direction and unforgettable performances.

Bruce Greenwood, already a talented actor, truly shines in this series, though he's not the only star. The entire cast delivers exceptional performances.

The writing is beyond the usual small screen fare, exquisite and captivating.

I can't definitively say if this is Mike Flanagan's best work, but it's undoubtedly among his finest.