‘Midnight Mass’ Recap – ‘Book I: Genesis’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Midnight Mass’.
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For the most part, the horror genre is willing to tackle just about any topic out there, commentary wise. Simply because it is the most intelligent genre in storytelling and the right creative mind can easily weave the most taboo or uncomfortable of topics into the fabric of a story with minimal fuss and that has brought about some quality and powerful horror films and shows throughout the years. The kind that gives us great pause as we work to unpack everything a particularly brilliant story had to say. But you’ll notice that there was mention of the fact that not every topic has been properly visited by this genre and there is a good reason as to why that is the case. Because some subjects are so complex and uncomfortable, that trying to comment upon them and analyze them could be risky, and that is likely why horror tends to steer clear of in-depth analysis of religion. 

Because religion and faith are quite sacred in this world, and while some horror stories have indeed spoken to such matters in a topical manner, there are few stories out there that truly address the concerns so many have about religion and its sorted past and pratfalls. Likely because to do so could indeed invite incredible backlash, since so many hold religion near and dear to their hearts and use it to guide a great deal of their lives. But as the horror genre continues to grow in popularity and the demand for bolder horror stories is high, there are creative minds that are starting to dare to examine the more raw and unsavory aspects of religion and ask the tough questions regarding it, and one series that is clearly going to dive into religion full bore, is the latest Netflix series from horror master Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass.

For the series premiere of this new show, ‘Book I: Genesis’, wastes little time in examining how complicated mankind’s relationship with religion is and how we’ve begun to question it more and more because of the bad things that happen in our world and the lack of a response from the God we worship. As evidenced by the opening sequence of this tale where our main character, Riley Flynn, is faced with the reality that he has killed another human being while driving drunk. And being sentenced to jail for years and being forced to face the fact that God and his devout faith to Christianity did nothing to protect him or the life he watched fade before his eyes, leads him to ​question everything he’s been taught about religion and its purpose. 

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Which is a conflict that only grows when he returns home to his hometown of Crockett Island, a tiny community of only 120 people that ironically, still believe that faith is the answer to all of their ails and well… Riley’s conflict really does inform the viewer that this series is going to go hard into the power and the pratfalls of religion. As evidenced by the intense and conflicted conversations that take place between Riley and his parents regarding their faith and what purpose they believe it serves. But what is equally as fascinating about this series, is that Riley's homecoming and the time in between those powerful conversations... sets the stage for a great deal more for this series. Since there are hints of an examination to come, regarding the decline of Americana and our desire to hold onto it, and of course… there is a horror mystery waiting in the wings for the viewer as well.

Because the arrival of a replacement Monsignor named Paul Hill… adds some vampiric undertones to this particular tale. Thanks to the mysterious crate in Hill’s belongings and the odd sightings of flying beings at night and of course… the death of a bevy of stray cats… is cause for great concern and a hint that something sinister has indeed arrived here. However, it should be noted, that we gain minimal answers or progress in regard to any of these plot threads in this story, and that is not a bad things by any means. Because Mike Flanagan is a master storyteller, and it is obvious that this premiere is designed to set the stage for a grandiose and powerful journey, where eventually, all of our questions commentary wise and plot wise will be answered. 

​Because Flanagan will undoubtedly force the realities of the world and the fantasies to religion to collide in this tale, and that is going to allow for some fine commentary to come to fruition. The kind that will undoubtedly give us the pause we seek from this genre and hopefully start some hard discussions on the nature of religion in the 21st Century and its purpose and as an added bonus, it looks like we are going to be treated to some serious scares as well. Since some of the sequences involving what lurks in the dark, were downright terrifying, and there is some heavy air surrounding Paul Hill and his intentions and his past and let’s be honest… devout faith is terrifying as well. Since we’ve seen what turns people into and truly, it will be quite interesting to see how all of these themes are going to come together in the weeks to come. Because this really is undiscovered country for the horror genre and anything can happen, now that the stage is set, and good and evil have assembled on this lonesome and forgotten island. Until next time.  

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