MIKE FLANAGAN UNIVERSE + GHOSTS

the haunting of the hillhouse (2018) the haunting of bly manor (2020) midnight mass (2021)

People do, don’t they? Mix up love and possession. I don’t think that should be possible. I mean, they’re opposites, really. Love and ownership.

THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR (2020) created by Mike Flanagan

kate shut the hell up

WE HAVENT HEALED YET

Thinking about the motifs of addiction and recovery in Mike Flanagan's work: how addiction is created and fueled by trauma and horror and how it is not portrayed in a judgemental or gratuitous way but shows the addict as deeply human and how addicts get redemption not despite their addiction but through it and their recovery and surrender.

And still the overall message is one of hope because the opposite of addiction is connection and the opposite of horror is love. In this essay I will

Alex Essoe appearances: Doctor Sleep (2019) The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) Midnight Mass (2021)

mike flanagan when he's writing a fifth episode

they call him mike "monologues" flanagan

the way Mike Flanagan and his team allow us to explore the realities of death and dying through the lenses of characters that cannot die. that are stuck. characters that desperately want to let go and are unable or refuse to let go and hurt others in the process. And in the end it is always the realization that we are everything and we are nothing all at once and we are stories. it moves me every time. Every. Time.

Watching Mike Flannagan's shows be like- ugly crying, deep existential pondering, ghost/monster lore, and being attracted to characters played by beautiful people

Jamie: If you had to separate your dog from 49 other identical dogs that were all equally excited to see you, how would you determine which dog was yours?

Dani: I would take my 50 dogs home and live like a queen.

for those of you watching the haunting for the first time now that’s it’s spooky season-

lots of emotions will be felt

you’ll be okay though

and you’ll love it

welcome home.

i just realised that mildred gunning and charlotte wingrave from bly manor were played by the same actress

listen if midnight mass wasn’t your thing i get it if you thought it was bad and hated it cool but if you genuinely think bly manor is mike flanagan’s best work... i think you’re just a lesbian. and that’s okay! i’m just a lesbian too! i mean bly is my favorite work of his, but anywhere near his best? come on... it’s ok to admit your biases.

Victoria Pedretti during her “What’s Underneath” interview 🥺😿

2020 AND LGBT MEDIA

dani & jamie + hand holding

If you’re lost you can look and you will find me… time after time

(Dani & Jamie)

Jamie: WHOEVER CAUSED THIS MESS IS GOING TO-

Dani: It was me...

Jamie: -be forgiven because everyone deserves a second chance.

Miles: If it was me, I'd be dead by now.