Midnight Mass (TV, 2021)

Creator: Mike Flanagan 
Stars: Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Kristin Lehman

Synopsis: An isolated island community experiences miraculous events - and frightening omens - after the arrival of a charismatic, mysterious young priest.

Verdict: Priests, angels, and bad make-up populate Mike Flanagan’s newest demonic Netflix limited series. Set on an isolated island where the population barely reaches 150 locals, it follows the events that unfold when a new, mysterious priest shows up to replace the community's old monsignor.

His takeover coincides with a surge in miraculous happenings which result in an almost hysteric increase of faith within the residents. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that what cannot be explained right now shouldn’t immediately be labeled as God’s work. Miracles shouldn’t be treated as proof of the existence of a higher power, but merely as a reminder that no matter how much science progresses, humanity’s knowledge will always remain limited as illustrated by Socrates’ famous paradox which claims that “I know that I know nothing”.

“Midnight Mass” is centered around that very concept. Its goal is to show its audience the dangers of religious fanaticism and the consequences of weaponizing faith. It’s a tough topic to delve into, and Flanagan’s attempt to commercialize it didn’t sit too well with me.

I found “Midnight Mass” to be average at best, damaged by flat character arcs, an atmosphere that’s trying way too hard to capture a religious feel, and endless monologues that remove any sort of subtlety from its central themes. It was a very surface-level narrative, one that concludes in perhaps the most anticlimactic way possible that leaves us with barely anything to chew onto and a sour taste in our mouths.

“Midnight Mass” does a better job at being a light horror drama coupled with a few great performances than it does at being a critique on the state of religious belief today. I was disappointed by its wasted potential which can be found instead in Park Chan-Wook's excellent thriller “Thirst” or Darren Aronofsky’s controversial “Mother!”.

FINAL GRADE: 5/10