Fans of classic literature and horror enthusiasts might just be in for a treat with the upcoming Netflix release The Fall of the House of Usher.
Mike Flanagan has created the gothic horror drama miniseries. He has a whole bunch of highly acclaimed horror films and series under his belt, from The Haunting of Hill House to Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep.
Loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s iconic short story of the same name and a few other works, The Fall of the House of Usher promises a chilling experience. The trailer dropped this week, and it has already generated curiosity among viewers, some of whom have commented it looks like the horror version of Succession.
If you want to know more about it before you add it to your watchlist, read on to know what The Fall of the House of Usher is about, the talented cast bringing it to life, and the release date.
What is The Fall of the House of Usher about?
Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of The House of Usher is a timeless tale of decay, madness, and supernatural dread. The original story, first published in 1839, begins with an unnamed narrator who visits the crumbling ancestral home of his friend, Roderick Usher. In the Usher mansion, the narrator encounters Roderick’s ailing twin sister, Madeline, and is drawn into a nightmarish sequence of events. As the story unfolds, Madeline’s premature burial, her ghastly return from the grave, and a horrific climax, involving the titular house crumbling to dust, create an atmosphere of unrelenting dread.
However, Flanagan’s adaptation takes a massive detour from the source material. In this modern reimagining, Roderick Usher is portrayed as the CEO of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, an influential corporate figure, alongside his enigmatic twin sister, Madeline. The series introduces elements of corporate intrigue and a relentless demon from Roderick’s past, Verna, setting the stage for a confrontation that could reveal long-buried family secrets. This twist on the original story promises a fresh and intriguing take on Poe’s timeless themes of psychological horror and decay.
Who is in the cast of The Fall of the House of Usher?
Flanagan’s collaboration with Netflix has brought together a talented ensemble cast featuring both familiar faces and new additions. Bruce Greenwood leads the series as Roderick Usher, portraying the tormented character at the centre of the story. Mary McDonnell takes on the role of Madeline Usher, Roderick’s twin sister.
Carla Gugino, known for her previous work with Flanagan, appears as Verna, described as a shape-shifting demon. Gugino described the show to Netflix during production, “It’s batshit crazy in the best possible way.” And we are here for it.
Kate Siegel, another recurring talent in Flanagan’s projects and his wife in real life, plays Camille L’Espanaye, responsible for PR for the Usher family’s corporate empire. Henry Thomas, Mark Hamill, Rahul Kohli, and Annabeth Gish also join the cast.
Interestingly, each of these characters’ names has a link with other Poe stories. Hamill plays Arthur Pym, who features in the 1838 novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, the only complete novel by Poe. Siegel’s Camille is mentioned in the short The Murders in the Rue Morgue. And Gish plays the role of Eliza, incidentally Poe’s mother’s name.
When is The Fall of the House of Usher releasing?
The Fall of the House of Usher is set to premiere on Netflix on October 12, 2023, right ahead of Halloween. So, horror enthusiasts, mark your calendars.
