Director Mike Flanagan has established himself as a name to be reckoned with in horror alongside the likes ofJames Wanand John Carpenter. He has written, directed and produced some of the most iconic horror movies and television series, noted for their suspenseful spooks and compelling narratives.
Recently, however, Flanagan has gained more traction due to his string of successful horror shows, from the eerie Midnight Mass to the suspenseful The Fall of the House of Usher. So, we thought it was high time that Flanagan got his time in the sun and gave you a comprehensive list of all the films and shows in his filmography.
13Absentia
2011
Absentia marks Flanagan’s directorial debut and is a well-paced, sufficiently eerie horror film that leaves the horror element up to the audience’s interpretation.
The film’s plot revolves around two sisters, Tricia and Callie. Tricia is suffering from her husband’s disappearance, and, after officially declaring him dead, is hit with odd and scary events that hint that he isn’t. In a story laced with mystery, something sinister has been going around town for decades that’s caused more people other than Tricia’s husband to disappear in this suspense-filled thriller.
12Ouija: Origin Of Evil
2016
The prequel to the critically panned 2014 film, Ouija, Ouija: Origin of Evil, arguably revived the flailing horror series. Not only is the story well-paced and the spooks well-timed, but Flanagan added more depth to the characters compared to its predecessor, making for an enjoyable horror flick to sit through.
The story focuses on the Zander family, where the mother, Alice, earns money by posing as a psychic after the death of her husband. One of her daughters, Doris, starts messing around with a ouija board and summons a spirit claiming to be her father. Of course, it isn’t the Zander patriarch, and Doris is soon possessed, leading to a twisted chain of events that connects to the first film.
11The Midnight Club
2022
Compared to his more well-known shows like Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club leans more toward being a teen drama. Superbly well-acted, the show’s plot is inspired by Christopher Pike’s book of the same name and a selection of his short stories.
The story follows a group of terminally ill teenagers who enter hospice care at Brightcliffe Home. As a way to comfort each other, they’ve been swapping stories in ‘The Midnight Club’, with the first person to die vowing to show a sign from the beyond. Although the initial episodes were great, the later episodes feel bogged down, with the characters' actions throwing you out of the immersion at times.
10Oculus
2013
Many different tropes have been used in horror movies, but 2013’s Oculus revolves around the concept of cursed objects. Aside from its genuinely spine-tingling jump scares and an excellent performance by Karen Gillan, the movie deals with confronting personal traumas and portrays well the degenerating mental states of the Russell family.
Oculus' story is depicted through a focus on intermittent flashbacks and the present timeline. Protagonist Kaylie Russell is determined to prove her hunch: that the mirror her dad bought was haunted and is responsible for her parents' deaths. Kaylie moves the mirror to the family home to record it as proof, but revisiting the past brings back unwelcome memories for Kaylie and her brother Tim, as the mirror awakens and sinister things start to happen.
9Before I Wake
Before I Wake presents a novel concept in horror films, where your dreams are translated into actual reality. While that sounds nice at the outset, having your literal nightmares come to life, haunt you and potentially harm you and your loved ones makes it sound less appealing.
This is the power of eight-year-old Cody, who’s thrown into the foster system after his mother’s death. He’s adopted by the Hobsons, who instantly experience Cody’s powers when he sleeps. Although his gift first enchants them, the couple (and others around them) are soon terrorised by the pale, skeletal ‘Canker Man’. The film is undoubtedly terrifying, but at its core is a poignant portrayal of grief and the importance of moving on.
8Hush
If you’re looking for suspenseful psychological thrillers, then 2016’s Hush is for you. Starring the talented Kate Spiegel, the film showcases true terror, making you feel as trapped as the protagonist, and never failing to hammer in the sensation that you must constantly look over your shoulder.
The movie follows writer Maddie, who gained renown for her book Midnight Mass (likely a nod to Flanagan’s future work) and moves out to live in a remote, wooded area. Deaf and mute, Maddie becomes the target of a masked killer, who taunts her and kills the loved ones who come to visit, and a thrilling cat-and-mouse hunt ensues.
7Gerald’s Game
2017
Gerald’s Game is, thus far, the first and onlyadaptation of Stephen King’s 1992 novelof the same name. Although the film is largely set in one room, it doesn’t take away from the compelling performances of Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood, along with a plotline that hooks you from the very start.
The protagonist, Jessie, goes to a cabin in a remote area with her husband, Gerald, hoping to rekindle their marriage. Instead, Gerald dies of a heart attack, leaving Jessie handcuffed to the bed, unable to leave. Alone and increasingly desperate, her traumatic past comes rushing in, and she begins to question her sanity when she sees visions of the ‘Midnight Man’ in the room.
6Doctor Sleep
2019
The sequel to Stephen King’s iconic work The Shining, Doctor Sleep focuses on Jack’s son, Dan Torrance. Naturally, Dan’s experiences at the Overlook Hotel deeply affected him into adulthood in this intense, thrilling drama with a star-studded cast and captivating narrative.
In this film, Dan comes across another child, Abra, who also has the ‘shining’ and discovers a nefarious, life-or-death plot by a cult of immortal vampires, the True Knot, targeting people like them. His fight against them leads him to return to the Overlook Hotel to confront both the ghosts of his past and the ghosts of the Overlook in a film that’s a treat for King fans.
5The Life Of Chuck
2024
Flanagan took a break from his usual fare of horror flicks to direct the drama, The Life of Chuck. Starring Tom Hiddleston as the protagonist, the movie is another Stephen King adaptation with a touching, thought-provoking message about the meaning of life.
Split into three acts similar to the book, the film starts with the final act, where the main character, Charles Krantz, is dying from a tumour at age 39. All three acts revisit Chuck’s life through both the other characters and his own perspective, as he contemplates his brightest and darkest moments before the curtain finally falls around him.
4The Haunting Of Bly Manor
2020
The Haunting of Bly Manor is an adaptation of Henry James' defining work, 1898’s The Turn of the Screw, but also features some of his other short stories as well. The show follows a non-linear format and diverges from an earlier adaptation, 1961’s The Innocents. While the latter makes you question whether the protagonist is going mad, the show confirms that the manor is actually haunted.
The story focuses on Dani Clayton, an au pair assigned to care for two siblings, Flora and Miles, at Bly Manor. But the manor is filled with certain sinister ghostly residents that threaten the lives of the living. Flanagan has always scored high points for character development, and this show demonstrates it, along with a plot that never fails to keep you on the edge of your seat.
