Three years before the most recentSalem’s Lotadaptation arrived, horror master Mike Flanagan createdMidnight Mass, a spiritual successor toSalem’s Lotthat earned an impressive 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. AlthoughMidnight Massis an original story by Flanagan, who previously adaptedThe Haunting of Hill HouseandThe Haunting of Bly Manor,the Netflix show has a lot in common with Stephen King’sSalem’s Lot. In essence,Midnight Massis the greatestSalem’s Lot-like remake in decades, especially since the latestdisappointingSalem’s Lotmoviefalls short of greatness.
Originally a 1975 horror novel by King,Salem’s Lotcenters on writer Ben Mears, who returns to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine. Unfortunately for Ben, a lot has changed over the years. Namely, the residents of Jerusalem’s Lot are becoming vampires. The town’s eeriest house was purchased by Austrian immigrant Kurt Barlow, who winds up being an ancient vampire that Ben must confront inSalem’s Lot’s ending.This makes thematically similar to Mike Flanagan’sMidnight Mass, giving the two stories a deep spirtual connection.
Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass Show Feels Like A New Take On Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot Story
The Vampiric Entity InMidnight MassHas A Lot In Common With Salem’s Lot
AlthoughMidnight Massis an original story, the similarities between Flanagan’s Netflix series and King’s book are striking. Much likeSalem’s Lot,Midnight Massbegins with a man returning home. However, Riley Flynn isn’t a writer — he’s a former venture capitalist who’s still grappling with his guilt over a drunk driving incident. Riley’s hometown is a deeply religious community, though the parish’s numbers have dwindled over the years. Coincidentally, Riley’s arrival overlaps with that of a charismatic young priest. This new arrival impacts the town similar to Barlow’s arrival leading to a vampire plague.
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Linklater’s Father Paul Hill is as enigmatic as he is charming. At first, the townspeople think Father Paul will be a temporary replacement for the aged Monsignor Pruitt, butthe priest becomes crucial in revitalizing the small town’s faith. To make matters even more interesting, Father Paul seems capable of creating miracles. Riley and the other townspeople learn that Father Paul brought something more than just his faith back from a trip to Jerusalem. Although not quite aSalem’s Lot-style vampire, the winged creature is more vampiric than angelic.
Midnight Mass Tackles Salem’s Lot’s Book Themes Better Than The 2024 Movie
The Religious Themes InMidnight MassGround Flanagan’s Original Story In Age-Old Questions
AlthoughMidnight Massis not strictly aSalem’s Lotadaptation, King’s influence can be deeply felt. Given the 2024’sSalem’s Lotmovie’s shortcomings,Midnight Massmight just be the bestSalem’s Lot-type story since the 1979 miniseries. It’s a dark and compelling story that feels tonally reminiscent of Stephen King’s works. One ofMike Flanagan’s best shows and movies,Midnight Massis definitely worth watching for any fan ofSalem’s Lot, as it’s better than almost any official version of the story.
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Unlike the 2024Salem’s Lotmovie,Midnight Masstackles its central themes expertly. From the big religious questions to the vampire symbolism,Midnight Massweaves everything together elegantly, which is why it’s so reminiscent of King’sSalem’s Lot.Midnight Mass' hidden meanings and central themesrevolve around the ways horror and faith intersect.Forgiveness plays a huge role in the storyfor every single character. In fact, the whole reason Father Paul bringsMidnight Mass’ vampire monster back to Crockett Island is because he’s punishing himself for past deeds.Midnight Massmight be heavy-handed, but it’s also beautifully rendered.
Midnight Mass
Created and directed by Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass follows the residents of an isolated fishing community whose lives are changed by the sudden appearance of a charismatic new priest, Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater). The residents of Crockett Island struggle to eke out a meager living, just barely surviving off the mainland, but the appearance of Hill changes everything. Attendance at the local church is at an all-time high, but cynical ex-con Riley Flynn doesn’t trust the priest, and sets out to uncover his dark secret.
