Known as the author of the first detective stories, Edgar Allan Poe would probably not recognize the latest adaptation of his work. In time for Halloween, showrunner Mike Flanagan is back with his acting troupe from Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor to turn an early 19th century setting into the 2020s. A mash-up of ideas and concepts from across Poe’s works, the Netflix series The Fall of the House of Usher takes that story most of us in the States read in seventh grade (see “irony, “allusions,” “symbolism,” etc.) and twists it into what looks like a modern dark comedy. As Flanagan did with Henry James’ 1898 horror tale The Turn of the Screw, this series should deliver enough fun with its cast and quirky Gothic horror (lots of blood and gore) elements to stay along for all eight episodes.
Seriously–it has the stars of Star Wars, Star Trek, E.T., Battlestar Galactica, iZombie, The X-Files, Resident Evil, Altered Carbon, and L.A.’s Finest all in one show? Where do we sign up?
Below check out the trailer for the latest twist on Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher.
The series features Star Wars’ Mark Hamill, Star Trek’s Bruce Greenwood, E.T.’s Henry Thomas, Battlestar Galactica’s Mary McDonnell and Michael Trucco, The X-Files’ Annabeth Gish, Altered Carbon’s Carl Lumbly, L.A.’s Finest’s Zach Gilford, and Resident Evil’s Paola Núñez, plus returning actors from Flanagan’s band of players including Thomas, Watchmen’s Carla Gugino, Kate Siegel (Oculus), T’Nia Miller (Years and Years), Katie Parker (Absentia), Ruth Codd (Creepshow), and Rahul Kohli (iZombie). “But that’s not all”–genre fans also get to see iZombie’s Malcolm Goodwin as an update to Poe’s first genre detective, C. Auguste Dupin!
Check out this horror–and comedy–filled trailer for The Fall of the House of Usher:
This is the series that reportedly filmed all the scenes with Frank Langella as the star, delayed to be re-shot with Greenwood as the head of the Usher family.
Look for the Halloween vibe in the series The Fall of the House of Usher exclusively on Netflix, with all eight episodes expected October 12, 2023.
C.J. Bunce / Editor / borg
