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Please be aware that there will be spoilers for Midnight Mass (2021) going forth.
After the success of two highly celebrated limited Netflix series, The Haunting of Hill House (2018) and The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020), Mike Flanagan is back with another addition to the horror genre — though this one trades in the gothic manor for a secluded island community. While Midnight Mass (2021) has similar themes of grief, addiction, and forgiveness, this series explores the theme of faith most ardently.
Playing upon that delicate line the horror genre loves — where the secular meets the divine — this is the sweet spot in which the show thrives. However, despite the narrative’s overtly religious theme, Midnight Mass is a compelling work, not because it tells the viewer religion is good or bad, but because it allows one to witness differing viewpoints on faith without restricting its message to abide by a narrow understanding of the word.
Flanagan’s Midnight Mass (2021)
Set on an insular fishing community thirty miles away from civilization, Crockett Island (nicknamed the Crock Pot) acts as home to a whopping population of 127. This island, while riddled with poverty, has one thing in abundance — faith. After all, there is not much to do on a Sunday morning in Crockett so, why not go to church?
The viewer is introduced to this island as a former altar boy, Riley Flynn, returns home from serving four years in prison after he drunkenly hit and killed a young woman. At the same time, Father Paul arrives unannounced in Crockett to replace the beloved Monsignor Pruitt as the priest at St. Patrick’s. While Father Paul’s arrival is first met without the gossip that Riley’s return has, his passionate sermons and charismatic demeanor swiftly reignite a vigor in the community.
The Blood Of Christ, Shed For You
From the minimal advertising of Midnight Mass, the realization that the show is a contemporized version of a classic creature feature is quite the surprise. The trailer gave away scraps of the plotline, instead opting for an unsettling eeriness to linger with potential viewers. Such a cult-like ambiance is certainly not a wrong overview to give of the show, but vampire lore was undoubtedly unexpected to find amongst the mix. That is the big elephant in room; the vampire in Midnight Mass who is exclusively referred to as an angel. Trying to grapple with how a vampire could be confused with an angel is, at first, a ridiculous notion to comprehend. However, there are many factors at play in Midnight Mass that allows for this to work.
Angels As The Ultimate Intimidators
Firstly, it is a common trope within the world of horror to present angels as intimidating creatures. A far cry from the halo-winged babies found on valentine’s day cards, the angels described in the Bible are beings that produce immense fear in those who lay eyes upon them: “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified” (Luke 2:9) (( “Bible Gateway Passage: Luke 2:9-10, New International Version.” Bible Gateway. 2021. )).
Again, the gospel of Matthew describes a violent earthquake as an angel appears at Jesus’s tomb: “His (the angel’s) appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.5 The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid’…” (Matthew 28:3-5) (( “Bible Gateway Passage: Matthew 28:3-5, New International Version.” Bible Gateway. 2021. )). These biblical accounts show how a man devout as Father Paul could see such a terrifying creature and justify his assumption through his faith, so strong it is blinding.
Father Paul + Faith
Secondly, because of Father Paul’s unyielding beliefs, his confidence that he encountered an angel is absolute. The connection was simple for him to make as he wandered into a dark cave and shook with fear like those men in the verses of the Bible. When this strange, winged creature appeared before him and he drank the angel’s blood only to be suddenly reborn in his younger, agile body, what else was he to think? Thus, another twist comes to light: Father Paul and Monsignor Pruitt are one and the same.
In Catholicism, there is a belief that the bread and wine taken during communion are the literal body and blood of Christ. The technical term for it is transubstantiation (( “Dictionary.” www.dictionary.com. 2021. )), but the word itself is not as important as understanding that Pruitt easily accepts this transformation and consumption of blood because of his religious beliefs. His suffering is righteous because Jesus suffered first. He sees this horrific occurrence as a gift from his God for which he was specifically chosen.
The V-Word
Thirdly, Midnight Mass is a story, and as stories often demand, there is a suspension of belief necessary. Characters such as Monsignor Pruitt and Bev Keane see this monstrous creature as an angel, interpreting the supernatural events occurring around them as part of “God’s plan.” Others find these circumstances absurd. Yet, there is no conversation between any characters about vampires. The V-word is never spoken by a resident of Crockett Island or even written in the subtitles. The creature is clear and plain vampire-coded but never called anything other than an angel.
This trope is used time and time again in horror, though often in relation to zombies. The phrase “Z-word” (( TV Tropes Contributors. “Not Using the “Z” Word.” TV Tropes. 2021. )) was coined in the film Shaun of the Dead (2004; Edgar Wright) to refer to this cliché where a creature is based on a known mythological monster, but the story goes out of its way not to call it by its name. Night of the Living Dead (1968; George A. Romero) and the popular television series The Walking Dead (2010-) never use the word “zombie” when referring to the, well, zombies. Instead, they opt for terms like “the infected” or “walkers.” This suspension of belief is essential to their respective narratives. So, just as the characters in The Walking Dead do not have George A. Romero films, the characters in Midnight Mass do not have Nosferatu (1922; F.W. Murnau). This avoids viewers getting stuck on rules and tropes of the creature in question and creates an utter panic where the characters have no knowledge to base off of this horror they are experiencing.
O Come All Ye Faithful
Faith is not a concept that is solely reserved for religion. Sure, the word has its connotations (primarily within Christianity), but faith is more subtle and abundant than one’s immediate reaction to the word. Faith in a God, yes, but also faith in friendship. Faith in family. Faith, the sun will rise tomorrow. Faith one’s alarm clock will wake them in the morning. Assigning the concept of faith uniquely to religion is a disservice to oneself. It is this exhaustive understanding of faith that Midnight Mass drives home.
Examples of faith, or a lack thereof, are shown abundantly throughout the series. There is the subtle, secular faith such as Riley believing the sun will rise when he sits on that rowboat with Erin Greene, or the three woman having faith the afternoon ferry will arrive like always. A lack of faith is also presented at the beginning of the series when two of the kids on the island are worried Ali will snitch to his Dad, the single Sheriff on Crockett, that they bought drugs. Trivial moments like these illustrate the way faith pervades every aspect of life without one consciously thinking about it.
Crockett’s Fall From Faith
Another more pronounced example displaying a lack of faith occurs in the second episode of the series, “Book II: Psalms.” The morning after a heavy storm, the beach of Crockett is found to be littered with dead cats. The Sheriff talks with curious islanders and the Mayor to figure out how all the stray cats on the island suddenly died in an ordinary storm. The Mayor tries to convince the Sheriff the Uppards (the upper section of the island where the cats gather) flooded or that sharks finally returned to their waters after leaving when a detrimental oil spill hit the island. The Sheriff (and Riley) remain unconvinced. This is, perhaps, the first time the Sheriff experiences a lack of faith in Crockett Island. A place, revealed to viewers later, that he saw as a sanctuary compared to the racism he had to endure in New York City.
However, more than any dialogue, the technique utilized to shoot this scene alerts a lack of faith and builds a sense of mistrust. This moment is part of a seven-minute-long take at the beginning of the second episode. When the Mayor and the Sheriff begin their conversation, the camera slowly circles them and turns in 360 degrees continuously. This purposeful act of breaking the 180-degree rule — a filmmaker’s guideline to keep the action on one side of the camera as not to confuse the audience– alerts the viewer to acknowledge something is not quite right (( “What The Heck Is The 180-Degree Rule? – Definition and Examples.” Indie Film Hustle, 24 May 2021. )). This works particularly well within horror as it disorients the viewer and forces one to actively pay attention. Here, it is as if the viewer is dropped into the middle of the chaos as the islanders find out what happened on the shore in real-time. At this moment, there is confusion and a lack of faith in the island itself. This sets up the unstoppable downfall of the islanders’ trust in one another.
And To Dust You Shall Return
So, what does having faith in a God really mean? Why do people continue to pray despite never receiving a response? What happens to a soul after one dies? How do selfishness and faith coexist? Midnight Mass does not provide answers to any of these questions. Instead, it presents them and ponders them, encouraging viewers to do the same.
“Remember that we are dust, and to dust, we shall return” are the last words Riley leaves to Pruitt in a letter written hours before he decides to burn himself alive in the sunlight rather than hurting another human again (( “Book II: Psalms.” Midnight Mass, season 1, episode 2, 24 Sept. 2021. Netflix. )). The emphasis on the use of plural “we” rather than a singular “you” is important here. At this time, Riley and Pruitt are the only two vampires on the island. Riley’s last message acts both as a slap in the face and an ominous warning of what is to come.
The very same phrase was spoken from Pruitt to Riley just a few days ago during Ash Wednesday mass. The words are a somber reminder to reflect on the way one is living and a call to find strength and guidance in God, the only being everlasting. In the book of Genesis, God creates the first man, Adam, from dust of the Earth and speaks these words to him (( “Bible Gateway Passage: Genesis 3:19, New International Version.” Bible Gateway. 2021. )). It fits shockingly well in a vampire narrative where sunlight has the ability to burn a vampire to ashes. In this way, vampires are the perfect creature to mix with such religious themes because of this ever-present reminder of their fragility they have amidst such strength. The sun rises every day, and with it comes the reminder that “we are dust and to dust we shall return.”
Riley and Erin discussed this notion of death a few days prior. Flanagan has a penchant for monologues, and it works excellently in a show filled with a theological inquiry. This scene presents a discussion showcasing how death is a motivating factor behind religion. Each has a tearful monologue in which they speak to what they think happens when one dies. Riley’s speech describes the body breaking down. He talks about the science of a body no longer functioning and how atoms stop sending signals one by one. He holds the atheist, scientific viewpoint.
Erin, however, believes in a heaven. She is one of the most ambivalent characters we see in regards to religion, but she has an undeniable view that there is life after death, that there has to be. She describes her belief in heaven as reuniting. There are “No mansion, no rivers of diamonds, or fluffy clouds or angel wings. You are loved. And you aren’t alone. That is God. That is Heaven” (( “Book IV: Lamentations.” Midnight Mass, season 1, episode 4, 24 Sept. 2021. Netflix. )). Despite their different views, both reach the same conclusion; everyone dies and what happens after that is a mystery.
A foreshadowing for everything that will come to the islanders, Riley and Erin themselves soon find answers to what happens when one dies. The last sequence of Midnight Mass is a stunning montage of Crockett Island in their last moments. Ali and his father are praying to Allah together on the shore. The remaining vampire-turned townsfolk are singing a hymn together (aptly named “Nearer, My God, to Thee”) and holding onto one another. Erin is gazing into the sky, watching the stars turn into the last sunrise she will ever see. These shots show why anyone believes in something larger than themselves — it provides a sense of community, a way to feel a little less alone and a little less scared. This is why Bev desperately clawing into the sand to try and stop the sun from touching her cursed skin is a powerful moment. While a victorious scene for viewers, it is also a painful realization that death is real and inevitable. In her last moments, this righteously faithful woman is terrified of dying while everyone else looks to have found peace.
Nearer, My God, To Thee
Religion is an anchor to so many individuals. The “why” of this could be debated until the end of time, but it comes down to the fact that people have faith because life is scary. Death is scary too. In an interview on Midnight Mass, Flanagan expresses that, “There’s an enormous amount of horror in religion. And we (the writers) didn’t put it there…I think, in a lot of ways, all of our religions draw on two things: our desire for there to be life after we die, and our rampant fear of everything else that exists” (( Flanagan, Mike. Interview. By Jake Hamilton. “‘Midnight Mass’ marries religion, horror in new Netflix series.” Fox 32 Chicago. 22 Sept. 2021. )). This deeply human trait for terror of the unknown is what drives a mix of individuals together in a shared space. After Erin’s speech on the couch, Riley answers her by saying he sincerely hopes she is right, that there is a heaven. He is not diminishing or dismissing her beliefs even though he does not feel the same. After all, isn’t it so much nicer to believe in something — to feel a little less alone, even if it is just a wish?
Reflections + Actions
In the final episode of the series, “Book VII: Revelation,” Riley’s mom, Annie, calls out Bev for her bigoted ways. When Bev starts to talk about Riley as someone she views beneath her, Annie tells her, “God loves him. Just as much as he loves you, Bev. Why does that upset you so much? Just the idea that God loves everyone just as much as you” (( “Book VII: Revelation.” Midnight Mass, season 1, episode 7, 24 Sept. 2021. Netflix. )). If Midnight Mass could be summed in a quote, this would be the winner. The entire point of religion is that each individual is an equal and worthy of salvation in God’s eyes. Pruitt, leading an Alcohol’s Anonymous meeting, tells Riley that, “Alcohol isn’t good or bad. The same with guilt, grief, suffering. It just depends on what we do with it” (( “Book II: Psalms.” Midnight Mass, season 1, episode 2, 24 Sept. 2021. Netflix. )). In the same way, faith is not good or bad, “it just depends on what we do with it” and how it manifests itself. Annie is a caring mother and forgiving heart. Bev is a judgmental soul who has found a home on top of her soapbox. The two women come from the same religion, the same church, but have vastly different manifestations of their faith.
Writing off the series as just a critique on Catholicism would be easy, but that is such a narrow outlook to walk away with. Doing so dismisses so much of what the show is presenting. Faith in a higher power is not inherently bad. As shown through the difference in characters such as Annie and Bev, it is the way one acts on their faith that matters. Midnight Mass is not just an outcry at those who twist their faith into how it best suits them, cherry-picking the Bible as they please. It is complex in the way that every part of humanity is complex. Pruitt’s character encapsulates this complexity. He is man of divinity. He has made mistakes. He has hurt people. He has helped people. In many ways, his character is a mirror of Riley’s — two men of faith who followed different paths. The pair stand on opposing sides of a two-way mirror but are ultimately a reflection of one another.
The mixture of blind faith, fear, and love made Pruitt distort what was before him into something he wanted. At the moment he realized he was reborn, young, and healed, all he could think about was his dying love back in Crockett. Love, after all, is its own type of blind faith. It is this blinding culmination of emotions that made him return to Crockett with his Angel. Consequently, these actions lead to the massacre of the entire island. Midnight Masss’s ability to pinpoint this vulnerability is what creates such a successful product. The series finds this tenuous position where the celestial and supernatural converge and tells the viewer that they are one and the same. The only difference is how one categorizes it, choosing what to place their faith in.
So What Is Midnight Mass Trying To Say?
Midnight Mass is not an elaborate narrative posed to prove atheism superior to religion or a story meant to show religion as the answer to all. That is why it is so efficacious. It gives validity to all and purposefully fails to provide a “correct” answer to walk away with. Instead, one chooses how to act, when to forgive, when to wallow. Humanity is messy, so faith is messy. “Life is a dream. It’s a wish made again and again and again” (( “Book VII: Revelation.” Midnight Mass, season 1, episode 7, 24 Sept. 2021. Netflix. )) — and what is faith if not a continual wish?