Nearly two months have elapsed since I last indulged in a show. Admittedly, recovering from the impact of Attack on Titan has proven somewhat demanding, prompting me to take a breather before immersing myself in another visual media experience.
I’ve at last managed to do so by delving into Netflix’s rendition of The Fall of the House of Usher.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Drawing inspiration from the literary genius of Edgar Allan Poe, the show unfolds the tragic narrative of the affluent Usher family and their morally compromised pharmaceutical empire, Fortunato Pharmaceuticals.
At the story’s core is Roderick played by Bruce Greenwood in his old age and Zach Gilford as young Roderick, patriarch of the Usher clan and CEO of Fortunato. He also has a twin sister – Madeline Usher, played by Mary McDonnell and Willa Fitzgerald as young Madeline.
In the eight-episode series, the first episode kicks off with Roderick reaching out to his longstanding adversary, Assistant US Attorney C Auguste ‘Auggie’ Dupin played by Carl Lumbly, inviting him to hear a confessional account.
This summons comes in the aftermath of the untimely demise of Roderick’s six adult children – Frederick, Tamerlane, Victorine, Napoleon, Camille, and Prospero – each from different mothers, all occurring within a mere week.
The deceased children are played by Henry Thomas, Samantha Sloyan, T’Nia Miller, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, and Sauriyan Sapkota respectively.
The central storyline of this series takes a loose adaptation from Poe’s 1839 short story with the same title. Here, Roderick unfolds his saga spanning decades to Auggie within the eerie confines of his dilapidated childhood residence.
WHO IS EDGAR ALLAN POE?
Just a short explanation for those who are not literarily-inclined on past writers of yonder time other than William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe – who lived in 1809 to 1849 – was an American writer, poet, and literary critic renowned for his mastery of macabre and Gothic fiction.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Poe’s tumultuous life, marked by personal tragedies and professional struggles, greatly influenced his dark and melancholic storytelling.
His most famous works include The Tell-Tale Heart, a chilling exploration of guilt and madness, and The Raven, a haunting narrative poem known for its mesmerising rhythm and melancholic tone.
Poe is also celebrated for pioneering the detective fiction genre with stories like The Murders in the Rue Morgue (I personally loved reading this) and The Mystery of Marie Rogêt.
And then there’s The Fall of the House of Usher, which the show is based off of. The story is a Gothic masterpiece that showcases Poe’s ability to create an eerie atmosphere and delve into the complexities of the human psyche. Another notable work is The Masque of the Red Death, an allegorical tale that explores the inevitability of death.
Edgar Allan Poe’s contributions, however, to American literature extend beyond his famous tales of the macabre.
His innovative approach to storytelling, emphasis on psychological depth, and poetic craftsmanship have left an enduring legacy, influencing countless writers and establishing him as a key figure in the development of both horror and detective fiction, which makes me wonder at times why he’s not very well-known in this part of the world.
NETFLIX’S RENDITION OF THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
Back to what I was telling you about, in Netflix’s rendition of The Fall of the House of Usher, the production skilfully maintains the atmospheric essence, giving due reverence to Poe’s prose while fearlessly thrusting his narrative into the dominion of modern relevance.
Paying homage to 19th-Century literature, really.
The incorporation of social commentary within the show not only breathes new life into the timeless tale but also enables a poignant resonance with the challenges of our present times.
Mike Flanagan, the show’s director, deftly utilises Poe’s narratives and Gothic conventions as the structural framework for the show, skilfully extracting and highlighting the timeless themes embedded within those works – conscience, the unconscious, greed, paranoia, and death.
Why this show was intriguing to me was the fact that Flanagan made full use in incorporating many of Poe’s works in all its episodes, making various references to his stories and poems such as A Midnight Dreary, The Masque of the Red Death, Murder in the Rue Morgue, The Black Cat, The Tell-Tale Heart, Goldbug, The Pit and the Pendulum, and of course it wouldn’t be complete without The Raven.
Among the notable cast in the show, it’s impossible not to recognise Mark Hamill, renowned as Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker, in the role of Arthur Gordon Pym, also known as The Pym Reaper. Hamill’s portrayal of this enigmatic character was flawless, exuding a haunting mystique that demands immediate and unwavering respect.
With a solid 4.1-star rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an impressive four out of five stars on The Guardian, it’s safe to affirm that this show is a must-watch.
However, a word of caution: it explores a dark narrative, featuring some graphic scenes, so be prepared for a tiny bit of gore. – Izah Azahari
