You don’t have to go far on the internet to find a post or reference to a certain Usher family. This has only been talked about in the last few days. And it’s no wonder: their story is truly impressive and it’s almost impossible not to want to know more about it.
Just imagine: two brothers who own a pharmaceutical company in the United States, responsible for creating a medicine that promises to end the world’s pain, who see their entire empire collapse when a mysterious woman appears and the family’s 6 heirs begin to die, one by one. There is barely time to mourn the loss of one and soon the news of the death of the other comes. And horrible, cruel deaths. All in a very short period of time.
This is the mystery that made MANY people stop in front of the TV to watch Netflix’s new horror series: The Fall of the House of Usher. The name isn’t the catchiest, but after seeing so many people speaking highly of it, I ended up giving in – I sat on my sofa last Sunday, pressed play and it didn’t take long for me to cancel all the commitments I had that day.
Before continuing, I think it’s important to say that I’m a big fan of horror and suspense productions and I consider myself a great investigator whenever there’s a mystery in the story. I’ve already managed to unravel many, but I confess that the Ushers’ story left me quite confused throughout the episodes.
Why on earth were all the children dying? Who was that woman who appeared everywhere? There are many questions, but they all begin to be answered through the memories of the family patriarch, who little by little unravels the mysteries and makes us understand what happened.
The idea here is not to advance the story so as not to spoil the experience if you haven’t seen it yet. The idea is to share a little of what made me like this series so much – and apparently not just me. The person behind the story is director Mike Flanagan, who is a well-known name on Netflix – he also owns ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’ and ‘Midnight Mass’, two very successful series.
In this new challenge, he adapts a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, one of the most important horror writers of all time.
Yes, we have a lot of scary scenes (which are very good), a classic soundtrack that eventually makes us jump off the couch, that good old predictability of the character who is walking towards death and only he doesn’t know and everything that a horror production has a right, but it goes beyond that – The Fall of the House of Usher makes many criticisms of various issues in the “real” world.
Starting, of course, with the pharmaceutical industry, the opioid epidemic and animal testing, but it also has criticisms of technology and the advancement of artificial intelligence as a means of immortality and the search for money and ever greater power among those who already have them. The series even makes you think – between one scare and another – how far you would go to guarantee your success and wealth.
Everyone has an answer to that, of course, but I’m pretty sure few would go as far as the Ushers. Maybe the Roys, from Succession (another incredible series that I also recommend).
So, this is my Halloween tip here in the newsletter: there are only 8 episodes, very easy to binge. And, if you like it, take advantage and watch Flanagan’s other series. I just highly recommend that you don’t make the same mistake I did and see it with someone – because no one needs to be scared alone. Now excuse me, I heard a noise from the kitchen and, as I learned in so many years of terror, I need to go there and see what it is… if there’s no text from me in 15 days here, you know where to find me.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
