Posted by Charlene Badasie | Published
2022 horror mystery-thriller The Midnight Club is one of Netflix's most overlooked originals. Created by Mike Flanagan and Leah Fong, the 10-episode series adapts Christopher Pike's 1994 novel of the same name while weaving elements from the YA author's other 27 books into one enigmatic story. Set at Brightcliffe Hospice Care for Teenagers, it follows a group of terminally ill adults who gather each night to share horrifying stories and uncover the facility's dark secrets.
Brightcliffe Patients
Set in the mid-1990s, the series begins when Ilonka (Iman Benson), a bright and ambitious young woman battling terminal thyroid cancer, chooses to stay at Brightcliffe Hospice Care. He befriends Kevin (Igby Rigney), a leukemia patient, and clashes with his roommate Anya (Ruth Codd). One night, Ilonka stumbles upon a secret gathering of the Midnight Club.
A secret society, formed by Brightcliffe patients, tries to communicate with the dead and share shocking stories linked to the hospice's dark history. As Ilonka digs deeper into the story of a former patient named Julia Jayne (Larsen Thompson), who is said to be a healer from the past, she uncovers an evil cult, symbolized by the number “292.13,” and paintings depicting a dark past.
21 Overcome Intimidation
Julia, the founder of the original Midnight Club in 1969, had connections with Paragon, a cult that practiced non-resolve rituals. The plot thickens as Ilonka, with Kevin's help, discovers a hidden place under the hospice. The records of the first group and the testimony of a certain cult scare this group. The final episodes bring closure to some characters, while others meet tragic ends.
The Midnight Club quickly caught the attention of the Netflix audience, recording an impressive 90.31 million hours watched between October 2 and October 23, 2022, earning its position in the top 10 of the platform. The first episode of the series also broke the Guinness World Record for the most jump-scares in one episode, with 21 hair-raising scares.
The series was supposed to run for multiple seasons but was abruptly canceled in December 2022. Despite its early ending, The Midnight Club has received critical acclaim and currently holds an 85 percent approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised Flanagan's heartfelt approach to horror and the unique combination of individual stories and thematic plot.
More Horror Titles on Netflix From Mike Flanagan
Mike Flanagan has made a name for himself with his Netflix shows, including The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, again The fall of the house of Usher. The series is known for focusing on the human condition rather than jump scares and loud noises. Flanagan's indirect approach to horror works very well, and he often tells similar stories in the past and present.
The Haunting of Hill The house was a huge hit and remains a fan favorite. The fall of the house of UsherFlanagan's latest project for Netflix, is based on many of Edgar Allan Poe's books and he's up there with his best efforts. While The Midnight Club may have been missed early, its fun storylines, stellar cast, and impressive viewership numbers are firmly entrenched in the annals of Netflix's horror offerings.
