One creator, who has often been praised by Stephen King, has five brilliant horror shows that every fan of the genre must watch. Almost all of these shows are based on a renowned piece of literary fiction in the horror genre, but what makes them stand out is how they imagine the classic stories through a more contemporary lens.
Apart from writing iconic horror novels that often end up being adapted for the big and small screens, Stephen King is also well-known for his social media reviews of new TV and movie additions to the horror genre. Since horror is considered Stephen King’s forte, his reviews for any movie or show carry immense weight.
Although Stephen King often gives positive reviews to many horror TV shows, one filmmaker has consistently landed in the King of Horror’s good books. The author has not only given the creator his stamp of approval but also compared him with one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
All Horror Fans Should Watch Mike Flanagan’s Netflix Shows At Least Once
Mike Flanagan gained credibility as a filmmaker during his early years by directing several acclaimed horror movies, like Gerald’s Game, Hush, and Before I Wake. These early projects seemingly paved the way for him to helm his first TV show, The Haunting of Hill House, which turned him into a household name.
Often touted as the best Netflix horror show and one of the best horror series of all time, The Haunting of Hill House is a meditation on grief, trauma, and the lingering scars of family dysfunction. The show did a brilliant job of capturing the essence of Shirley Jackson’s book of the same name, paving the way for Flanagan to create more horror shows.
In the years that followed, Mike Flanagan delivered one horror hit after another, with almost all his shows earning both commercial and critical success. Although 2022’s The Midnight Club was a bit of a hiccup, the director continued to reign supreme with other series like The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Even though Flanagan has now returned to the big screen, his contribution to horror television remains undeniable. All his Netflix shows played a key role in redefining horror storytelling and showed that adaptations do not have to be completely loyal to their source material as long as they honor their core themes, character beats, and emotional underpinnings.
There’s A Reason Stephen King Called Flanagan The “Quentin Tarantino Of Horror”
After Stephen King caught up with Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher, he could not help but praise him by calling him “the Quentin Tarantino of horror.” The King of Horror’s high praise for the director made a lot of sense, given how Mike Flanagan rarely misses the mark when blending memorable scares with gripping character dramas adapted from renowned horror literary pieces.
Even his recent movie adaptation, The Life of Chuck, garnered the appreciation of viewers and critics worldwide despite struggling at the box office. Considering Mike Flanagan’s nearly flawless record from recent years, it is hard not to anticipate his upcoming adaptation of Stephen King‘s Carrie.
