Mike Flanagan draws inspiration from an underrated Stephen King story for his Netflix Original

How Stephen King Inspired Mike Flanagan&#8217;s &#8216;Midnight Mass&#8217; in the Most Amazing Way Possible

Trying to describe Stephen King’s work in words is a gross injustice to his
craft. It’s the feeling you get after reading his stories that comes close to
what it imbibes in us. No wonder the legendary writer is a huge influence on
every filmmaker or content creator interested in the horror genre. That includes
the reigning king of the horror of this generation, Mike Flanagan.



Of course, there are Flanagan’s direct adaptations of King’s pieces like
Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep. These renditions display Mike Flanagan’s
expertise and how effortlessly he’s able to recreate King’s characters for the
screen. But apart from these, even his original creation, Netflix
[https://netflixjunkie.com/category/news/]‘s Midnight Mass has nuanced yet
unmissable similarities to an underrated Stephen King narrative. Let’s find out
which one.

ALSO READ: Mike Flanagan Brings Yet Another Horror Story To Life Following
‘Midnight Mass’ With ‘The Midnight Club’
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-mike-flanagan-brings-yet-another-horror-story-to-life-following-midnight-mass-the-midnight-club/]


MIKE FLANAGAN BORROWS FROM STEPHEN KING’S WORLD

A small, isolated town has a twisted secret. A supernatural entity shows up on a
secluded coastal island. The responsibility to defeat the threat falls on a few
islanders and the town sheriff who works at the only grocery store on the entire
island. Is this Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-midnight-mass-mike-flanagan-and-rahul-kohlis-qa-with-netflix-geeked/]
or Stephen King’s 1999 miniseries, Storm of the Century? Now, that’s a guessing
game you can’t win unless you have more information.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

If the story delves into spirituality, wherein mortals are forced to question
their faith, then it is Midnight Mass
[https://netflixjunkie.com/midnight-mass-making-of-a-mike-flanagan-horror-thriller/].
If the tale urges you to make an extremely difficult, almost impossible choice,
then it is the Storm of the Century. Granted, the narratives are quite distinct
from one another, but the thematic similarities between the two are extremely
apparent. Mike Flanagan himself has explicitly admitted that Midnight Mass is,
in fact, a homage to the miniseries penned down by King.

> Yep, it absolutely was. https://t.co/61VnM5KBTF [https://t.co/61VnM5KBTF]
> 
> — Mike Flanagan (@flanaganfilm) November 12, 2021
> [https://twitter.com/flanaganfilm/status/1459242487998865410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]



He actually wrote Storm of the Century specifically as a “novel for television”
for the miniseries and it isn’t based on any of his previous tales. Apart from
the setting, even the convoluted challenge of morality is commonplace in both
stories. Additionally, another Stephen King
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-stephen-king-reveals-he-is-afraid-to-watch-stranger-things-season-4-finale/]
story that influenced Midnight Mass is Salem’s Lot, owing to the vampires, of
course.

ALSO READ: Midnight Mass’ Mike Flanagan Announces the Wrap for Yet Another
Horror Drama Series for Netflix, Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s Stories
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-midnight-mass-mike-flanagan-announces-the-wrap-for-yet-another-horror-drama-series-for-netflix-based-on-edgar-allan-poes-stories/]

Do you see any more similarities between the two horror pieces? Let us know in
the comments. For those who haven’t seen it yet, check Midnight Mass streaming
[https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81083626] on Netflix.

Natasha Vijan

Comment

How Stephen King Inspired Mike Flanagan&#8217;s &#8216;Midnight Mass&#8217; in the Most Amazing Way Possible - Netflix Junkie

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Natasha is a writer at Netflix Junkie. Despite completing her Masters in Architecture from Hochschule Anhalt in Germany, she decided to follow her passion for storytelling.

Apart from working as an architect in the past, Natasha currently also ghostwrites for various travel and lifestyle blogs like italyfoodies.com, mypureplants.com and more. Moreover, she has also been involved as a screenplay analyst with Outstanding Screenplays London.

An avid cinephile, Natasha especially enjoys quirky dark comedies and gangster films. She can talk about films by Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for days and even aspires to make her own film someday. When not at work, she can be found at at outdoor music concert or a stand-up gig. Additionally, she’s a feminist, LGBTQIA ally and a strong mental health advocate.

https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-how-stephen-king-inspired-mike-flanagan-midnight-mass-in-the-most-amazing-way-possible

How Stephen King Inspired Mike Flanagan&#8217;s &#8216;Midnight Mass&#8217; in the Most Amazing Way Possible - netflix-junkie

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Trying to describe Stephen King&#8217;s work in words is a gross injustice to his craft. It&#8217;s the feeling you get after reading his stories that comes close to what it imbibes in us. No wonder the legendary writer is a huge influence on every filmmaker or content creator interested in the horror genre. That includes the reigning king of the horror of this generation, Mike Flanagan.
<div class="flex-video widescreen youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Midnight Mass | Teaser Trailer | Netflix" width="1170" height="658" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/89UV8vmWXlY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Of course, there are Flanagan&#8217;s direct adaptations of King&#8217;s pieces like Gerald&#8217;s Game and Doctor Sleep. These renditions display Mike Flanagan&#8217;s expertise and how effortlessly he&#8217;s able to recreate King&#8217;s characters for the screen. But apart from these, even his original creation, <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/category/news/">Netflix</a>&#8216;s Midnight Mass has nuanced yet unmissable similarities to an underrated Stephen King narrative. Let&#8217;s find out which one.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-mike-flanagan-brings-yet-another-horror-story-to-life-following-midnight-mass-the-midnight-club/">Mike Flanagan Brings Yet Another Horror Story To Life Following ‘Midnight Mass’ With ‘The Midnight Club’</a>
<h2>Mike Flanagan borrows from Stephen King&#8217;s world</h2>
A small, isolated town has a twisted secret. A supernatural entity shows up on a secluded coastal island. The responsibility to defeat the threat falls on a few islanders and the town sheriff who works at the only grocery store on the entire island. Is this Mike Flanagan&#8217;s <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-midnight-mass-mike-flanagan-and-rahul-kohlis-qa-with-netflix-geeked/">Midnight Mass</a> or Stephen King&#8217;s 1999 miniseries, Storm of the Century? Now, that&#8217;s a guessing game you can&#8217;t win unless you have more information.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-50609 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/storm-of-the-century-vs-midnight-mass.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1066" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/storm-of-the-century-vs-midnight-mass.jpeg 1600w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/storm-of-the-century-vs-midnight-mass-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/storm-of-the-century-vs-midnight-mass-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/storm-of-the-century-vs-midnight-mass-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/storm-of-the-century-vs-midnight-mass-1536x1023.jpeg 1536w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/storm-of-the-century-vs-midnight-mass-1200x800.jpeg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" />
If the story delves into spirituality, wherein mortals are forced to question their faith, then it is <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/midnight-mass-making-of-a-mike-flanagan-horror-thriller/">Midnight Mass</a>. If the tale urges you to make an extremely difficult, almost impossible choice, then it is the Storm of the Century. Granted, the narratives are quite distinct from one another, but the thematic similarities between the two are extremely apparent. Mike Flanagan himself has explicitly admitted that Midnight Mass is, in fact, a homage to the miniseries penned down by King.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Yep, it absolutely was. <a href="https://t.co/61VnM5KBTF">https://t.co/61VnM5KBTF</a>
&mdash; Mike Flanagan (@flanaganfilm) <a href="https://twitter.com/flanaganfilm/status/1459242487998865410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He actually wrote Storm of the Century specifically as a &#8220;novel for television&#8221; for the miniseries and it isn&#8217;t based on any of his previous tales. Apart from the setting, even the convoluted challenge of morality is commonplace in both stories. Additionally, another <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-stephen-king-reveals-he-is-afraid-to-watch-stranger-things-season-4-finale/">Stephen King</a> story that influenced Midnight Mass is Salem&#8217;s Lot, owing to the vampires, of course.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-midnight-mass-mike-flanagan-announces-the-wrap-for-yet-another-horror-drama-series-for-netflix-based-on-edgar-allan-poes-stories/">Midnight Mass’ Mike Flanagan Announces the Wrap for Yet Another Horror Drama Series for Netflix, Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s Stories</a>
Do you see any more similarities between the two horror pieces? Let us know in the comments. For those who haven&#8217;t seen it yet, check Midnight Mass <a href="https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81083626" target="_blank" rel="noopener">streaming</a> on Netflix.

Midnight Mass’ Mike Flanagan Announces the Wrap for Yet Another Horror Drama
Series for Netflix, Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s Stories

Mike Flanagan Brings Yet Another Horror Story To Life Following ‘Midnight Mass’
With ‘The Midnight Club’

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/netflixjunkie-logo-2.jpg

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/mike-flanagan-stephen-king-revival-update-1227254.jpg

Mike Flanagan draws inspiration from an underrated Stephen King story for his Netflix Original, Midnight Mass. Can you guess which one?

How Stephen King Inspired Mike Flanagan's 'Midnight Mass' in the Most Amazing Way Possible - Netflix Junkie

Natasha is a writer at Netflix Junkie. Despite completing her Masters in Architecture from Hochschule Anhalt in Germany, she decided to follow her passion for storytelling. Apart from working as an architect in the past, Natasha currently also ghostwrites for various travel and lifestyle blogs like italyfoodies.com, mypureplants.com and more. Moreover, she has also been involved as a screenplay analyst with Outstanding Screenplays London. An avid cinephile, Natasha especially enjoys quirky dark comedies and gangster films. She can talk about films by Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for days and even aspires to make her own film someday. When not at work, she can be found at at outdoor music concert or a stand-up gig. Additionally, she’s a feminist, LGBTQIA ally and a strong mental health advocate.

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How Stephen King Inspired Mike Flanagan&#039;s &#039;Midnight Mass&#039; in the Most Amazing Way Possible - Netflix Junkie

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How Stephen King Inspired Mike Flanagan’s ‘Midnight Mass’ in the Most Amazing Way Possible

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