As a movie enthusiast with a passion for horror and a keen eye for sociopolitical commentary, I find Mike Flanagan‘s latest revelations about his future projects incredibly exciting. His unique ability to blend entertainment value with profound societal messages has always resonated deeply with me, and I eagerly anticipate the exploration of contemporary issues through his genre-defying lens.
It appears that America has chosen Donald Trump for another term, indicating a significant shift towards the conservative side across the nation as a whole. Similar to his first presidency in 2016, we can expect an influx of sociopolitical films ranging from the awkward and absurd to future classics. Historically, horror movies have excelled at incorporating symbolic commentary without compromising entertainment, making them an ideal choice for addressing current events. One of today’s greatest horror directors, Mike Flanagan, recently shared his intentions to transition from personal filmmaking to more politically-focused projects, at least in the near future. This change is evident in his recent interview with MovieWeb about his first novella, “Rare, Fine, and Limited“.
Indeed, I agree. If only I had delved deeper into that realm earlier on, it wouldn’t have altered the present, as I firmly believe. However, I can’t help but marvel at the genre’s unique ability to facilitate such thought-provoking discussions. After all, Flanagan is a master of horror, having directed several outstanding Stephen King adaptations, acclaimed Netflix series like ‘Midnight Mass’ and ‘The Haunting of Hill House’, and contemporary classics such as ‘Oculus’ and ‘Hush’. He knows well the genre’s potential to express cultural, ethical, and political ideas.
It feels impossible to stay quiet today.
Flanagan noted that we can present these ideas in a platform with a vast audience reach, which not only puts the concept on the table but also does so through an engaging medium. For instance, if you want to explore racism in America, you could create a movie or tell a story about it. Those who are already sympathetic or intrigued would seek it out. On the other hand, a horror film like “Night of the Living Dead” is enjoyed for its thrills and scares; however, its underlying themes might prompt viewers to ponder racism in America as they reflect on the storyline and its conclusion – this is the power of genre.
In “The Fall of the House of Usher,” I found myself delving into political storytelling for the first time, expressing views that felt crucial, regardless of whether others shared them. This experience ignited a desire in me to continue exploring such themes. To some extent, my current project, [Rare, Fine, and Limited], embodies this hunger, offering a sense of excitement as I work on something substantial, rather than merely attempting to frighten or sadden readers.
As a cinephile, I’ve had the privilege to delve into various themes that resonate deeply with me throughout my creative journey – themes like trauma, family, loss, mortality, and religion. To be honest, I didn’t initially realize it, but Midnight Mass turned out to have a political undertone, focusing on the politics of faith and exposing the corruption within organized religions, along with alcoholism. I’ve always felt compelled to express my thoughts about alcohol, even if I wasn’t consciously aware of it at the time. It’s amusing for me to reflect on past projects and recognize that I was grappling with this issue without fully recognizing it then. But yes, I’m eager to continue exploring sociopolitical horror themes, especially given our current climate. It seems almost impossible to stay silent today.
Mike Flanagan & The Lovecraftian Horror of Late Stage Capitalism
Prior to the 2024 election, Mike Flanagan has been deeply contemplating the course of our society and the alarming aspects of our economic structure, which widens the gap between the wealthy and the less fortunate, with even the working class taking advantage of the labor and lives of workers across the globe. It seems likely that things will only deteriorate further. Just one day following Donald Trump’s election, the world’s top 10 wealthiest individuals amassed an additional $63 billion as a result of stock market surges and other related effects.
For quite some time now, the insatiable greed of capitalism has been a recurring thought in my mind, and we touched upon it to an extent in “The Fall of the House of Usher”. This subject has always held me in awe, said Flanagan, whose novella delves deeply into this theme. It tells the story of a wealthy hedonist who amassed his fortune by exploiting others, as he embarks on a quest to find the rarest and most expensive wine in existence. Flanagan added:
“I do think that there is an
endless hunger to capitalistic thinking
that goes beyond even possessions, goes beyond even the accumulation of things that are either wildly overvalued or have no discernible way to measure value, like an experience. When I think of the people who pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to have a seat on a rocket ship that briefly orbits the planet, it’s like, ‘God, that would be an amazing experience.’ But you think about the price tag, and you think about the people who could drop what another family would pay to own a home to have this fleeting experience, and it raises a lot of really interesting questions to me about priorities and about waste and about the illusion of value.”
Flanagan pondered, “At what stage do our desires lead to loss of life? For instance, our craving for the latest iPhone could potentially result in someone else’s hardship on the other side of the globe. Just because we don’t directly witness these consequences, does it mean we hold no responsibility? These are the kinds of questions that arise when we consider a society and global economy like ours, where consumption is so interconnected.
The description spirals around like a dark, crimson wine in a crystal-clear glass. Flanagan’s upcoming 80-page horror novella is part of the exclusive line of tequila, Macabre Spirits, produced by Matthew Lillard and Justin Ware, under the Find Familiar Spirits label. Click here to pre-order and discover more details about it.
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2024-11-10 07:02