Mike Flanagan's 2011 Absentia foreshadowed the trademarks we now come to expect from the creator of The Fall of the House of Usher.
The Big Picture Simply put, Mike Flanagan is one of the most intriguing and formally gifted horror filmmakers we've got. In efforts ranging from spine-tingling early works like Oculus and Hush to more ambitious efforts like his Netflix Haunting shows or Midnight Mass, Flanagan has continued exploring untapped sources of dread, all of which are rooted in some terrible form of banal, everyday loss. The child of a madman grows up to be a cynical wreck of an adult in Doctor Sleep .
What Is Mike Flanagan's 'Absentia' About? The movie was made on a wing and a prayer, written, directed, and edited by Flanagan on a budget of only $70,000. Much of the budget was crowdfunded via Kickstarter, and shot in the quiet, ordinary neighborhood of Glendale, California. It would be difficult to argue that Absentia is Flanagan’s best or most convincing vision of horror.
If only it were so simple! Absentia embraces a more engagingly uncanny energy when the movie’s primary conceit – an ominous neighborhood tunnel, weaponized in a similar fashion to the mirror in Oculus – emerges as a primary story point. Daniel, the missing husband, eventually reappears in his wife’s life, only he appears to be carrying the considerable weight of deep-seated mental and emotional damage. Though he’s not actually dead, all the life seems to have left Daniel's eyes.
Knowing that, a lot of the groundwork that is laid in Absentia is relatively rough. Flanagan clearly lacked the resources he needed at the time to realize the vision he had in his head. The result showcases production value and aesthetic choices that may feel less sophisticated than Flanagan’s later works.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
House of Usher Sound Editor on Evoking Poe, Working with Mike FlanaganShe's coming for them all. In this wicked series from Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) and based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, ruthless siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher have built Fortunato Pharmaceuticals into an empire of wealth, privilege and power.
Read more »
All 15 Mike Flanagan Actors Returning In His New Stephen King MovieHorror director Mike Flanagan will be reuniting with several actors from his previous productions for his upcoming Stephen King adaptation.
Read more »
Why Is Mike Flanagan Moving From Netflix to Prime Video?Mike Flanagan is known for his Netflix horror creations, but The Fall of the House of Usher will be his last before moving to Prime Video.
Read more »
A Guide to Telling Denver Mayor Mike Johnston from Speaker Mike JohnsonDenver's Mike Johnston is not the new Speaker of the House; that's Louisiana's Mike Johnson. Confused? Don't worry we're here to help.
Read more »
The Fall of the House of Usher VFX Supervisor On Brutality Of Mike Flanagan's Edgar Allan Poe ShowThe Fall of the House of Usher VFX Supervisor Marshall Krasser breaks down Mike Flanagan's Edgar Allan Poe shows and its more brutal sequences.
Read more »
The Life of Chuck Cast Adds Matthew Lillard & More to Stephen King MovieMatthew Lillard, Mia Sara, and more of Mike Flanagan's frequent collaborators have joined The Life of Chuck cast for the Stephen King movie.
Read more »