Midnight Mass: The Art of Horror

by Abbie Bernstein

The official art book for the new Netflix/Intrepid Pictures horror TV series Midnight Mass, from creator Mike Flanagan.

A small town on an island experiences miraculous events - and frightening omens - after the arrival of a charismatic, mysterious young priest. The cast includes Kate Siegel, Henry Thomas, Zach Gilford, and Hamish Linklater.

Midnight Mass: The Art of Horror is a large hardback illustrated book featuring visual and written materials covering all elements of Intrepid Pictures' Midnight Mass limited series - debuting on Netflix in Fall 2021. This book is the perfect gift for any horror fan and will contain a slew of behind-the-scenes and background material, such as production art and set photos throughout. Readers will gain an insightful understanding of how the show was made with interviews of the cast, crew, executive producer Trevor Macy and Mike Flanagan himself.

Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy are the minds behind The Haunting of Hill House, a successful horror TV series on Netflix. Their most recent film, Doctor Sleep, was the critically-acclaimed sequel to Stephen King's The Shining.

Genres: Horror, Nonfiction, Art

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 19, 2021

Reviews

[talia ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

midnight mass is one of if not the greatest show of the 21st century and reading what went into the production and craft of this series was simply stunning.

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*trying to keep cool and calm upon discovering this book* AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Not Sarah Connor Writes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight Mass is my favourite show so I expected I would like this book. It's gorgeously formatted and just beautiful itself with lots of interesting information about filming during the beginning of the pandemic and great insight from the actors.

Read the full review on my blog!

[Faith Petti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything I’ve ever wanted in a book about the production of one of my favourite shows. Interviews, in depth character backstories, set design, camera layouts, set construction, locations, lore, references, and CONCEPT ART!! Just one of the best books for really getting a sense of what goes into an amazing show like Midnight Mass. #flanaganverse

[Kobi]

'Art of [insert favourite show/film]' books are always my favourite things to read. Midnight Mass has been one of my favourite shows of all time since it was released, and it was a delight to read about the production behind it!

[elina · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was hoping for more on the shows themes and analysis but the stories on the behind the scenes production are still cool. the writing style was occasionally though sooooo bland that i wanted to throw the book away

also the books last few pages really were the writer challenging themselves on how many different verbs they can use instead of say

[spookybookz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look at this beauty I got for crimbo! massive fan of the show and this book is a must have! Informative and full of beautiful onset pictures, it’s been an eye opener to how much planning and development actually go in to making these series, Mike Flanagan is a truly a gifted producer along with his work partner. The actors in this where just amazing! especially Hamish Linklater who played father Paul and Samantha Sloyan who plays Bev Keane , I really hope a series 2 is in the pipe line!

[Kayleigh Marie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED reading this book. Obviously, not for you unless you love the show, but if you do love the show and you're interested in the thoughts of those involved and some of the behind-the-scenes stuff, this is a great book for your shelf/coffee table. It's so beautiful and the pictures are great. I particularly loved the section about how they decided to light the scenes - so interesting!

[Viviane · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can tell Mike Flanagan really loved working on Midnight Mass. He even states that it's been his favorite work. Everything seems so intricately designed, there's so much love in this show. And this book is proof of that. I love the themes in this show, the atmosphere, the setting, the interconnection of vampire myth and religious beliefs - it's impacted me in a way few things have. Feels like it's been made for me- or people like me, who had a falling out with god.

[Adamsfall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like the perfect companion to a perfect show. Mike Flanagan is the most important thing to happen to film and the horror genre in the last 25 years.

I’ve watched Midnight Mass two full time through and it’s safe to say it’s a masterpiece. Flanagan gets some shit for his monologues, Midnight Mass leaning heavier on them than ever, but those immensely human moments are what make his work so special and set it apart.

Thank you to Mike Flanagan and all of the incredible cast, crew, and the like; what you’ve done with this show is truly spectacular. And a big thanks to Titan Books for putting this commemorative and collectible book together; it’ll be a wild one to revisit in later years and read all about filming during COVID.

[Sean O’Halloran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt the best miniseries I have ever watched! This was such a cool in depth view into the production of the show, I can never get enough of Midnight Mass

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent recollection of the making of the TV series Midnight Mass.

What I liked -
The book is beautiful. The style and layouts are fantastic and capture the mood of the show really well.
The interviews, albeit brief, are varied and do cover most of the characters major points. Several aspects of making the show are touched upon and it’s a great companion piece if you loved the show.

What I disliked -
Whilst a lot of topics are touched upon none of them go as in-depth as I’d have liked. How hard it was to shoot during the early days of Covid-19 are discussed throughout but never in great detail. This is a personal gripe (for lack of a better term) and there is enough to make this a good read.

4/5.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight Mass: The Art of Horror is full of information that brings Midnight Mass to life in a way that invites the reader’s imagination back to the spellbinding world of Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass. Abbie Bernstein brings journalistic integrity to presenting information received from interviewing the cast and crew.

I loved reading the insights the actors shared about brining their roles to life. This brought another layer of understanding to the show. The wonderful sense of humor that some of the actors have, particularly Kate Siegel and Rahul Kohli was brought to life in the essays. Rahul calling a monologue in Midnight Mass a “Flanalogue” definitely made me chuckle.

The photography in this book is GORGEOUS, bringing attention to the intricate
details of the set and make up for this Netflix production. Anyne who was mesmerized by Midnight Mass will want to take a look at this book and Mike Flanagan fans will want to add this to their collection. The size of this book makes for a perfect coffee table book or gift book.

I savored this book within a day, but with the short topical essays and the beautiful photography I know that I will visit it periodically. Now that I have read this book, I am eager to rewatch Midnight Mass after the holiday season!

I am also postting this review on my blog: http://glamorousbookgal.blogspot.com/...

[Matt Graupman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Mike Flanagan's Netflix series, "Midnight Mass," (honestly, I adore pretty much everything Mike Flanagan does) so I was eager to soak up any little extra tidbit about a show that I consider to be one of the greatest horror stories ever told. It was a good thing my bar was so low because "Midnight Mass: The Art Of Horror" was a very superficial look at the series, beginning right with its format, which had a very basic "Child's Guide To" kind of structure. The interviews with the cast and crew were somewhat interesting, depending on the subject, but the book did very little to explore the themes and layers of the show and the few behind-the-scenes schematics and photos included didn't do much to fill that void. The book's greatest sin, however, was just how poorly written and researched it was; for example, at one point it says that Samantha Sloyan's first exposure to "Midnight Mass" was when her character in "Hush" was writing the novel version, but that was Kate Seigel's character, Maddie, who was Samantha's character's neighbor. This incredible series deserved a much more nuanced and meticulous kind of treatment.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight Mass is easily my favourite show of all time so when I saw this I knew I had to have it. I'm going to try and review this on its own merit however and not let my love of the show influence my thoughts on the book.

Unfortunately there isn't a novelisation of the show (oh how I wish there was!) and this isnt that at all. This is a book of art from the sets showing the level of detail that went into making the show. There's behind-the-scenes pictures of it being shot, how the background material was built, conversations with the cast and lots of other stuff on how they made this incredible bit of film.

Perfect for fans of the show. I suppose in absence of a DVD this book serves as the extras for those that want more, like me!

Mike Flanagan is a genius and this book helps us see why!

[Chrysten Lofton · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0⭐ I’m so lucky to live on the same timeline as this masterpiece

Midnight Mass is what I would find on the shelf at Needful Things. It was blood calling to blood. I’m a better person, a more whole person for having experienced it.

This is a lovely companion to the show. Beautifully assembled!

- 📚☕♥

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for any fan of Midnight Mass. Midnight Mass is a masterpiece. If you haven’t watched it, go do so. Now. Then buy and read this book. You will not regret it. Again - Midnight Mass is a masterpiece and the “flanalogues” in MM are out of this world, both written and acted. Especially acted. Seriously, what are you waiting for?? Go watch it!! Then buy this book.

[Andy Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoy a great behind the scenes look at how an incredible thing was made, and Midnight Mass is a miniseries that has just stayed in my brain since I watched it last year. Abbie Bernstein clearly put together this book with care, and gave me even greater appreciation for an already-great thing.

[Blair Hoyle]

I consider Midnight Mass to be one of the greatest TV shows of all time, so this is an interesting read, though not exactly what I was expecting (which was a more thematically explorative piece). It's mostly breakdowns of how the sets were built/dressed, and interviews with the actors about their characters.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Mike Flanagan fan, this was a wonderful piece which made me connected with the show and his way of thinking even more. I'm always intrigued about how certain scenes and set up are made so this was a joy to read.

[Keelah Butts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic addition to the series. So much insight into their thought process and production details with beautiful photographs and sketches. I was already massively impressed with the show but this made me appreciate it so much more.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool behind-the-scenes look at Mike Flanagan's Midnight Mass miniseries. I loved the interviews with Mike Flanagan and the cast and crew, especially about how they created Crockett Island, interpretations of the characters, and more.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I wouldn’t give to watch Midnight Mass again with fresh eyes. To be stunned, terrified, mesmerised, and moved by the genius of Mike Flanagan. Thanks to this book I learned more about my favourite show. What an experience.

[Kaytlyn Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

wish it was longer :( v thankful for all the behind the scenes photos and art tho.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d literally kill to work with Mike Flanagan pls cast me in something bestie

[Andreia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My love for this show was just multiplied tenfold through reading this. Truly a masterpiece.

[eibbag (gabbie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

EEEEEEK!!!! 💞

[Sarah Kitsinis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books like this but I still wanted to know about the design choice to use more 4s than As on the church marquee/sign lol

[Hellz Bellz · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved Midnight Mass, you’ll adore this book like I did.

[Téyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ouvrage de batard sur une série de batard

[Happy Goat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent non-fiction book if you're a fan of the show. Beautiful pictures and the behind-the-scenes information is super interesting if you're interested in film-making.