'Masterpiece' series that's based on all-time classic book is free to watch on Netflix

Netflix viewers are in for a treat as one of the streaming platform's horror series has been described as a "masterpiece". The Fall of the House of Usher is a gothic horror drama television miniseries praised by fans and critics alike. Created by Mike Flanagan, all eight episodes were released on Netflix in October 2023, each directed by either Flanagan or Michael Fimognari. The series is loosely based on various works by Edgar Allan Poe (most notably the eponymous 1839 short story).

The series adapts otherwise unrelated stories and characters by Poe into a single nonlinear narrative that is set between 1953 to 2023. It focuses on Roderick Usher, the powerful CEO of a corrupt pharmaceutical company, and his sister Madeline, the firm's genius COO, and their rise to power, as well as the events that lead to the deaths of all six of Roderick's children. It stars an ensemble cast led by Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood and Mary McDonnell. The Fall of the House of Usher was met with positive reviews upon release, with critics praising its production values, directing, and performances.

The series synopsis reads: "Siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher have built a pharmaceutical company into an empire of wealth, privilege and power; however, secrets come to light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying."

The Fall of the House of Usher has an impressive 91% rating from the critics of Rotten Tomatoes. Their consensus states: "Presenting vintage Poe stories filtered through Mike Flanagan's deliciously dark lens, The Fall of the House of Usher will get a rise out of horror fans."

A critic wrote: "This inspired 'Usher' infuses Poe's tales of terror with contemporary relevance and respects the source material."

While one fan said: "Beautifully executed, acted and perfect cinematography. Tip of the hat to Poe and delivered epically. Highly recommend."

"I loved this. Definitely a must-watch. It has such great cinematography. I liked the way in which the story of what happened was told, the flashbacks and everything being told by one person," added another viewer.

Over on Reddit, fans have been expressing their adoration for the gothic horror, with one creating a thread titled "The Fall of the House of Usher is a masterpiece". They added: "Mike Flanagan always does great work, and Usher may be his magnum opus. It's up there with midnight mass, maybe better. The writing is some of the best I've seen in media. Don't miss out on this one. In fact, you should start watching it now."

The Fall of the House of Usher is now streaming on Netflix.