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The supernatural horror series Midnight Mass premiered on Netflix on September 24, 2021. Directed by Mike Flanagan, the show has received an IMDb rating of 7.7 for its creepy stories and deep themes. Midnight Mass explores themes of faith, guilt, and redemption across its seven episodes. It features a talented cast that includes Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, Samantha Sloyan, and Hamish Linklater.
Set on the fictional Crockett Island, the story revolves around a small, isolated fishing community. After going to prison, a young man goes back home to try to start over. At the same time, a charismatic priest comes to the area to lead the church. This sets off a chain of strange and miraculous events.
The filming locations for Midnight Mass play a crucial role in creating its eerie atmosphere. The primary setting for the fictional island is Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, with additional scenes shot in various parts of Vancouver.
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The official synopsis of the series states:
"An isolated island community experiences miraculous events - and frightening omens - after the arrival of a charismatic, mysterious young priest."
Midnight Mass' filming locations explored
Richmond: The heart of Crockett Island
The main filming locations for Midnight Mass were in Richmond, a coastal city just outside Vancouver. Some parts of this waterfront town were changed by the production team to make it look like Crockett Island.
Most of the outdoor scenes were filmed here, and Richmond's waterfront set the mood for the island's creepy, alone feel. Through set design and special effects, the town was transformed into the scary Crockett Island, even though it wasn't an island.
The ferry scenes are crafted with care
The island's ferry, which is the only way to get to and from Crockett Island, shows up again and again in Midnight Mass. The ferry is a symbol of how isolated the residents are and how few ways there are to get away.
Even though these scenes are important to the story, they were shot on the coast of British Columbia. To make sure it looked real, the filmmakers carefully mixed real water settings with computer-generated images that showed how far away the island was.
Vancouver was home to several indoor scenes
Most of the outdoor filming for Midnight Mass took place in Richmond, but many of the indoor scenes were filmed in Vancouver. Soundstages in Vancouver were used to film multiple indoor scenes, such as those showing the local church and key character moments. The city's numerous locations made it easy to switch between the creepy island exteriors and the intimate, dramatic interiors.
Computer-generated imagery bringing the island to life
While Midnight Mass takes place on an island, a lot of what viewers see is a mix of real-life filming and computer-generated imagery. For the film's illusion of Crockett Island's isolation, computer-generated images were used. The haunting mood of the show was increased by digitally creating the island scenes that needed wide ocean views and rough coastlines.
Plot of Midnight Mass
Midnight Mass follows Riley Flynn, who returns to his isolated hometown of Crockett Island after serving four years in prison for a fatal drunk-driving accident. At the same time, Father Paul, a charismatic new priest, arrives to revitalize the island's dwindling faith. His mysterious presence coincides with miraculous events, stirring both awe and suspicion among the islanders.
The episodes of Midnight Mass are as follow:
- Book I: Genesis
- Book II: Psalms
- Book III: Proverbs
- Book IV: Lamentations
- Book V: Gospel
- Book VI: Acts of the Apostles
- Book VII: Revelation
In episode 1, Riley struggles with his past while Father Paul begins leading services at St. Patrick’s. A dark storm looms over the island. In episode 2, after the storm, an ominous discovery is made, and a tragedy at a community potluck leads to a miraculous event. Episode 3 reveals the growing impact of Father Paul’s actions as a shocking confession about Monsignor Pruitt is unveiled.
In episode 4, Erin turns to Riley for support, and Father Paul suffers disturbing side effects. Episode 5 escalates the tension as Sheriff Hassan investigates missing persons while Riley exposes dark truths.
In episode 6, a dangerous Easter vigil leads to horrifying revelations. Episode 7 culminates in chaos as a small group of survivors tries to save the town from the devastating consequences of blind faith and Father Paul's dark deeds.
Behind the scenes: Production and direction
Other than major locations, the series deals with tough issues like faith, forgiveness, and redemption. Flanagan's writing goes deep into his characters' minds and shows how they struggle with their beliefs when strange things happen. There are a lot of symbols in the show, especially in the ideas of rebirth and resurrection, which are important to both the plot and the character arcs.
The scary places where Midnight Mass was filmed and the story of the show are powerfully linked in the series finale. As chaos spreads across the island, the fact that it is so far away makes the people who live there feel even worse about their situation. With the help of CGI, the last scenes, which take place on Richmond's waterfront, make for a haunting and memorable ending to the story.
Interested viewers can stream the miniseries on Netflix.
