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The Fall of the House of Usher (miniseries)

Updated: 12/11/2025, 9:59:27 AM Wikipedia source

The Fall of the House of Usher is an American gothic horror drama television miniseries created by Mike Flanagan. All eight episodes were released on Netflix on October 12, 2023, each directed by either Flanagan or Michael Fimognari, with the latter also acting as cinematographer for the entire series. Loosely based on various works by Edgar Allan Poe (most prominently the eponymous 1839 short story), the series adapts otherwise unrelated stories and characters by Poe into a single nonlinear narrative set from 1953 to 2023. It recounts both the rise to power of Roderick Usher, the powerful CEO of a corrupt pharmaceutical company, and his sister Madeline, the firm's genius COO, and the events leading to the deaths of all six of Roderick's children. It stars an ensemble cast led by Carla Gugino as the mysterious "Verna" who plagues the Ushers, and Bruce Greenwood and Mary McDonnell as an elderly Roderick and Madeline. The first two episodes of The Fall of the House of Usher premiered at Fantastic Fest in September 2023 before the Netflix release the following month, and the miniseries counted more than 13 million views in its first two weeks. It was met with positive reviews, with critics praising its production values, directing, and performances (in particular from Gugino, Greenwood, and Mark Hamill), although they were divided on its narrative, notably in relation to the source materials.

Infobox

Genre
mw- Drama Gothic horror
Created by
Mike Flanagan
Based on
"The Fall of the House of Usher" and other worksby Edgar Allan Poe
Directed by
Mike Flanagan Michael Fimognari
Starring
Carla Gugino Bruce Greenwood Mary McDonnell Henry Thomas Kate Siegel Rahul Kohli Samantha Sloyan T'Nia Miller Zach Gilford Willa Fitzgerald Michael Trucco Katie Parker Sauriyan Sapkota Matt Biedel Crystal Balint Ruth Codd Kyliegh Curran Carl Lumbly Mark Hamill
Composer
The Newton Brothers
Country of origin
United States
Original language
English
No. of episodes
8
Executive producers
Trevor Macy Mike Flanagan Michael Fimognari Emmy Grinwis
Producers
Kathy Gilroy Jamie Flanagan
Production locations
Vancouver, British Columbia The Bridge Studios, Burnaby, British Columbia
Cinematography
Michael Fimognari
Editor
Brett Bachman
Camera setup
Single-camera
Running time
57–77 minutes
Production company
Intrepid Pictures
Network
Netflix
Release
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)

Tables

· Episodes
1
1
No.
1
Title
"A Midnight Dreary"
Directed by
Mike Flanagan
Teleplay by
Mike Flanagan
Original release date
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
Roderick Usher, the corrupt CEO of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, has lost all of his children—heir Frederick, entrepreneur Tamerlane, surgeon Victorine, gaming mogul Napoleon (Leo), PR head Camille, and socialite Prospero (Perry)—in a span of two weeks. He attends the funeral of his oldest three (the last ones to die). He sees the ghosts of his dead children and collapses, muttering, "It's time." He invites his nemesis, assistant US Attorney C. Auguste Dupin, to his childhood home to confess his crimes and reveal the reason behind his children's deaths. In 1962, Roderick's mother, Eliza, was buried prematurely after appearing to have died of illness, and dug herself out of her grave to kill her abusive employer, Fortunato CEO William Longfellow, the twins' biological father. In the present, a trial begins to hold the Usher family responsible for the deaths of thousands of people who were taking Fortunato's drug Ligodone and for significantly contributing to the opioid epidemic. Dupin mentions an informant within the family. Roderick recounts a fateful encounter with Verna, a mysterious woman who foretold a life-altering change for the siblings during New Year's Eve 1979.
Roderick Usher, the corrupt CEO of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, has lost all of his children—heir Frederick, entrepreneur Tamerlane, surgeon Victorine, gaming mogul Napoleon (Leo), PR head Camille, and socialite Prospero (Perry)—in a span of two weeks. He attends the funeral of his oldest three (the last ones to die). He sees the ghosts of his dead children and collapses, muttering, "It's time." He invites his nemesis, assistant US Attorney C. Auguste Dupin, to his childhood home to confess his crimes and reveal the reason behind his children's deaths. In 1962, Roderick's mother, Eliza, was buried prematurely after appearing to have died of illness, and dug herself out of her grave to kill her abusive employer, Fortunato CEO William Longfellow, the twins' biological father. In the present, a trial begins to hold the Usher family responsible for the deaths of thousands of people who were taking Fortunato's drug Ligodone and for significantly contributing to the opioid epidemic. Dupin mentions an informant within the family. Roderick recounts a fateful encounter with Verna, a mysterious woman who foretold a life-altering change for the siblings during New Year's Eve 1979.
No.
Roderick Usher, the corrupt CEO of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, has lost all of his children—heir Frederick, entrepreneur Tamerlane, surgeon Victorine, gaming mogul Napoleon (Leo), PR head Camille, and socialite Prospero (Perry)—in a span of two weeks. He attends the funeral of his oldest three (the last ones to die). He sees the ghosts of his dead children and collapses, muttering, "It's time." He invites his nemesis, assistant US Attorney C. Auguste Dupin, to his childhood home to confess his crimes and reveal the reason behind his children's deaths. In 1962, Roderick's mother, Eliza, was buried prematurely after appearing to have died of illness, and dug herself out of her grave to kill her abusive employer, Fortunato CEO William Longfellow, the twins' biological father. In the present, a trial begins to hold the Usher family responsible for the deaths of thousands of people who were taking Fortunato's drug Ligodone and for significantly contributing to the opioid epidemic. Dupin mentions an informant within the family. Roderick recounts a fateful encounter with Verna, a mysterious woman who foretold a life-altering change for the siblings during New Year's Eve 1979.
2
2
No.
2
Title
"The Masque of the Red Death"
Directed by
Mike Flanagan
Teleplay by
Emmy Grinwis and Mike Flanagan
Original release date
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In 1979, Dupin investigates grave exhumations linked to a drug trial. The younger Roderick, living with his sister Madeline, his first wife Annabel Lee, and young children Frederick and Tamerlane, fails a pitch of Ligodone to Fortunato's CEO, Rufus Griswold, who succeeded Longfellow. In the present, Perry, Frederick, and Roderick's lawyer Arthur Pym must deal with environmental concerns involving their properties. When Frederick insults Perry, Perry decides to host a masquerade-themed party at one of the condemned properties to prove his worth, using water from the facility's tanks to signal an orgy. Roderick, suffering from CADASIL, pins hope on Victorine's experimental heart mesh, while Madeline, now Fortunato COO, seeks to create AI using the memories of Frederick's teenage daughter Lenore. Perry invites Frederick's frustrated wife, Morella, to his party, planning to seduce her as revenge for his brother's disrespect to him. Verna arrives at the party in disguise and gives Perry an oblique warning about consequences. The sprinklers' spray turns out to be acid and chemical waste, the consequence being death for all but one guest. Verna gives Perry a kiss as he dies.
In 1979, Dupin investigates grave exhumations linked to a drug trial. The younger Roderick, living with his sister Madeline, his first wife Annabel Lee, and young children Frederick and Tamerlane, fails a pitch of Ligodone to Fortunato's CEO, Rufus Griswold, who succeeded Longfellow. In the present, Perry, Frederick, and Roderick's lawyer Arthur Pym must deal with environmental concerns involving their properties. When Frederick insults Perry, Perry decides to host a masquerade-themed party at one of the condemned properties to prove his worth, using water from the facility's tanks to signal an orgy. Roderick, suffering from CADASIL, pins hope on Victorine's experimental heart mesh, while Madeline, now Fortunato COO, seeks to create AI using the memories of Frederick's teenage daughter Lenore. Perry invites Frederick's frustrated wife, Morella, to his party, planning to seduce her as revenge for his brother's disrespect to him. Verna arrives at the party in disguise and gives Perry an oblique warning about consequences. The sprinklers' spray turns out to be acid and chemical waste, the consequence being death for all but one guest. Verna gives Perry a kiss as he dies.
No.
In 1979, Dupin investigates grave exhumations linked to a drug trial. The younger Roderick, living with his sister Madeline, his first wife Annabel Lee, and young children Frederick and Tamerlane, fails a pitch of Ligodone to Fortunato's CEO, Rufus Griswold, who succeeded Longfellow. In the present, Perry, Frederick, and Roderick's lawyer Arthur Pym must deal with environmental concerns involving their properties. When Frederick insults Perry, Perry decides to host a masquerade-themed party at one of the condemned properties to prove his worth, using water from the facility's tanks to signal an orgy. Roderick, suffering from CADASIL, pins hope on Victorine's experimental heart mesh, while Madeline, now Fortunato COO, seeks to create AI using the memories of Frederick's teenage daughter Lenore. Perry invites Frederick's frustrated wife, Morella, to his party, planning to seduce her as revenge for his brother's disrespect to him. Verna arrives at the party in disguise and gives Perry an oblique warning about consequences. The sprinklers' spray turns out to be acid and chemical waste, the consequence being death for all but one guest. Verna gives Perry a kiss as he dies.
3
3
No.
3
Title
"Murder in the Rue Morgue"
Directed by
Michael Fimognari
Teleplay by
Justina Ireland and Mike Flanagan
Original release date
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In a flashback, Griswold takes credit for Ligodone, forcing Roderick to accept this in exchange for potentially increasing his influence at Fortunato. In the present, Pym identifies Perry's body and a badly-burned Morella, the only survivor. Roderick confesses to Dupin that he hid the corrosive waste in those tanks to avoid federal regulations; Frederick's negligence in removing those properties resulted in Perry's death. Camille discovers that Victorine's illegal heart mesh tests on animals were unsuccessful. Verna poses as the first human test subject for Victorine, who books the illegal surgery without informing her girlfriend and co-worker Dr. Ali Ruiz. Verna also poses as an escort for Tamerlane's husband, Bill, to fulfill Tamerlane's cuckquean fetish. Leo believes he killed Pluto, the black cat of his partner Julius, in a drug-fueled stupor. Camille encounters Verna posing as a security guard at Victorine's lab, who asks why Camille hates her half-sister since the two are in fact similar. One of the tested chimpanzees mauls Camille to death.
In a flashback, Griswold takes credit for Ligodone, forcing Roderick to accept this in exchange for potentially increasing his influence at Fortunato. In the present, Pym identifies Perry's body and a badly-burned Morella, the only survivor. Roderick confesses to Dupin that he hid the corrosive waste in those tanks to avoid federal regulations; Frederick's negligence in removing those properties resulted in Perry's death. Camille discovers that Victorine's illegal heart mesh tests on animals were unsuccessful. Verna poses as the first human test subject for Victorine, who books the illegal surgery without informing her girlfriend and co-worker Dr. Ali Ruiz. Verna also poses as an escort for Tamerlane's husband, Bill, to fulfill Tamerlane's cuckquean fetish. Leo believes he killed Pluto, the black cat of his partner Julius, in a drug-fueled stupor. Camille encounters Verna posing as a security guard at Victorine's lab, who asks why Camille hates her half-sister since the two are in fact similar. One of the tested chimpanzees mauls Camille to death.
No.
In a flashback, Griswold takes credit for Ligodone, forcing Roderick to accept this in exchange for potentially increasing his influence at Fortunato. In the present, Pym identifies Perry's body and a badly-burned Morella, the only survivor. Roderick confesses to Dupin that he hid the corrosive waste in those tanks to avoid federal regulations; Frederick's negligence in removing those properties resulted in Perry's death. Camille discovers that Victorine's illegal heart mesh tests on animals were unsuccessful. Verna poses as the first human test subject for Victorine, who books the illegal surgery without informing her girlfriend and co-worker Dr. Ali Ruiz. Verna also poses as an escort for Tamerlane's husband, Bill, to fulfill Tamerlane's cuckquean fetish. Leo believes he killed Pluto, the black cat of his partner Julius, in a drug-fueled stupor. Camille encounters Verna posing as a security guard at Victorine's lab, who asks why Camille hates her half-sister since the two are in fact similar. One of the tested chimpanzees mauls Camille to death.
4
4
No.
4
Title
"The Black Cat"
Directed by
Michael Fimognari
Teleplay by
Mat Johnson and Mike Flanagan
Original release date
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In a flashback, Dupin shows Roderick documents with his signature, which Fortunato forged. In the present, Leo adopts a black cat resembling Pluto from Verna to deceive Julius. Camille's death triggers a family crisis as they no longer have a PR leader. Roderick, Madeline, and Pym identify Verna as the culprit, whom Madeline recalls meeting on New Year's of 1980. Pym gives Frederick the locked burner phone Perry gave to Morella for the party; Frederick becomes paranoid that Morella was cheating on him. In an attempt to cope, he asks Leo for drugs. Roderick confides in Madeline about his diagnosis, similar to their mother's. The new Pluto torments Leo amid Julius' concern over his excessive drug use due to grief over his siblings' deaths. Leo brings Verna to take back the cat and accidentally gouges Pluto's eye, with Verna showing the same injuries. He trashes the apartment in search of Pluto, all of it being his hallucinations. Leo then falls to his death from the balcony as the real Pluto reappears.
In a flashback, Dupin shows Roderick documents with his signature, which Fortunato forged. In the present, Leo adopts a black cat resembling Pluto from Verna to deceive Julius. Camille's death triggers a family crisis as they no longer have a PR leader. Roderick, Madeline, and Pym identify Verna as the culprit, whom Madeline recalls meeting on New Year's of 1980. Pym gives Frederick the locked burner phone Perry gave to Morella for the party; Frederick becomes paranoid that Morella was cheating on him. In an attempt to cope, he asks Leo for drugs. Roderick confides in Madeline about his diagnosis, similar to their mother's. The new Pluto torments Leo amid Julius' concern over his excessive drug use due to grief over his siblings' deaths. Leo brings Verna to take back the cat and accidentally gouges Pluto's eye, with Verna showing the same injuries. He trashes the apartment in search of Pluto, all of it being his hallucinations. Leo then falls to his death from the balcony as the real Pluto reappears.
No.
In a flashback, Dupin shows Roderick documents with his signature, which Fortunato forged. In the present, Leo adopts a black cat resembling Pluto from Verna to deceive Julius. Camille's death triggers a family crisis as they no longer have a PR leader. Roderick, Madeline, and Pym identify Verna as the culprit, whom Madeline recalls meeting on New Year's of 1980. Pym gives Frederick the locked burner phone Perry gave to Morella for the party; Frederick becomes paranoid that Morella was cheating on him. In an attempt to cope, he asks Leo for drugs. Roderick confides in Madeline about his diagnosis, similar to their mother's. The new Pluto torments Leo amid Julius' concern over his excessive drug use due to grief over his siblings' deaths. Leo brings Verna to take back the cat and accidentally gouges Pluto's eye, with Verna showing the same injuries. He trashes the apartment in search of Pluto, all of it being his hallucinations. Leo then falls to his death from the balcony as the real Pluto reappears.
5
5
No.
5
Title
"The Tell-Tale Heart"
Directed by
Mike Flanagan
Teleplay by
Dani Parker
Original release date
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
Roderick, Madeline, and Annabel Lee join forces with Dupin to uncover Fortunato's hidden files. The surviving Usher children devolve into jealousy over their father's favoritism. Frederick has the hospital discharge Morella into his care. Victorine admits that she forged Ali's signature to hurry Verna's surgery. Dupin admits he lied about the informant's existence to pit the family against each other. After an argument, Tamerlane and Bill break up. Roderick meets Victorine for the heart mesh but she is distracted by a ticking noise. Her memory then comes back: after Ali said she was going to reveal the corruption behind the Usher family and the heart mesh trial, Victorine threw a bookend at her head, killing her. Desperate, she used the heart mesh on a dead Ali and was driven to madness by the mesh's chirping. Upon realizing this, Victorine commits suicide in front of her father.
Roderick, Madeline, and Annabel Lee join forces with Dupin to uncover Fortunato's hidden files. The surviving Usher children devolve into jealousy over their father's favoritism. Frederick has the hospital discharge Morella into his care. Victorine admits that she forged Ali's signature to hurry Verna's surgery. Dupin admits he lied about the informant's existence to pit the family against each other. After an argument, Tamerlane and Bill break up. Roderick meets Victorine for the heart mesh but she is distracted by a ticking noise. Her memory then comes back: after Ali said she was going to reveal the corruption behind the Usher family and the heart mesh trial, Victorine threw a bookend at her head, killing her. Desperate, she used the heart mesh on a dead Ali and was driven to madness by the mesh's chirping. Upon realizing this, Victorine commits suicide in front of her father.
No.
Roderick, Madeline, and Annabel Lee join forces with Dupin to uncover Fortunato's hidden files. The surviving Usher children devolve into jealousy over their father's favoritism. Frederick has the hospital discharge Morella into his care. Victorine admits that she forged Ali's signature to hurry Verna's surgery. Dupin admits he lied about the informant's existence to pit the family against each other. After an argument, Tamerlane and Bill break up. Roderick meets Victorine for the heart mesh but she is distracted by a ticking noise. Her memory then comes back: after Ali said she was going to reveal the corruption behind the Usher family and the heart mesh trial, Victorine threw a bookend at her head, killing her. Desperate, she used the heart mesh on a dead Ali and was driven to madness by the mesh's chirping. Upon realizing this, Victorine commits suicide in front of her father.
6
6
No.
6
Title
"Goldbug"
Directed by
Mike Flanagan
Teleplay by
Rebecca Leigh Klingel and Mike Flanagan
Original release date
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In the present, Tamerlane deals with hallucinations from insomnia and her breakup with Bill as she prepares to launch her wellness package Goldbug. Madeline tries to convince Roderick that Verna is a threat after his children's mounting death count, trying to remind him of their deal with her back in 1980, though Roderick is in denial. She also pushes her scientists to develop an AI for consciousness mapping. Pym uncovers Verna's links to prominent families impossibly dating back hundreds of years. Morella begins speaking, leading Frederick to drug her back into silence, still believing she had been unfaithful. Lenore grows concerned when her father does not bring the specialists he'd promised for her mother. At Goldbug's launch, Tamerlane is rattled by hallucinations of Verna and a sex tape of her, Bill, and an escort. She accidentally injures Roderick's wife Juno and Madeline spots Verna, who turns to dust before her eyes. At home, Verna taunts Tamerlane through mirrors, which she smashes until the shards of glass impale and kill her.
In the present, Tamerlane deals with hallucinations from insomnia and her breakup with Bill as she prepares to launch her wellness package Goldbug. Madeline tries to convince Roderick that Verna is a threat after his children's mounting death count, trying to remind him of their deal with her back in 1980, though Roderick is in denial. She also pushes her scientists to develop an AI for consciousness mapping. Pym uncovers Verna's links to prominent families impossibly dating back hundreds of years. Morella begins speaking, leading Frederick to drug her back into silence, still believing she had been unfaithful. Lenore grows concerned when her father does not bring the specialists he'd promised for her mother. At Goldbug's launch, Tamerlane is rattled by hallucinations of Verna and a sex tape of her, Bill, and an escort. She accidentally injures Roderick's wife Juno and Madeline spots Verna, who turns to dust before her eyes. At home, Verna taunts Tamerlane through mirrors, which she smashes until the shards of glass impale and kill her.
No.
In the present, Tamerlane deals with hallucinations from insomnia and her breakup with Bill as she prepares to launch her wellness package Goldbug. Madeline tries to convince Roderick that Verna is a threat after his children's mounting death count, trying to remind him of their deal with her back in 1980, though Roderick is in denial. She also pushes her scientists to develop an AI for consciousness mapping. Pym uncovers Verna's links to prominent families impossibly dating back hundreds of years. Morella begins speaking, leading Frederick to drug her back into silence, still believing she had been unfaithful. Lenore grows concerned when her father does not bring the specialists he'd promised for her mother. At Goldbug's launch, Tamerlane is rattled by hallucinations of Verna and a sex tape of her, Bill, and an escort. She accidentally injures Roderick's wife Juno and Madeline spots Verna, who turns to dust before her eyes. At home, Verna taunts Tamerlane through mirrors, which she smashes until the shards of glass impale and kill her.
7
7
No.
7
Title
"The Pit and the Pendulum"
Directed by
Michael Fimognari
Teleplay by
Jamie Flanagan and Mike Flanagan
Original release date
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In 1979, Roderick betrays Dupin at the court hearing to take down Fortunato, saving the company and earning its gratitude. Disappointed, his wife Annabel Lee leaves him. Madeline tries to convince Pym to elect her as CEO after Roderick is pushed out due to his illness; she wishes to pivot Fortunato to a tech company focusing on AI. Frederick—now hooked on Leo's cocaine—continues to torture Morella. In the present, Roderick refuses Juno's request to get off Ligodone, admitting that he only married her because he was fascinated by her body's affinity for the drug; she leaves him. Frederick enters the building where Perry died prior to it being bulldozed. He snorts cocaine and collapses; Verna reveals that she pushed him to add Morella's paralytics to the cocaine. As the demolition begins, she explains that she would have used an easier method of death but chose this because of his decision to torture Morella. The collapsing infrastructure forms a pendulum that bisects Frederick; he can see and feel it happening. Lenore rescues her mother and calls the police. Thinking that she can save herself if Roderick dies, Madeline convinces him to overdose on Ligodone. Verna, however, does not allow him to die yet.
In 1979, Roderick betrays Dupin at the court hearing to take down Fortunato, saving the company and earning its gratitude. Disappointed, his wife Annabel Lee leaves him. Madeline tries to convince Pym to elect her as CEO after Roderick is pushed out due to his illness; she wishes to pivot Fortunato to a tech company focusing on AI. Frederick—now hooked on Leo's cocaine—continues to torture Morella. In the present, Roderick refuses Juno's request to get off Ligodone, admitting that he only married her because he was fascinated by her body's affinity for the drug; she leaves him. Frederick enters the building where Perry died prior to it being bulldozed. He snorts cocaine and collapses; Verna reveals that she pushed him to add Morella's paralytics to the cocaine. As the demolition begins, she explains that she would have used an easier method of death but chose this because of his decision to torture Morella. The collapsing infrastructure forms a pendulum that bisects Frederick; he can see and feel it happening. Lenore rescues her mother and calls the police. Thinking that she can save herself if Roderick dies, Madeline convinces him to overdose on Ligodone. Verna, however, does not allow him to die yet.
No.
In 1979, Roderick betrays Dupin at the court hearing to take down Fortunato, saving the company and earning its gratitude. Disappointed, his wife Annabel Lee leaves him. Madeline tries to convince Pym to elect her as CEO after Roderick is pushed out due to his illness; she wishes to pivot Fortunato to a tech company focusing on AI. Frederick—now hooked on Leo's cocaine—continues to torture Morella. In the present, Roderick refuses Juno's request to get off Ligodone, admitting that he only married her because he was fascinated by her body's affinity for the drug; she leaves him. Frederick enters the building where Perry died prior to it being bulldozed. He snorts cocaine and collapses; Verna reveals that she pushed him to add Morella's paralytics to the cocaine. As the demolition begins, she explains that she would have used an easier method of death but chose this because of his decision to torture Morella. The collapsing infrastructure forms a pendulum that bisects Frederick; he can see and feel it happening. Lenore rescues her mother and calls the police. Thinking that she can save herself if Roderick dies, Madeline convinces him to overdose on Ligodone. Verna, however, does not allow him to die yet.
8
8
No.
8
Title
"The Raven"
Directed by
Michael Fimognari
Teleplay by
Mike Flanagan and Kiele Sanchez
Original release date
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In 1979, Griswold makes Roderick his right-hand man after he saves the company at the court hearing. On New Year's Eve, Madeline and Roderick serve Griswold poisoned amontillado and wall him into the basement, murdering him. They plan to frame him and have Roderick replace him on the board, taking over Fortunato. The siblings spend time at Verna's bar to establish an alibi and are talked into making a deal with her for wealth and power; in exchange, the entire Usher bloodline will die right before the siblings, who will die together. In the present, Verna offers Pym a deal of immunity for his crimes (detailed in Camille's files), but he refuses and accepts the consequences. Roderick speaks to Annabel Lee at their children's funeral, and she laments that he starved them of love and affection in favor of money and greed. Madeline conspires with Pym to oust and replace Roderick as Fortunato CEO. Before granting Lenore a peaceful death, Verna reveals that her mother will recover and form a beneficent foundation in her name. Verna had then instructed Roderick to call Dupin to confess. Before doing so, Roderick had invited Madeline to the old house, where he killed her and replaced her eyes with sapphires to give her a queenly send-off. After Roderick finishes confessing to Dupin, a blind and deranged Madeline emerges from the basement, revealed to have only appeared dead like their mother, and strangles Roderick. Dupin escapes just as the house collapses, and he sees Verna perched atop the rubble. Juno inherits and dissolves Fortunato, creating a drug rehab foundation. Pym is arrested and Dupin retires. Verna leaves a token on each Usher grave.
In 1979, Griswold makes Roderick his right-hand man after he saves the company at the court hearing. On New Year's Eve, Madeline and Roderick serve Griswold poisoned amontillado and wall him into the basement, murdering him. They plan to frame him and have Roderick replace him on the board, taking over Fortunato. The siblings spend time at Verna's bar to establish an alibi and are talked into making a deal with her for wealth and power; in exchange, the entire Usher bloodline will die right before the siblings, who will die together. In the present, Verna offers Pym a deal of immunity for his crimes (detailed in Camille's files), but he refuses and accepts the consequences. Roderick speaks to Annabel Lee at their children's funeral, and she laments that he starved them of love and affection in favor of money and greed. Madeline conspires with Pym to oust and replace Roderick as Fortunato CEO. Before granting Lenore a peaceful death, Verna reveals that her mother will recover and form a beneficent foundation in her name. Verna had then instructed Roderick to call Dupin to confess. Before doing so, Roderick had invited Madeline to the old house, where he killed her and replaced her eyes with sapphires to give her a queenly send-off. After Roderick finishes confessing to Dupin, a blind and deranged Madeline emerges from the basement, revealed to have only appeared dead like their mother, and strangles Roderick. Dupin escapes just as the house collapses, and he sees Verna perched atop the rubble. Juno inherits and dissolves Fortunato, creating a drug rehab foundation. Pym is arrested and Dupin retires. Verna leaves a token on each Usher grave.
No.
In 1979, Griswold makes Roderick his right-hand man after he saves the company at the court hearing. On New Year's Eve, Madeline and Roderick serve Griswold poisoned amontillado and wall him into the basement, murdering him. They plan to frame him and have Roderick replace him on the board, taking over Fortunato. The siblings spend time at Verna's bar to establish an alibi and are talked into making a deal with her for wealth and power; in exchange, the entire Usher bloodline will die right before the siblings, who will die together. In the present, Verna offers Pym a deal of immunity for his crimes (detailed in Camille's files), but he refuses and accepts the consequences. Roderick speaks to Annabel Lee at their children's funeral, and she laments that he starved them of love and affection in favor of money and greed. Madeline conspires with Pym to oust and replace Roderick as Fortunato CEO. Before granting Lenore a peaceful death, Verna reveals that her mother will recover and form a beneficent foundation in her name. Verna had then instructed Roderick to call Dupin to confess. Before doing so, Roderick had invited Madeline to the old house, where he killed her and replaced her eyes with sapphires to give her a queenly send-off. After Roderick finishes confessing to Dupin, a blind and deranged Madeline emerges from the basement, revealed to have only appeared dead like their mother, and strangles Roderick. Dupin escapes just as the house collapses, and he sees Verna perched atop the rubble. Juno inherits and dissolves Fortunato, creating a drug rehab foundation. Pym is arrested and Dupin retires. Verna leaves a token on each Usher grave.
No.
Title
Directed by
Teleplay by
Original release date
1
"A Midnight Dreary"
Mike Flanagan
Mike Flanagan
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
Roderick Usher, the corrupt CEO of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, has lost all of his children—heir Frederick, entrepreneur Tamerlane, surgeon Victorine, gaming mogul Napoleon (Leo), PR head Camille, and socialite Prospero (Perry)—in a span of two weeks. He attends the funeral of his oldest three (the last ones to die). He sees the ghosts of his dead children and collapses, muttering, "It's time." He invites his nemesis, assistant US Attorney C. Auguste Dupin, to his childhood home to confess his crimes and reveal the reason behind his children's deaths. In 1962, Roderick's mother, Eliza, was buried prematurely after appearing to have died of illness, and dug herself out of her grave to kill her abusive employer, Fortunato CEO William Longfellow, the twins' biological father. In the present, a trial begins to hold the Usher family responsible for the deaths of thousands of people who were taking Fortunato's drug Ligodone and for significantly contributing to the opioid epidemic. Dupin mentions an informant within the family. Roderick recounts a fateful encounter with Verna, a mysterious woman who foretold a life-altering change for the siblings during New Year's Eve 1979.
2
"The Masque of the Red Death"
Mike Flanagan
Emmy Grinwis and Mike Flanagan
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In 1979, Dupin investigates grave exhumations linked to a drug trial. The younger Roderick, living with his sister Madeline, his first wife Annabel Lee, and young children Frederick and Tamerlane, fails a pitch of Ligodone to Fortunato's CEO, Rufus Griswold, who succeeded Longfellow. In the present, Perry, Frederick, and Roderick's lawyer Arthur Pym must deal with environmental concerns involving their properties. When Frederick insults Perry, Perry decides to host a masquerade-themed party at one of the condemned properties to prove his worth, using water from the facility's tanks to signal an orgy. Roderick, suffering from CADASIL, pins hope on Victorine's experimental heart mesh, while Madeline, now Fortunato COO, seeks to create AI using the memories of Frederick's teenage daughter Lenore. Perry invites Frederick's frustrated wife, Morella, to his party, planning to seduce her as revenge for his brother's disrespect to him. Verna arrives at the party in disguise and gives Perry an oblique warning about consequences. The sprinklers' spray turns out to be acid and chemical waste, the consequence being death for all but one guest. Verna gives Perry a kiss as he dies.
3
"Murder in the Rue Morgue"
Michael Fimognari
Justina Ireland and Mike Flanagan
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In a flashback, Griswold takes credit for Ligodone, forcing Roderick to accept this in exchange for potentially increasing his influence at Fortunato. In the present, Pym identifies Perry's body and a badly-burned Morella, the only survivor. Roderick confesses to Dupin that he hid the corrosive waste in those tanks to avoid federal regulations; Frederick's negligence in removing those properties resulted in Perry's death. Camille discovers that Victorine's illegal heart mesh tests on animals were unsuccessful. Verna poses as the first human test subject for Victorine, who books the illegal surgery without informing her girlfriend and co-worker Dr. Ali Ruiz. Verna also poses as an escort for Tamerlane's husband, Bill, to fulfill Tamerlane's cuckquean fetish. Leo believes he killed Pluto, the black cat of his partner Julius, in a drug-fueled stupor. Camille encounters Verna posing as a security guard at Victorine's lab, who asks why Camille hates her half-sister since the two are in fact similar. One of the tested chimpanzees mauls Camille to death.
4
"The Black Cat"
Michael Fimognari
Mat Johnson and Mike Flanagan
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In a flashback, Dupin shows Roderick documents with his signature, which Fortunato forged. In the present, Leo adopts a black cat resembling Pluto from Verna to deceive Julius. Camille's death triggers a family crisis as they no longer have a PR leader. Roderick, Madeline, and Pym identify Verna as the culprit, whom Madeline recalls meeting on New Year's of 1980. Pym gives Frederick the locked burner phone Perry gave to Morella for the party; Frederick becomes paranoid that Morella was cheating on him. In an attempt to cope, he asks Leo for drugs. Roderick confides in Madeline about his diagnosis, similar to their mother's. The new Pluto torments Leo amid Julius' concern over his excessive drug use due to grief over his siblings' deaths. Leo brings Verna to take back the cat and accidentally gouges Pluto's eye, with Verna showing the same injuries. He trashes the apartment in search of Pluto, all of it being his hallucinations. Leo then falls to his death from the balcony as the real Pluto reappears.
5
"The Tell-Tale Heart"
Mike Flanagan
Dani Parker
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
Roderick, Madeline, and Annabel Lee join forces with Dupin to uncover Fortunato's hidden files. The surviving Usher children devolve into jealousy over their father's favoritism. Frederick has the hospital discharge Morella into his care. Victorine admits that she forged Ali's signature to hurry Verna's surgery. Dupin admits he lied about the informant's existence to pit the family against each other. After an argument, Tamerlane and Bill break up. Roderick meets Victorine for the heart mesh but she is distracted by a ticking noise. Her memory then comes back: after Ali said she was going to reveal the corruption behind the Usher family and the heart mesh trial, Victorine threw a bookend at her head, killing her. Desperate, she used the heart mesh on a dead Ali and was driven to madness by the mesh's chirping. Upon realizing this, Victorine commits suicide in front of her father.
6
"Goldbug"
Mike Flanagan
Rebecca Leigh Klingel and Mike Flanagan
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In the present, Tamerlane deals with hallucinations from insomnia and her breakup with Bill as she prepares to launch her wellness package Goldbug. Madeline tries to convince Roderick that Verna is a threat after his children's mounting death count, trying to remind him of their deal with her back in 1980, though Roderick is in denial. She also pushes her scientists to develop an AI for consciousness mapping. Pym uncovers Verna's links to prominent families impossibly dating back hundreds of years. Morella begins speaking, leading Frederick to drug her back into silence, still believing she had been unfaithful. Lenore grows concerned when her father does not bring the specialists he'd promised for her mother. At Goldbug's launch, Tamerlane is rattled by hallucinations of Verna and a sex tape of her, Bill, and an escort. She accidentally injures Roderick's wife Juno and Madeline spots Verna, who turns to dust before her eyes. At home, Verna taunts Tamerlane through mirrors, which she smashes until the shards of glass impale and kill her.
7
"The Pit and the Pendulum"
Michael Fimognari
Jamie Flanagan and Mike Flanagan
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In 1979, Roderick betrays Dupin at the court hearing to take down Fortunato, saving the company and earning its gratitude. Disappointed, his wife Annabel Lee leaves him. Madeline tries to convince Pym to elect her as CEO after Roderick is pushed out due to his illness; she wishes to pivot Fortunato to a tech company focusing on AI. Frederick—now hooked on Leo's cocaine—continues to torture Morella. In the present, Roderick refuses Juno's request to get off Ligodone, admitting that he only married her because he was fascinated by her body's affinity for the drug; she leaves him. Frederick enters the building where Perry died prior to it being bulldozed. He snorts cocaine and collapses; Verna reveals that she pushed him to add Morella's paralytics to the cocaine. As the demolition begins, she explains that she would have used an easier method of death but chose this because of his decision to torture Morella. The collapsing infrastructure forms a pendulum that bisects Frederick; he can see and feel it happening. Lenore rescues her mother and calls the police. Thinking that she can save herself if Roderick dies, Madeline convinces him to overdose on Ligodone. Verna, however, does not allow him to die yet.
8
"The Raven"
Michael Fimognari
Mike Flanagan and Kiele Sanchez
October 12, 2023 (2023-10-12)
In 1979, Griswold makes Roderick his right-hand man after he saves the company at the court hearing. On New Year's Eve, Madeline and Roderick serve Griswold poisoned amontillado and wall him into the basement, murdering him. They plan to frame him and have Roderick replace him on the board, taking over Fortunato. The siblings spend time at Verna's bar to establish an alibi and are talked into making a deal with her for wealth and power; in exchange, the entire Usher bloodline will die right before the siblings, who will die together. In the present, Verna offers Pym a deal of immunity for his crimes (detailed in Camille's files), but he refuses and accepts the consequences. Roderick speaks to Annabel Lee at their children's funeral, and she laments that he starved them of love and affection in favor of money and greed. Madeline conspires with Pym to oust and replace Roderick as Fortunato CEO. Before granting Lenore a peaceful death, Verna reveals that her mother will recover and form a beneficent foundation in her name. Verna had then instructed Roderick to call Dupin to confess. Before doing so, Roderick had invited Madeline to the old house, where he killed her and replaced her eyes with sapphires to give her a queenly send-off. After Roderick finishes confessing to Dupin, a blind and deranged Madeline emerges from the basement, revealed to have only appeared dead like their mother, and strangles Roderick. Dupin escapes just as the house collapses, and he sees Verna perched atop the rubble. Juno inherits and dissolves Fortunato, creating a drug rehab foundation. Pym is arrested and Dupin retires. Verna leaves a token on each Usher grave.
· Reception › Accolades
2024
2024
Year
2024
Award
Black Reel Awards
Category
Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series
Nominee(s)
Carl Lumbly
Result
Nominated
Critics' Choice Awards
Critics' Choice Awards
Year
Critics' Choice Awards
Award
Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Category
Carla Gugino
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Year
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Award
Willa Fitzgerald
Category
Nominated
Mary McDonnell
Mary McDonnell
Year
Mary McDonnell
Award
Nominated
Best Actor in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Best Actor in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Year
Best Actor in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Award
Zach Gilford
Category
Nominated
Bruce Greenwood
Bruce Greenwood
Year
Bruce Greenwood
Award
Nominated
Best Actress in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Best Actress in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Year
Best Actress in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Award
Carla Gugino
Category
Nominated
Best Villain in a Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Best Villain in a Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Year
Best Villain in a Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Award
Nominated
Mary McDonnell
Mary McDonnell
Year
Mary McDonnell
Award
Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards
Television Critics Association Awards
Year
Television Critics Association Awards
Award
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials
Category
Nominated
2025
2025
Year
2025
Award
Saturn Awards
Category
Best Television Presentation
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series
Year
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series
Award
Henry Thomas
Category
Nominated
Best Guest Star in a Television Series
Best Guest Star in a Television Series
Year
Best Guest Star in a Television Series
Award
Mark Hamill
Category
Won
Year
Award
Category
Nominee(s)
Result
Ref.
2024
Black Reel Awards
Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series
Carl Lumbly
Nominated
Critics' Choice Awards
Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Carla Gugino
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Willa Fitzgerald
Nominated
Mary McDonnell
Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards
Best Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
The Fall of the House of Usher
Nominated
Best Actor in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Zach Gilford
Nominated
Bruce Greenwood
Nominated
Best Actress in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Carla Gugino
Nominated
Best Villain in a Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Nominated
Mary McDonnell
Nominated
GLAAD Media Awards
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
The Fall of the House of Usher
Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials
Nominated
2025
Saturn Awards
Best Television Presentation
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series
Henry Thomas
Nominated
Best Guest Star in a Television Series
Mark Hamill
Won

References

  1. Vox
    https://www.vox.com/culture/23914925/fall-of-the-house-of-usher-netflix-review-edgar-allen-poe-references
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    https://ew.com/tv/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-mark-hamill-pym-reaper-sneak-peek/
  3. Fall of the House of Usher
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-cast-mark-hamill-1235060143/
  4. The Fall of the House of Usher
    https://web.archive.org/web/20231013184441/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/10/poe-references-fall-of-the-house-of-usher
  5. John Neal
  6. Midnight Mass
    https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/midnight-mass-mike-flanagan-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-series-netflix-1235082162/
  7. Fall of the House of Usher
    https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/mike-flanagan-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-netflix-cast-samantha-sloyan-rahul-kohli-1235130930/
  8. The Fall Of The House Of Usher
    https://deadline.com/2021/12/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-michael-trucco-tnia-miller-paola-nunez-henry-thomas-cast-1234888760/
  9. "'The Fall Of The House Of Usher' True Story: Is Netflix Series Based On Purdue Pharma Sackler Family?"
    https://dmtalkies.com/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-true-story-explained-2023-series/
  10. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2022/04/frank-langella-fired-the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-misconduct-investigation-netflix-1235001883/
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  12. Collider
    https://collider.com/fall-of-the-house-of-usher-production-start-mike-flanagan-netflix/
  13. Directors Guild of Canada
    https://web.archive.org/web/20220520195445/https://www.dgc.ca/assets/Uploads/BritishColumbia/AvailsProductionLists/Production/Production-List.pdf
  14. Collider
    https://collider.com/fall-of-the-house-of-usher-production-wrap-mike-flanagan/
  15. The Wrap
    https://www.thewrap.com/fantastic-fest-2023-lineup-toxic-avenger-creator/
  16. House of Usher
    https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2023/09/22/Fall-House-Usher-Poe-review/2671695405965/
  17. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2023/08/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-premiere-date-netflix-photos-1235459118/
  18. Deadline
    https://deadline.com/2023/10/netflix-top-10-ratings-lupin-part-3-beckham-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-1235575912/
  19. Deadline
    https://deadline.com/2023/10/netflix-top-10-ratings-old-dads-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-beckham-1235581814/
  20. The Fall of the House of Usher
    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_fall_of_the_house_of_usher/s01
  21. The Fall of the House of Usher
    https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher
  22. The Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/10/12/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-netflix-review/
  23. RogerEbert.com
    https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-2023-tv-review
  24. MovieWeb
    https://movieweb.com/fall-of-the-house-of-usher-review/
  25. IndieWire
    https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/fall-of-house-of-usher-review-netflix-series-1234913063/
  26. San Francisco Chronicle
    https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/fall-of-the-house-of-usher-netflix-18415192
  27. Collider's YouTube channel
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBYkwlLMJ6w&ab_channel=ColliderExtras
  28. Black Reel Awards
    https://www.blackreelawards.com/8th-annual-black-reel-television-awards-nominees
  29. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2023/12/critics-choice-awards-2023-tv-nominations-list-1235652591/
  30. Critics Choice Association
    https://www.criticschoice.com/2024/03/07/nominations-announced-for-the-critics-choice-associations-4th-annual-critics-choice-super-awards-honoring-superhero-science-fiction-fantasy-horror-and-action-movies-and-s/
  31. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2024/01/glaad-media-awards-nominations-2-1235794576/
  32. Variety
    https://variety.com/2024/tv/awards/2024-tca-award-nominations-full-list-1236030322/
  33. Deadline
    https://deadline.com/2024/12/saturn-awards-nominations-2025-list-1236195149/
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