The Midnight Club (2022) stars Iman Benson as Ilonka, Igby Rigney as Kevin, Ruth Codd as Anya, William Chris Sumpter as Spencer, Aya Furukawa as Natsuki, Annarah Cymone as Sandra, Sauriyan Sapkota as Amesh, Adia as Cheri, Heather Langenkamp as Dr Georgina Stanton, Matt Biedel as Tim, and Zach Gilford as Mark. Based on Christopher Pike’s 1994 novel of the same name, the Netflix show was created by Mike Flanagan and Leah Fong.
The directors include Axelle Carolyn, Michael Fimognari, Viet Nguyen, Morgan Beggs, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour and Mike. The writers include Mike and Leah, along with Julia Bicknel, Jamie Flanagan, Elan Gale, and Chinaka Hodge. There are 10 episodes of at least an hour. The synopsis reads, “Inside a hospice for terminally ill teens, members of an exclusive club make a chilling pact: The first to die must send a sign from beyond the grave.”
Netflix’s The Midnight Club Review Contains No Spoilers
In The Midnight Club, a 17-year-old Ilonka gets diagnosed with cancer. After a year, the cancer treatment shows no improvement in her health. Ilonka learns about Brightcliffe Hospice and gets ominous visions. She tells about the Hospice to her foster dad, Tim. Ilonka decides to stay at the hospice where there are many terminally ill patients (teenagers) like her.
At the hospice, she becomes friends with the other teenagers and learns about the Midnight Club. Every night, the teenagers gather in the library and narrate spooky stories. It’s a tradition that has been going on for decades. Even though Dr Georgina and Mark provide comfort and proper care to everyone, many dark secrets are hidden in the hospice. Will Ilonka and her group find out the truth? Will they survive to know the secrets, get healed and live a better life?
After scaring Netflix viewers with shows like The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor and Midnight Mass, this year, Mike Flanagan is back with The Midnight Club. In his new show, the teenagers are at the receiving end of threatening situations.
The Midnight Club starts off very well, building the curiosity about Ilonka, the hospice and everyone present there. The first 6 episodes pack in the most jumpscares moments that wouldn’t scare a horror shows fan. But the most entertaining and thrilling part of these episodes was the stories these teens narrated in their club. From making a deal with the devil to an immortal ghost, the stories keep you hooked.
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The teenagers in the hospice are aware that they are sick and will die one day. But they are curious about what’s on the other side of life. In the real world, people have many theories about the afterlife. These teens are no different. But is there really a way to communicate after death? The Midnight Club is seeking these answers.
When the characters are not telling stories, some creepy activities happen in the hospice. Ilonka and her roommate Anya are often scared by some deadly spirits. Ilonka does everything to find answers to the visions she got about a girl named Julia. It’s Julia’s story that interested her in going to the hospice. So many doors are opened in the first 6 episodes that the last 4 episodes feel rushed, despite being long. The conclusion to some mysteries felt inadequate.
We are never answered why Ilonka gets those visions, what’s the deal with the basement, why these ghosts are trying to scare Ilonka and much more. Considering the show ends on a cliffhanger, we might get these answers in season 2 (if it happens). But the show loses its track after episode 10.
Iman Benson has the most screen time in The Midnight Club, and she has done a brilliant job. Her character Ilonka is smart and eager to know things. The rest of the actors are also phenomenal throughout.
The Midnight Club Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, Mike Flanagan’s latest Netflix series packs in some immersing stories by teenagers. However, there are hardly any frightening moments. But the show will keep one captivated because of the scary stories, mysterious, gripping premise and the performances.
The horror series is now streaming on Netflix.
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