Mike Flanagan has masterfully woven a slow burn around the themes of faith and morality—one that keeps you thinking

Not too long ago, writer and director Mike Flanagan released his latest supernatural horror series, Midnight Mass, and just like with The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, we got another spine-chilling, gripping story that left us reeling from emotional blows long after the end credits. Watching his latest output, there was one integral character that left us scratching our heads: the setting itself, Crockett Island.

Crockett Island is one of those places you can’t leave. Well, there’s actually one way to leave—by a worn-out ferry that comes and goes whenever it wants. But not only is it difficult to depart the island physically, the main characters can’t seem to break away from the desolate island, despite knowing how limited life is.

Still from ‘Midnight Mass’

The plot centers around a young priest, who arrives at the isolated Crockett Island, host to a small fishing town with just 127 citizens. With his arrival, several unexplained miracles begin to renew a religious fervor among the tight-knit community. However, something sinister is hidden beneath the surface of this miraculous moment. Flanagan has always had a unique ability to explore depths within characters, and bring them to life in compelling ways. Midnight Mass reflects its cast’s humanity while touching on some heavy topics, including trauma, faith, addiction, and morality. Although this time the director left the ghosts behind, opting for a biblical creature instead.

Still from ‘Midnight Mass’

Now to the question we’ve all been asking (or at least I have): does Crockett Island actually exist in real life? Flanagan oversaw the construction of an entire small town in the middle of a public park called Garry Point Park in British Columbia, just outside Vancouver. The set included homes, a grocery store, and of course, the church. He called it “Crockett Island”. So, no the island does not actually exist in real life; it’s entirely fictional. The filming location isn’t even an island. The oceans surrounding the landmass are all impressively computer-generated, which means no island even exists which looks like Midnight Mass’s Crockett Island.

However, the crew faced real-life horrors on set, due to filming taking place in the early days of the pandemic in March 2020. Flanagan and his team had to halt production and leave “Crockett Island”, and Canada, behind. With solid Covid-19 measures implemented, production continued in August, and shooting continued for 83 days without interruption. 

On a happier note, if you’re keen on planning a Midnight Mass-inspired trip, there are several islands surrounding Vancouver that are only accessible by ferry. Just keep in mind that Crockett Island⁠—sadly⁠—isn’t one of them. 

For fans of horror, if you haven’t had the chance to watch the show yet, make sure to do so. Midnight Mass is available for streaming on Netflix.