One hidden Mike Flanagan easter egg teased the first Usher death in Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher. On the surface, The Fall of the House of Usher presents a contemporary take on Edgar Allan Poe’s short story of the same name. However, a closer look at the series reveals how it brims with references to several short stories and poems written by Edgar Allan Poe. From character names to story beats, from character deaths to visual metaphors, nearly every element in The Fall of the House of Usher is inspired by the works of the renowned horror author.
However, apart from drawing references to Edgar Allan Poe’s works, The Fall of the House of Usher also features easter eggs from several Mike Flanagan movies. For instance, young Roderick and Madeline have a planchette in the series, which is the same Ouija board used in Mike Flanagan’s movie Ouija: Origin of Evil. Another similar Flanaverse easter egg in Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher subtly foreshadows the first Usher family death.
How Jenny’s Hush Mask Ties Into The Mike Flanagan Universe
In The Fall of the House of Usher‘s episode 2, “The Masque of Red Death,” Perry hosts an exclusive rave at a factory that has been long abandoned by his father’s company. Perry sees it as an opportunity to earn a quick buck, but little does he realize that his plan is about to go wrong. The rave begins with a bang, and many of Perry’s guests show up. However, as soon as Perry turns on the fire sprinklers for the rain dance, acid pours out on all the guests, leaving everyone but Morelle Usher dead. The horrific moment of Perry’s rave is surprisingly foreshadowed by Jenny’s mask.
All the guests at the rave sport masks, but Jenny’s mask stands out because it is similar to the mask the central killer wears in Mike Flanagan’s horror movie, Hush. Although this reference to the Mike Flanagan movie can easily be missed, it effectively gives a glimpse of how trouble and suffering are around the corner for Perry and his guests. Owing to this, Jenny’s mask becomes one of the many details in Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher that tie it to the horror director’s overarching cinematic universe.
The Fall of the House of Usher Character Posters Foreshadowed Other Deaths
While Jenny’s mask foreshadowed Perry’s death, The Fall of the House of Ushers‘ posters revealed how each character from the central Usher family would eventually meet their doom. For instance, Napoleon’s poster features a framed picture of him with a cat under it, highlighting how Verna transforms into a cat to teach Napoleon a lesson or two about morality before leading him to his deathbed. Similarly, Frederick’s Fall of the House of Usher poster features a half-cut framed picture of him, showing how Verna leaves him under a giant swinging pendulum that slowly slashes through half his body.
Victorine’s poster has similar details that foreshadow how she stabs herself in the heart, and even Tamerlane’s poster gives away that a shard from a broken mirror ultimately kills her. Similar subtle details can be found in other individual posters of characters like Roderick, Madeline, and Camille. These hidden details highlight how Mike Flanagan meticulously created The Fall of the House of Usher and carefully crafted each element in the show’s overarching storyline, ensuring an immersive and gripping experience for audiences.
