Episode 2 of Midnight Mass features a spectacular one-shot scene that lasts inordinately long, but how does it compare to the virtuoso one-shot of The Haunting of Hill House’s episode 6? Midnight Mass has arrived on Netflix, and the horror show is being hailed as a return to form for writer/director Mike Flanagan. While his last television was relatively well-received, 2020’s The Haunting of Bly Manor had major problems and could not recapture the outsized acclaim of 2018’s The Haunting of Hill House.
Midnight Mass, while not quite as universally acclaimed as The Haunting of Hill House, has received impressive write-ups for its compelling supernatural mystery. The series also features some of Flanagan’s inventive camerawork, with episode 2 opening on an ambitious 8-minute one-shot sequence. It is undeniably impressive, but can’t quite outdo the achievement of The Haunting of Hill House’s comparable episode 6—which features a whopping 17-minute single-shot sequence.
The Haunting of Hill House’s episode 6 shot is not only longer but also bounces between two sets and two distinct time periods, with different actors playing the same characters in different eras all during one shot. In contrast, Midnight Mass’s shot is limited to one location, with a stream of characters conversing about dead cats washing up on the local beach, and features far less complex blocking. Ultimately, the difference between the two shots is an effective summation of the difference between the two series. The Haunting of Hill House’s one-shot scene is incredibly ambitious, complex, and self-consciously showy, much like the show’s dense plot and layered characterization as a whole were an impressive distillation of Flanagan’s talents as writer and director. Midnight Mass’ one-shot scene is shorter, less technically difficult, and more focused on quiet moments of character development, mirroring the way that Flanagan’s latest Netflix hit is a more subdued and thoughtful horror outing than his earlier, more outwardly scary and emotionally charged family saga.
![How Midnight Mass’ Episode 2 One-Shot Compares To Hill House’s](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/pjimage199.jpg)
That said, Flanagan’s latest work does feature plenty of impressive technical wizardry. An aerial POV shot midway through episode 2 calls to mind Malignant’s horror-inspired recent Tenebre nod, while one of episode 4’s most shocking moments is revealed in a bloody smash cut worthy of Quentin Tarantino at his most darkly comic and mean-spirited. However, for all of the show’s technical merits, Midnight Mass as a whole is more interested in deep, dialogue-heavy meditations on faith, mercy, and community, meaning the series has less of The Haunting of Hill House’s showy technique because the more mature themes call for a more reserved execution.
Flanagan’s technical flourishes have not always been enough to impress critics and audiences, with last year’s The Haunting of Bly Manor faring worse than both Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House despite featuring more of the director’s trademark camera tricks than the former. Like Flanagan’s darker Shining sequel Dr. Sleep, The Haunting of Bly Manor was a comparative disappointment for some fans and critics because the director’s technical prowess wasn’t anchoring an already compelling plot. Luckily, Midnight Mass has been a return to form in that regard, even if the Netflix hit’s impressive one-shot is not quite as jaw-dropping as The Haunting of Hill House‘s episode 6.