Stephen King has given his seal of approval to a Netflix series that has achieved a remarkable 91 percent rating, describing it as ‘unique and binge-worthy’.
This year has been significant for King, with several adaptations of his works hitting the screens. Three have already premiered in 2025, while three more are on the horizon. The Monkey, The Life of Chuck, and the Prime Video series The Institute have already captured audiences. Meanwhile, The Long Walk is set to premiere in theaters on Friday, September 12, It: Welcome to Derry is scheduled for an October release on HBO Max, and The Running Man will arrive in November.
Despite the numerous adaptations of his own stories, King is also known for recommending shows and films he finds noteworthy.
Recently, King watched a Netflix series from 2023, which is directed by someone often compared to ‘the Quentin Tarantino of horror’.
According to FlixPatrol, the series has amassed over 296 million hours of viewing, aligning King with a vast number of viewers.
The narrative unfolds over two timelines, from 1953 to 1980 and in 2023, following entrepreneurs Roderick (Bruce Greenwood) and Madeline (Mary McDonnell) as they launch Fortunato Pharmaceuticals. The plot thickens as they face the mysterious and gruesome deaths of Roderick’s six children.
The cast boasts talents such as Willa Fitzgerald from Scream, Carla Gugino from Heads of State, and Mark Hamill from Star Wars.
The series, titled The Fall of the House of Usher, is inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s short story bearing the same name.
In August, King shared his thoughts on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (Netflix): I missed this when it bowed due to hip surgery, but this is a case of delayed gratification. Scary, involving, with writing that’s witty and moves the plot. There’s a case to be made for Mike Flanagan being the Quentin Tarantino of horror.”
Mike Flanagan has previously adapted King’s works, including the 2017 Netflix film Gerald’s Game, which starred Gugino and included an intensely disturbing scene. Additionally, Flanagan directed the 2019 movie Doctor Sleep, based on the sequel to The Shining, and this year’s release, The Life of Chuck.
The Fall of the House of Usher has garnered a 91 percent score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score of 81 percent.
Critics praised the show, stating, “Presenting vintage Poe stories filtered through Mike Flanagan’s deliciously dark lens, The Fall of the House of Usher will get a rise out of horror fans.”
Fans echoed these sentiments, with one saying, “Beautifully executed, acted and perfect cinematography. Tip of the hat to Poe and delivered epically. Highly recommend.” Another called it ‘so unique and binge worthy,’ while a third described it as “An entertaining combination of weird, deep and well-thought of.”
The Fall of the House of Usher is currently available for streaming on Netflix.