Filmmaker Mike Flanagan's horror work—which includes Oculus, Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, and Gerald's Game—has been acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. So, it's no wonder that his latest gothic horror series, The Fall of the House of Usher, is one of the buzziest upcoming releases of fall 2023. Based on a short story of the same name by the master of mystery and the macabre himself, Edgar Allan Poe, the show, starring previous Flanagan collaborators Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Samantha Sloyan, Henry Thomas, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, Carl Lumbly, Michael Trucco, and megawatt talents Mark Hamill and Mary McDonnell, is set to arrive just in time for spooky season on October 12, 2023. To quote from a logline for the upcoming series, viewers should expect episodes to explore "madness, family, isolation, and metaphysical identities"—themes famously near and dear to Poe's heart and central to much of his work.
Poe's writing has been highly influential for creators of all mediums across the mystery and horror genres. Flanagan’s upcoming adaptation is far from the first—many filmmakers, screenwriters, playwrights, directors, and television producers have paid homage to the iconic literary genius and his works. We have no doubt that Flanagan's new horror drama will be up there with some of the best Edgar Allan Poe movies and shows of all time. But while we wait for it to hit our Netflix queues, here are the most notable page-to-screen adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe to date.
The Black Cat, directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and written by Peter Ruric, released May 1934
While promoted as being inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat," the movie has very few similarities to the short story, aside from the generally dark, eerie atmosphere and the presence of a black cat. Nevertheless, The Black Cat was the year's highest grossing box office hit for Universal Pictures and helped to launch the popular psychological horror subgenre. It was also the first of eight films to feature the pairing of stars Boris Karloff and Béla Lugosi.
The Tell-Tale Heart, directed by Ted Parmelee and written by Bill Scott, released December 1953
"The Tell-Tale Heart" is one of Edgar Allan Poe's most popular short stories. The feelings of dread and guilt explored haunt listeners long after they've finished this classic tale. While there have been several adaptations of this story, the 1953 American animated short film does the best job of capturing the emotions of the original story. The surrealist film was praised by critics and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
House of Usher, directed by Roger Corman and written by Richard Matheson, released December 1953
Another Poe short story that's inspired many adaptations is "The Fall of the House of Usher," and Roger Corman's 1960 horror film is one of the most significant. This movie was the first of eight feature films directed by Corman adapting Poe's works, and it's widely thought to be the best. While some critics pointed out that the story and overall tone of Corman's film did not exactly match up with Poe's original, many have praised the film for its creation of the Usher mansion and other effects on a tight schedule and with a limited budget ($300,000—$100,000 of which went to the film's star, Vincent Price). House of Usher is listed with the US National Film Registry for being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
The Pit and the Pendulum, directed by Roger Corman and written by Richard Matheson, released August 1961
The Pit and the Pendulum was the second film directed by Corman adapting a popular short story by Edgar Allan Poe. While House of Usher is considered by many to be the superior Corman adaptation, The Pit and the Pendulum was widely praised by critics and audiences at the time of its release. The movie definitely captures the eeriness of the Poe original. Stephen King, in his book Danse Macabre, named a scene in this film as one of the most important moments in horror—you simply need to see it for yourself.
The Masque of the Red Death, directed by Roger Corman and written by Charles Beaumont and R. Wright Campbell, released June 1964
One more Corman adaptation of a Poe classic worth putting on your must-watch list is this 1964 film based on "The Masque of the Red Death." It absolutely nails the unsettling nature of Poe's original short story. While well-received by critics, Corman's The Masque of the Red Death was not as widely watched as some of his previous adaptations. Still, if you love this short story, you will love this artful adaptation of Poe's work.
The Simpsons (season two, episode three) "Treehouse of Horror," directed by David Silverman and written by Sam Simon, released October 1990
While it might seem odd to include a Simpsons episode on this list, we have to acknowledge that this cartoon sitcom's take on Edgar Allan Poe's “The Raven" is incredibly memorable. Released in 1990 as part of the show's inaugural Halloween-centered "Treehouse of Horror" episode, this short but effective adaptation casts Homer Simpson as the heartbroken man and son Bart as the raven. But James Earl Jones truly stars as the narrator, lending his deep, dramatic vocals to Poe's chilling rhymes. Despite its comedic turn, this adaptation remains fairly faithful to Poe's famous poem.
The Raven, directed by James McTeigue and written by Ben Livingston and Hannah Shakespeare, released March 2012
The 2012 crime film The Raven is more inspired by the life and writings of Edgar Allan Poe than it is an adaptation of any particular work. Screenwriters Ben Livingston and Hannah Shakespeare based this story on the final days leading up to Poe's mysterious death. In this film, Poe (played by John Cusack) helps detectives pursue a serial killer who is murdering people in ways that mirror the events of his very own stories, including “The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "The Tell-Tale Heart."
Extraordinary Tales, directed by Raúl García and written by Raúl García and Stéphan Roelants, released 2015
Directed and co-written by Raúl García, Extraordinary Tales is an inventive animated anthology, featuring five short film adaptations of Poe's short fiction. Stories included are "The Fall of the House of Usher," narrated by Sir Christopher Lee; "The Tell-Tale Heart," narrated by Bela Lugosi; "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," narrated by Julian Sands; "The Pit and the Pendulum," narrated by Guillermo del Toro; and "The Masque of the Red Death," which is not narrated. The film's animation style is striking and macabre and a wonderful homage to the dark strangeness of Poe's work.
The Bloodhound, directed and written by Patrick Picard, released December 2020
This 2020 horror thriller is another notable adaptation of "The Fall of the House of Usher." Marking the feature film debut of Patrick Picard, The Bloodhound is a loose retelling of the Poe classic with a few modern-day twists. However, it does include many of the original story's key elements, such as the premise of a friend dropping in on two siblings to investigate strange goings on and the dark, atmospheric setting. The Bloodhound was hailed in The Hollywood News as an "impressively stylish and intellectual debut" and named by Paste magazine as one of the "13 Best Edgar Allan Poe Adaptations."
Multiple episodes of Dark Shadows, airing 1966 to 1971, series created by Dan Curtis
While not a direct adaptation of Poe's work, several storylines in classic gothic soap Dark Shadows took heavy inspiration from some of his most iconic tales. The beloved cult classic show, which followed the mysterious and moneyed Collins family, was threaded with nods to Poe's work throughout its run from 1966 to 1971. Notable references include nods to "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Pit and the Pendulum," just two of the stories you'll hear in this curious audio collection curated and narrated by metal vocalist Andy Biersack. Biersack, who listeners might know best as the frontman of 2010s showmen Black Veil Brides, brings a gothic glamor to these familiar tales. Brush up before you tune in to that annual spooky season bingewatch.
