"The Fall of the House of Usher": Retribution Exists, but Only in Stories

Regarding American fantasy and gothic literature, Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft stand as two towering peaks impossible to bypass. In recent years, with the assistance of video games and mass media, Lovecraft and his creation, the "Cthulhu Mythos," have gradually become familiar to the general public. However, the works of Edgar Allan Poe, who profoundly influenced Lovecraft, have remained relatively niche.

Edgar Allan Poe

Nevertheless, a recent addition to Netflix, "The Fall of the House of Usher," has brought several of Poe's works into the limelight by skillfully weaving them into a modernized adaptation. As someone who has explored some of Poe's works, I found watching this series deeply satisfying, and I'd like to share my impressions from two perspectives.

1. A Fresh Approach to Visual Storytelling

For those well-acquainted with the "Cthulhu Mythos," this expansive intellectual property is often called a "graveyard of screen adaptations" because H.P. Lovecraft's works were predominantly written in the early 20th century. Direct adaptations often struggle to capture the intended impact, so the word "graveyard" is apt.

Another approach to adapting the Cthulhu Mythos is to extract specific elements from the mythos and incorporate them into video games and other content. However, this approach can lead to misunderstandings among those unfamiliar with the mythos, who might perceive Lovecraft as merely a writer of peculiar concepts, lacking true horror.

H. P. Lovecraft

Adapting the works of Edgar Allan Poe, who had a more profound influence on Lovecraft, presents an even more significant challenge. Poe's stories are primarily set in the 19th century, making them less relatable to modern audiences. Furthermore, as a pioneer of multiple literary forms, Poe's works span various genres, including novels, poems, art critiques, and more. There is no overarching narrative structure; even within his horror tales, intricate plots and poetic descriptions of characters' inner turmoil abound. This complexity poses a substantial challenge for screen adaptation. However, "The Fall of the House of Usher" masterfully accomplishes this seemingly daunting task.

Directed by Mike Flanagan, known for his work on horror films such as "The Haunting of Hill House" and "Doctor Sleep," this series not only tells a complete story but seamlessly weaves many of Poe's iconic works and poems into the narrative without feeling forced. The pervasive gloom and melancholy associated with Poe's writings are effectively conveyed. This series strikes an excellent balance in the debate between faithfulness to the source material and innovation. To connect the various standalone stories by Poe, the creative team introduces a fictional family and adapts each episode as a different classic work of Poe.

Moreover, a closer look at each adaptation within the series reveals the attention to detail. For instance, the second episode, based on "The Masque of the Red Death," reimagines a tale of wealthy nobles indifferent to the ravages of the Red Death, indulging in debauchery behind the walls of their distant castle. The series transforms this story into a silver party hosted by criminals and arrogant heirs. A red-clad woman with a skull mask brings a summons from death, and acid rain descends from the sky, claiming the lives of nearly all the wealthy. Each adaptation within the series balances innovation and faithfulness to the original work. For source material fans, the series is full of surprises, with familiar scenes coming to life. For casual viewers, it tells a compelling story that showcases the best aspects of Poe's work without appearing overly esoteric or pretentious.

This series presents a fresh approach to bringing the works of both Poe and Lovecraft to the screen. Whether others will tread this path in future adaptations remains to be seen, making it a prospect worth anticipating.

2. Justice Realized Only in Fiction

In this series, the linchpins of the Esher family are Roderick Esher and Madeline Esher, gifted siblings who ascend from destitution to seize control of a pharmaceutical empire by compromising their principles and entering pacts with the devil. Their highly addictive painkiller becomes the foundation of their immense wealth while claiming the lives of countless ordinary people.

Ultimately, as their pact with the devil expires, the devil arrives to claim the souls of the Esher family and their colossal pharmaceutical empire crumbles. However, in our real world, the Esher family depicted in the series reflects a true story. However, in reality, the poetic justice depicted in the series remains confined to fiction.

In 1913, a boy named Arthur M. Sackler was born in New York, USA. Endowed with intelligence, he grew to become a leading figure in global medicine. He founded medical journals, established and funded scientific institutions worldwide, significantly advancing both medical and basic sciences. Arthur Sackler dedicated himself to medical progress and deeply loved collecting and donating art. He supported numerous museums and art galleries around the world.

Arthur M. Sackler

In 1952, Arthur Sackler co-founded Purdue Pharma with his two brothers. In the 1980s, the company developed a highly potent painkiller called "OxyContin." While effective in treating pain, this drug was highly addictive.

Arthur Sackler and His Brothers

In response to concerns about the drug's addictive nature, Purdue Pharma chose to cover up the facts. On one hand, they provided substantial financial support to authoritative medical experts to endorse OxyContin in the public sphere. On the other hand, they hired a large sales force to target grassroots doctors. They used bribery and other tactics to penetrate underserved markets and make OxyContin an everyday painkiller for ordinary people. The prevalence of OxyContin had two significant consequences: Purdue Pharma's wealth skyrocketed, and the misuse of opioid drugs, starting with OxyContin, became a catastrophe sweeping across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2017 alone, there were approximately 47,600 deaths in the United States due to opioid misuse. Opioid misuse has evolved into a severe public health crisis, and the gateway to this hellish problem was opened by Purdue Pharma through the introduction of OxyContin.

OxyContin

In the early days, concerns about the addictive nature of OxyContin prompted only a few to voice their objections. Purdue Pharma's response to these questions was straightforward: throwing money at the problem. They either paid off victims to prevent them from complaining further or used lawyers and lawsuits to silence them. However, when the opioid crisis fueled by OxyContin had already grown into a colossal wave, Purdue Pharma realized its financial means were no longer sufficient to contain the situation.

In 2021, facing as many as 2,600 charges related to the excessive promotion of drugs, Purdue Pharma eventually admitted to all accusations and declared bankruptcy after paying victims $8.3 billion in settlements. Nonetheless, the Sackler family behind Purdue Pharma managed to escape virtually unscathed, and reports suggest that Richard Sackler, who played a crucial role in the aggressive promotion of OxyContin, had legally transferred approximately $14 billion in assets before Purdue's admission of guilt.

While many state governments in the United States continue to pursue claims against Purdue Pharma, the legal process has become more protracted due to the company's bankruptcy. The opioid crisis triggered by drugs like OxyContin remains an ongoing and unceasing disaster. Various films and documentaries about this issue have emerged recently, such as "Dopesick" and "Painkiller." At the same time, major art institutions and museums have further distanced themselves from the Sackler family, going beyond terminating partnerships to actively "de-naming" in response. Nevertheless, quelling the anger from a fundamental moral perspective remains challenging.

In "The Fall of the House of Usher," we witness nearly a one-to-one recreation of the Esher family, who face horrifying fates. This may serve as a means for the series creators to achieve a form of justice in response to the crimes committed by the Sackler family. Sadly, this justice can only be realized within the confines of the story.