THE MONSTER
Father Paul Hill in Midnight Mass
The word “vampire” isn’t used once in Mike Flanagan’s seven-part mini-series Midnight Mass. Yet, on the sparsely populated island of Crockett, there’s much jugular-gnawing, an epidemic of unnatural youthfulness, and even a fanged, bat-winged monster. There is a good reason for the notable absence of the V-word. To Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater), who smuggles the aforementioned bat-thing into this Catholic community and mixes its tainted blood with the communion wine, this is not some demonic affliction. It is a gift from God. In his faith-blinded eyes, the sky-stalking predator he’s uninterred is nothing less than an angel. One which has given him a rather unorthodox blessing. Father Paul believes he’s doing the best for his parishioners, curing their ailments with his spiked wine and, as encouraged by his zealous aide Bev Keane (Samantha Sloyan), ultimately bringing them what he sees as Heaven on Earth. That is what makes him such a compelling and complex character. He spreads and empowers evil, but he is not an evil man. Remember what they say about the road to Hell? The role required an astute, fine-line-walking actor to pull off, and Hamish Linklater (formerly seen in TV’S Fargo and Legion) is nothing less than a revelation. Whether delivering fiery sermons, tenderly hosting an AA meeting or privately rationalising his monstrous transformation, Linklater keeps Paul relatably and almost endearingly flawed. Note the way he often trips over his words as he finds them during his memorable monologues, as if he’s never quite convinced by what he’s preaching. It’s no mean feat to create sympathy for a devil. Even if it is a devil who’s utterly convinced they’re working for the other side. DAN JOLIN