‘Fall of the House of Usher’: Here’s Every Edgar Allen Poe Reference You Missed
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The Fall of the House of Usher is filmmaker Mike Flanagan’s gloriously morbid remix of author Edgar Allen Poe’s best-known stories and poems, and it’s winning raves from critics (with a 92 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes). Even those totally unfamiliar with Poe probably found some glimmer of recognition amid the show’s nods to his best-known tales — such as “The Pit and the Pendulum,” “The Raven” and “The Cask of Amontillado” — given how Poe’s stories have threaded through pop culture over the last 175 years or so.
But even Poe superfans probably couldn’t spot all the references — because there are dozens scattered throughout the show’s eight Gothic episodes.
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So here they are (The Hollywood Reporter compiled this based on notes supplied by the show’s production team — I’m not going to pretend to be this smart; also, there’s always a chance that a few references were nonetheless missed). Note also there are spoilers below, so if you haven’t finished watching the series, which dropped Oct. 12, consider doing that first and then return to this story.
CHARACTERS
Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood/Zach Gilford) – based on “The Fall of the House of Usher.”
Madeline Usher (Mary McDonnell/Willa Fitzgerald) – based on “The Fall of the House of Usher.”
Verna (Carla Gugino) – her name is an anagram for Raven!
Auguste Dupin (Carl Lumbly) – name comes from Poe’s amateur detective character in three of his tales.
Arthur Pym (Mark Hamill) – from “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.” His character and story also represent the common theme of comeuppance in Poe’s work.
Frederick Usher (Henry Thomas) – Frederick’s name is taken from the story “Metzengerstein.”
Morella “Morrie” Usher (Crystal Balint) – her name is taken from “Morella.”
Lenore (Kyliegh Curran) – name comes from the poem “Lenore” and is used in “The Raven.”
Tamerlane Usher (Samantha Sloyan) – her name is taken from “Tamerlane.” Her story of abandoning love for ambition also ties back to this story.
William T Wilson aka “Bill” (Matt Biedel) – name comes from the story “William Wilson.”
Victorine Lafourcade (T’Nia Miller) – her name comes from the story “The Premature Burial.”
Camille L’Espanaye (Kate Siegel) – named after the character from “The Murders of the Rue Morgue.”
Napoleon “Leo” Usher (Rahul Kohli) – his name derives from “The Spectacles.”
Prospero “Perry” Usher (Sauriyan Sloyan) – name comes from “The Masque of the Red Death.”
Annabel Lee (Katie Parker) – based on the poem of the same name and symbolizes the common theme of lost love in Poe’s work.
EPSIODES
Episode 1: “A Midnight Dreary”
Fortunato – the company’s name comes from “The Cask of Amontillado” antagonist (or ill-fated protagonist, depending on your point of view).
Dupin is an amateur detective in three of Poe’s stories.
House of Usher – Dupin listening to Roderick’s confession throughout the midpoint conversation (present time) is reflective of the narrator in “The Fall of the House of Usher” story.
Longfellow – is named after another poet during Poe’s time.
Eliza – is named after Poe’s mother. Her story of being buried alive was inspired by “The Premature Burial.”
Ligodone – name was derived from “Ligeria,” an early Poe short story.
Tamerlane’s story and death is actually based on the short story “William Wilson.” The show uses used the name for her husband Bill.
Goldbug – the production just used the visual from the story “The Gold-Bug” for Tamerlane’s name and logo for her company.
Victorine’s story and death is based on “The Tell-Tale Heart,” but the animal testing she does on chimps ties back to “The Murders of the Rue Morgue.”
Roderick and Madeline’s Egyptian artifacts are references to “Some Words With a Mummy.”
Episode 2: “The Masque of the Red Death”
Perry’s grotesque death is obviously based on “The Masque of the Red Death.”
Toby’s character name and the dialogue “Toby Dammit” are from “Never Bet the Devil Your Head” in which the character’s name is “Toby Dammit.”
From the team: “During the 1979 timeline, the thematics and idea of being done in by one’s own hubris, ties back to “Metzengerstein.” The show nods to it each time Roderick takes Dupin back to that time period.”
Rufus Griswold was Poe’s nemesis and wrote a scathing eulogy for him under a pseudonym.
The name Metzer (chemist) is shortened from “Metzengerstein.”
Landor Pharma – The name is taken from Poe’s “Landor’s Cottage.”
Madeline’s AI – From the production team: “The idea stemmed from a modern version of death by entombment, which was a common occurrence in Poe’s work. The idea being that your mind is uploaded to a ‘cloud’ like database but your body is gone. Came from the discussion after reading ‘The Premature Burial.'”
Madeline’s Egyptian artifacts are references to “Some Words with a Mummy.”
The Grampus references back to the boat in “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.”
Frederick’s claustrophobia ties back to the character in “The Pit and the Pendulum.”
Episode 3: “The Murders of The Rue Morgue”
Camille’s death is based on “The Murders of The Rue Morgue.”
Young Roderick recites the poem “Annabel Lee” in dialogue.
Verna’s name tag as the security guard “Le Bon” is used in “Rue Morgue.”
Episode 4: “The Black Cat”
Leo’s death is based on the story “The Black Cat.”
Brevet – a name used in “The Man Who Was Used Up.”
Episode 5: “The Tell-Tale Heart”
Victorine’s death is based on “The Tell-Tale Heart.”
The dialogue the preacher speaks at the funeral are verses from “Spirits of the Dead.”
Episode 6: “Goldbug”
Tamerlane’s story and death is based on “William Wilson.”
The sapphire eyes are inspired by “Some Words With a Mummy.”
Roderick’s backstory on Pym is inspired by “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.”
Episode 7: “The Pit and the Pendulum”
Frederick’s death is based on “The Pit and the Pendulum.”
Roderick recites the poem “Annabel Lee” to Dupin.
Frederick’s focus on Morrie’s smile and ripping out her teeth is inspired by “Berenice.”
The poem Verna recites to Madeline is Poe’s “The City by the Sea.”
Episode 8: “The Raven”
Roderick recites verses from the poem “Annabel Lee” to Dupin.
The bricking in of Gris is based on “The Cask of Amontillado.”
After Lenore dies, the scene in which a raven appears before Roderick at his estate is based on “The Raven.” The reveal of the texts Roderick has been receiving that say versions of “nevermore” are also tied to the story.
The mummification of Madeline is inspired by “Some Words With a Mummy” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The collapse of the house and death of Roderick and Madeline are based on “The Fall of the House of Usher.”
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