Mike Flanagan has admitted that he feels ancient next to the young filmmakers now reshaping horror. The man behind The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass spent years as the genre’s reliable source of dread. Now a fresh crowd of directors, many arriving from outside traditional filmmaking, is rattling cages of its own. Flanagan took notice, and a recent interview shows exactly how the whole thing landed with him.

While one generation of horror directors keeps perfecting the haunted house, another has built a new one with the lights off and the rules deleted.

Mike Flanagan feels ancient around the new wave of horror filmmakers, and he means it as admiration. He calls the rise inspiring, since many crossed over from other mediums. Meeting Kane Parsons, the creator behind Backrooms, made the age gap obvious.

“I feel very old. When I met Kane, I was like, I am ancient,” Flanagan said.

He then added, "I'm a total kid, but I find them to be completely inspiring. I think it's such a wonderful thing for the genre."

The admiration goes beyond polite praise. Flanagan told ScreenRant that he watched Backrooms three times, once with his son. His son found the film terrifying and exciting, which turned the outing into a bonding exercise through shared fright. That fear has since turned into curiosity about Chiwetel Ejiofor, the film’s lead, and Flanagan happily has a photo with the actor. Flanagan also called original, non-formula storytelling wonderful for both the genre and audiences.

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While Flanagan cheers on horror’s newcomers, his own back catalogue keeps its crown, and ranking it demands some sleepless decisions.

For anyone looking to experience Mike Flanagan’s work, his extensive horror catalogue offers plenty of places to start. Begin with The Haunting of Hill House, which pairs flawless atmosphere with genuine emotional weight. Midnight Mass is another must-watch, thanks to Hamish Linklater’s standout performance as Father Paul and its devastating final stretch. The Fall of the House of Usher brings a more vicious and entertaining edge, led by Bruce Greenwood, while The Haunting of Bly Manor trades some scares for romance and melancholy.

His catalogue also includes Carrie, the 2026 Prime Video series starring Summer H. Howell, with Samantha Sloyan as Margaret and Matthew Lillard as the principal. It handles its themes of bullying and religious fanaticism well, even if it does not quite reach the atmospheric heights of his Netflix projects. The Midnight Club is another option for viewers who prefer character-driven drama alongside their horror.

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What are your thoughts on Mike Flanagan feeling ancient beside horror’s young filmmakers? Let us know in the comments.