Mike Flanagan has become a name in modern horror with the success of his shows such as The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass. His first film, College Gothic, won numerous awards, including first place in the “Introduction to Film” category of Towson University’s film festival in 1997. His early career began during his years at Towson University when he began raising money for his first feature film, MakeBelieve. Flanagan described his vision as,

“[wanting] to do a movie that realistically portrays college students. I’m sick of the images presented by films today.” Acclaimed director, Steve Yeager said, “There is no question in my mind that by the time Mike is 21, he’ll have made his first feature [film].”  

Though Flanagan faced immense financial setbacks during the making of MakeBelieve, the film was released in 2000, and billed as an independent film.  As mentioned, Flanagan has gone on to become a horror writer and director, known for shows tackling difficult topics, and horror that shifts away from a dependence on the typical jump scare.

As reported in the The Towerlight, Flanagan made a financial donation to the university in 2024. In his honor, the cinema in the new Smith Hall building will be named after him. The Flanagan Cinema will include 250 seats, a 4K projector, and be Dolby Atmos certified. 

This wiki entry was created in collaboration with Ryan Taylor, a summer 2023 intern in Towson University’s Special Collections and University Archives department, and student at Notre Dame Preparatory high school in Towson, Maryland. If you have feedback on the content, please contact us through email (scua@towson.edu).