Is Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher Based on a True Story?

There are many movies and series, even those in the horror genre, that are either based on books or real-life events. So, is The Fall of the House of Usher based on a true story?

Here’s what we know about the Netflix series' source material.

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What Is The Fall of the House of Usher About?

The Fall of the House of Usher follows Roderick Usher, the CEO of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, a corrupt pharmaceutical company, who must face his past when his children start dying in mysterious and brutal ways.

Apart from Roderick, other characters in the series include Madeline Usher, his twin sister; Frederick Usher, Roderick’s eldest son; Tamerlane Usher, Roderick’s eldest daughter; Camille L'Espanaye, Napoleon "Leo" Usher, Victorine LaFourcade, and Prospero "Perry" Usher, illegitimate children of Roderick.

The official synopsis for The Fall of the House of Usher, as provided by Netflix along with the trailer, reads:

“In this wicked series from Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) and based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, ruthless siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher have built Fortunato Pharmaceuticals into an empire of wealth, privilege and power. But past secrets come to light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying at the hands of a mysterious woman from their youth.”

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Is The Fall of the House of Usher Based on a True Story?

Credit: Netflix

The Fall of the House of Usher is based on Edgar Allan Poe’s 1839 short story of the same name and some of his other works.

While the Netflix miniseries is not directly based on a true story, it is believed that Poe’s story draws inspiration from events surrounding the Hezekiah Usher House.

The real Usher House was located in Boston and was torn down in 1830. When the house was brought down, two bodies were said to have been discovered in the cellar.

In Poe’s story, Roderick buries his sister Madeline alive in the cellar.

Credit: Netflix

Additionally, it is also believed that Roderick and Madeline Usher are based on the real-life Usher twins, James Campbell Usher and Agnes Pye Usher.

The twins were believed to have gone insane. They were the children of Luke Noble Usher, a close friend of Poe’s mother, Eliza.

So, while Poe’s story is a work of fiction, many think that the story was inspired by events that may have taken place in real life.

However, it is worth noting that the story about the two corpses buried alive in the cellar as well as the insane Usher twins have not been substantiated.

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