American Horror Story: Scary just went mental

So the final episode of television series “American Horror Story” aired here in Blighty this week. I was left utterly unmoved by the phenomenon that was “Glee” so I did not tune in because of the names Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk but rather because I am fascinated by anything with the word “horror” in the title and this trailer... 

American Horror Story FX Trailer

So what was the verdict? 

“American Horror Story” is ridiculous. There are so many horror genres in this piece of television that it feels like it has a personality disorder. Blurring the lines between homage and overkill it has so many references that it will leave the average horror fan breathless. Mashing together “The Amityville Horror”, “Rosemary’s Baby”, “The Omen”, and even the more subtle horror that is “We Need to Talk About Kevin”, it feels  at times like the creators just couldn’t decide which toy to play with. The storyline is completely bonkers demanding the viewer does more than just suspend their disbelief. In fact you might as well just hurl that thing out the window. You won’t need it in this haunted house. 

Saying this, I am utterly hooked and will be tuned in for series two which has already been commissioned. Why? The series was visually enthralling and really beautifully shot. The creepy credits alone were enough to sell me on episode one. Leaving any sense of reality at the front door, the viewer finds a story that is compelling and a cast of characters that you just don’t want to stop watching. Indeed, you don’t have to because when you die in this house, you don’t go anywhere. At one point towards the end I actually struggled to recall if there were any characters left who hadn’t bitten the dust. 

Ben struggles to keep count of who is dead so far

“American Horror Story” is about a haunted house. Not haunted by just one ghost but dozens. A crazed doctor, an amoral dentist, a mother grieving for her baby, a wife grieving for her marriage, a teenage psychopath, a deformed child locked in the attic, evil twins, a gay couple and even the tragically famous Black Dahlia. The house even comes with its own shape-changing housekeeper, Moira who can’t decided whether she is a one-eyed old woman or a sex kitten in a french maid’s outfit. Add to this mix the newly acquired spirit of a murdered young mistress and a shiny leather gimp outfit and you have yourself a party. 

Yes. That is a gimp suit.

The overriding theme of “American Horror Story” is infidelity and the damaging affect it has on families and homes. Ben, played by a rather hot and often naked Dylan McDermott is a psychotherapist who takes refuge in the arms of a student when his marriage to Vivienne played by Connie Britton hits the rocks. It is the attempt to recover their shaky relationship that drives them to the surprisingly cheap mansion that is the “Murder House” and straight into a story of nightmares. Various other stories are all laced with infidelity and the moral of the story seems to be “don’t cheat, it will lead you to a sticky end.” Wise words. 

So by the end we’ve seen murders, demon spawn, ghost-sex including some girl-on-girl kinkiness, fatal accidents, suicides, massacres, revelations and stories of gore and horror. The final dollop of crazy for me was the Christmas celebration in the final episode. Bonkers.  

The impeccable Jessica Lange, whom I fell in love with at aged sixteen, when I saw her play Blanche Dubois on the London stage, is stunning as smoky, Southern Belle, neighbour Constance and I am pleased to learn she is back for series two. Series two is also said to move away from our “murder house” which I think will be a welcome move. I am eager to see what is left in the horror pot for Murphy and Falchuk to unwrap for us. 

I'm sorry... what?

Roll on the next installment.