Horror isn’t supposed to work on television. Recent examples of failure include the short-lived series “Harper Island” and the Steven Spielberg produced “The River”. They have a few shocks but ultimately have nowhere to go. Sure, there are some creepy episodes of “Twilight Zone” and “X Files” but those are one-offs that didn’t have to sustain any suspense show to show.
But television creator Ryan Murphy is a sort of mad genius. With “American Horror Story,” he has concocted a perfect formula to fright. Mix a stellar cast with a handful of stunning secrets and plenty of genuine scares and you have a groundbreaking show that breaks all molds.
The Cast: All discussion begins and ends with Jessica Lange and her filthy creature Constance. I can think of no other character on television (perhaps in history) that is so complex, twisted and wicked. Miss Lange establishes the weight and gravity of the entire series, giving “American Horror Story” a rich cinematic quality. While the focus is usually on Constance, the shows backbone is Evan Peters as Tate Langdon, her emotionally disturbed son. Tate is pure evil, a rapist and murderer, but Peters’ performance has so much soul that we can somehow find a way to feel sorry for the bastard. It is no small feat. The rest of the cast give well rounded performances but these two shine the brightest.
The Secrets: I will refrain from the usual synopsis because the thrill of the show lies in the secrets. There are so many jaw-dropping moments and to ruin a single one of them would be a crime. The show also works when you revisit and know all the inner workings. The barebones of the plot is that the Harmon family moves into a gorgeous gothic mansion in Los Angeles. The family is in turmoil after a severe miscarriage suffered by wife Vivien (Connie Britton) and some infidelity regarding husband Ben (Dylan McDermott). There is sullen daughter Violet (Taissa Farmiga) who rounds out the dysfunctional little family unit. Of course, they are not alone in the house and slowly the ghostly inhabitants reveal themselves.
The story is told in lumps spanning different decades starting in the Roaring 20s. Each tale is horrible and sick, adding to the legend of the Murder House. The plot unfolds like a well-executed magic trick over the shows 12 episodes. While the show does lose some steam after all the secrets are revealed, it is a masterful season. The FX Channel is home to the show and, since it is on cable and is not restricted by censors, allows the story to travel into dark territory that would earn it an R rating at the multiplexes.
Part of what is so exciting about “American Horror Story” is that each season is a self-contained story arch that has a definitive ending. Mr. Murphy’s grand design. He will use some of the same cast each year as a rotating troupe and this is unlike anything on television today. With this structure, the show can go on forever. If we have a dud season, we simply reset and start over. Nothing on the tube has more potential and nothing delivers the goods like “American Horror Story”.
Special Features:
· Audio Commentary on Pilot Episode by Ryan Murphy
· Behind the Fright: The Making of American Horror Story
· The Murder House presented by Eternal Darkness Tours of Hollywood
· On the Set of American Horror Story Season One
· Overture to Horror: Creating the Title Sequence
· Out of the Shadows: Meet the House Ghosts
Street Date: 25/Sep/2012
Run Time: 534 Minutes
MPAA Rating (USA): NR (Not Rated)
Genre: Horror
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Language: Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen: 1.78:1