FX’s American Horror Story had me right from its title alone. Being that it’s premiering during the witching month of October (5th, 10PM) made it even more tempting, though I admit I started to wonder if I was setting myself up for one hell of a crashing disappointment. That’s a pretty ambitious title for a non-premium cable channel to pick up, seeing as the violence will certainly be toned down quite a bit. As it turns out, you don’t need graphic, disturbing violence to make for a scary television show, and American Horror Story proves that.
The show follows the Harmons — Husband and wife Ben (Dylan McDermott) and Vivien (Connie Britton), and their daughter Violet (Taissa Farmiga) — who have moved from Boston to Los Angles into a house that has quite a bit of history to it. That history, as it turns out, has been why the Harmons have gotten it for a steal, and they’re quick to blow off the circumstances under which the place went up for sale. We get to see a bit of that history, and it’s clear the Harmons aren’t going to have a home-“sweet”-home here.
As you’re sure to guess, a lot of frightening stuff goes on in that house from the moment the Harmons step into it, though it’s not the rattling chains and wispy ghosts sort of scary stuff some might expect. Instead, the spirits — or whatever they are — that are haunting this house are set out to completely mess with the minds of the new occupants in batshit crazy ways. There’s a very clear Amityville Horror influence going on here, though the creators took it a big step further to make at least the premiere episode end with one hell of a lot of discomfort. It’s one of those “oh no they didn’t!” moments that will make your skin crawl, and I don’t want to ruin any of that here — you just need to see it for yourself.
Another influence I got out of the show was a touch of Twin Peaks in that there are those incredibly odd moments here and there that are really difficult to classify, except that Twin Peaks did really odd stuff too. A couple of moments that come to mind are when a really strange and creepy musical cue would sound off at certain moments that didn’t necessarily make you jump, but they were sure odd and uncomfortable. At one such moment, in one of the early scenes of the episode, I had to guess why it was played; only later did I understand what had happened in that scene, which made me feel dumb for not knowing but still seemed … odd.
Some of you will be happy (or horrified) to learn that there’s a LOT of McDermott butt to be seen in this show, or at least in the premiere. Maybe the violence is turned down a notch, but I guess they make up for that with gratuitous, naked ass scenes.
The downside to all of this show (besides, for me, naked McDermott) is that there seems to be no grey area for who’d like to watch American Horror Story. You’re either going to be solidly intrigued and drawn in, like I am, or too disturbed or confused to get it at all. FX appears to be gambling that more people will fall into that former group, and perhaps debuting somewhat close to Halloween — and grabbing those in that Halloween spirit — will help rope more people in.
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Sep 26, 2011 @ 16:00 EST5EDT
Dylan McDermott or Dermot Mulroney? Now it no longer matters … https://placeitonluckydan.com/2011/02/dylan-mcdermott-dermot-mulroney-agree-to-be-same-person/