Don’t Be Scurred: Watch American Horror Story on FX

OK. OK. OK. This might not be THE timeliest of all posts seeing as though the season finale of American Horror Story aired on FX on Wednesday, December 22nd, but the devilishly delightful cable drama merits recognition on This is Blog! as one of, if not the best TV shows to premiere this past fall.

That’s right. Better than NBC’s The Playboy Club and its three-episode run.

American Horror Story revolves around the Harmon family – Vivien (Connie Britton), Ben (Dylan McDermott) and Violet (Taissa Farmiga) – who, thanks to a bout of infidelity from Ben, decide to pack up shop and move cross-country from Boston to Los Angeles in hopes of a fresh start. Kind of like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. But with less backwards hats.

Really, though, it’s their new home that is the star of the show (and is apparently now for sale).

The Harmons move into the famous “Murder House” (unbeknownst to them at time of purchase) where countless killings, most unsolved, have occurred since it was built in 1922 by a then famed Hollywood surgeon and his wife.

Most episodes in the first season begin by showing one of the murders that have occurred throughout the house’s history prior to the title sequence, and are some of the creepiest moments I’ve ever seen on TV, or anywhere for that matter.

Side Note: Speaking of Creepy McCreepersons, the title sequence is about as disturbing as Leonardo DiCaprio’s South African accent in Blood Diamond. I know! Think the footage of the VHS in The Ring. Yeah, that kind of creepy.

Apparently it was created by the same people who made the title sequences for The Walking Dead on AMC and the movie Se7en. Both memorable in their own right.

What we and the Harmons soon come to discover is that those who meet their end inside of the “Murder House” property limits don’t move on to the afterlife, but rather set up permanent residence inside the home, predominantly the basement. Star Trek fans and comic book store employees should be able to relate.

Some of these ghosts are harmless enough, rarely making their presence known, while others are the embodiment of pure evil and always seem to be lurking about.

Lots of lurking. Lots of evil.

I’d love to continue or expand on that, but I simply cannot. To say more would ruin what’s best about American Horror Story: The What/Huh/No Way/Wow factors.

American Horror Story: Best New Fall Drama. Fact.

Each episode of the first season is entirely unpredictable, unforgiving and unafraid to take chances, which allows the show to constantly surprise viewers and keep us on the edge of our seats while providing some scares along the way.

I don’t know about you, or you, or her, but I can’t remember the last horror movie that truly scared me or even gave me the willies, (The Descent, maybe) whereas each episode of American Horror Story features at least one such moment. For reals.

I mean, it even starts out with a bang. In the opening scene of the series where two red-headed twin boys find their way into the basement of “Murder House” only to encounter one of the, shall we say, “less friendly” inhabitants, I was like, Oh snap! Turn on the lights!

Amongst all the thrills, chills and kills, there is some heart in American Horror Story, which makes us truly care about the fate of not only the Harmons and the living, but even some of the undead as well.

Britton breaks out of her Friday Night Lights shell and she and McDermott are both believable and sympathetic as a married couple on the brink. Jessica Lange is a tour de force as the next door neighbor with a deep-rooted history to “Murder House.” Expect Lange to get some serious attention come award season. I’m just sayin’. Many of the dead characters are excellent as well, but to say who they are would ruin some of the fun of the show, as the line between the living and the dead is often a blurry one in American Horror Story.

Scares. Surprises. Good acting. Good characters. What’s not to like? In fact, I can’t remember seeing many if any of those things in a movie lately, whereas they are becoming fixtures of a lot of exceptional TV programming, with American Horror Story now included.

So, while American Horror Story has finished its first season, I strongly suggest finding a way to watch it online, or purchasing or renting the DVD/Blu-Ray when it becomes available.

Not only will you not be disappointed but you’ll be prepared for what should be an awesome, entertainment extravaganza when the second season airs in the fall of 2012. Reviews to come!

Kevin

Update: American Horror Story has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Drama and the aforementioned excellence of Jessica Lange was acknowledged with a Best Supporting Actress nomination.