American Horror Story

I am not intending to blog about TV but I think this show deserves a special mention. In this terrible time of Kadashian sisters reality TV and Wayan brothers sitcoms there has been a bit of a renaissance of excellent television at the moment. Game of Thrones, Downton Abby, the new TMNT reboot and American Horror story. 

This twelve part story surrounds the Harmon family. After Mrs Harmon miscarries their son, and the husbands subsequent infidelity with one of his students they family are seeking a new life in LA. Unfortunately for the Harmon's they have chosen to live in a haunted house, filled with vengeful and murderous ghosts including a ether addicted surgeon with Frankenstein complex, and a  maid who appears differently to different people. 

Each episode is a disturbing look at the horrible and bloody history of the house and how it affects those inside it, living and dead. Even the opening credits are scary! Bloody china dolls.

The series was created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, if those names sound familiar you may know the as the creators of Nip/tuck or Glee. And while that may surprise many that these guys can turn from Glee to this I don't. I dislike musicals, and putting on television is a stroke of evil genius.

The cast includes Zachery Quinto, Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton and the amazing Jessica Lange. I want to give a special mention to Jamie Brewer who played the psychic child Addie. Both a sympathetic and disconcerting role.  Addie being locked in the punishment room was a particularly disturbing

episode.

Jessica Lange won a golden globe and a emmy for her role as Constance Langdon, the ageing southern belle who was the previous owner of the house. Her performance is excellent, stylish and sinister, Charming and brimming with malice at the world. her performance was so good she is also in the next season which is a entirely new story.

 
The series is a clever take on famous American  horror stories, the haunted house, the monster in the cellar, the inbred child that lives chained in the attic, bloody Mary etc. The writers have taken these urban legends and woven them into the history of the house. It is a clever catalogue of American horror mythology combined in a well written story.

If like horror give this a try, but it is not for the faint hearted, or those that think this is a strange version of Glee.

eight little monkeys hiding behind the couch