American Horror Story: Season 1

If AMERICAN HORROR STORY doesn't give you nightmares, nothing will. There is nothing like this show on TV and it is beyond creey and scary. It is am homage to every horror film that has come before it and you'll be hooked after the first episode. Of course, AMERICAN HORROR STORY is not for the faint of heart or people easily scared by things that go bump in the night even if it is only on TV. AMERICAN HORROR STORY is beyond all horror and thrillers you have ever seen.AMERICAN HORROR STORY is an actor's dream. There is depth to the characters and we see them over and over. This show was also a casting director's dream (or maybe nightmare). I can't imagine a more thoroughly perfect cast. Everyone plays his or her role with true delight. I could easily spend pages delving into each character and actor but let me start with one of the best. Jessica Lange is at her absolute best as freaky neighbor Contance Langdon. She puts the C in creepy and gee, she is not even one of the dead people in the show. She is attached heart and soul to the picturesque Victorian mansion next door.New buyers Ben Harmon (Dylan McDermott), his wife Vivien (Connie Britton) and daughter Violet (Taissa Farmiga) have the misfortune of moving into the house after a couple of family tragedies. Little do they know they have moved into LA's infamous "murder house." These three actors are just perfect for their roles. Britton can tell stories of joy, sadness and fear just from her facial expressions. Farmiga is the perfect troubled teen trying to make sense of a crazy world.The fun of AMERICAN HORROR STORY is watching each episode and learning about the "people" who share murder house with the Harmons. Try not to learn to much of the plot ahead of time and just watch everything unravel. Who is dead and who isn't? Murder House is the a place of eternal misery. People who die in that house, whether by murder or natural causes, never leave.Another fascinating character is Jamie Brewer as Addie, Constance's daughter who was born with Down's Syndrome.Brewer is great in her role. Is she evil or just a victim of a horrible parent. She sees dead people. Then there is Evan Peters as Tate. Another great role of a trouble teenager with a seriously troubled past.So many characters have connections that should be revealed as you watch the series and not in a review.And to add to the mix, we have Frances Conroy and Alexandra Breckenridge as the mysterious housekeeper Moira O'Hara?Why two actresses in one role? You'll find out soon enough and it's a stunner. Both actresses are perfect in their roles. Another standout is Kata Mara as Hayden McClaine. If you're having trouble with your ex-mistress, just wait until she is dead and starts visiting your wife!Another of my favorites is Zachary Quinto as one-half of the dead gay couple that lives in the house. You see my point about not knowing too much about the plot before you start watching? Such great writing and it makes me wonder what nightmares the writers were having to come up with all this horror and thrills.Watching this great cast interact is part of the fun of AMERICAN HORROR STORY. We get to learn the back story of this house built in the 1920's for a famous doctor and his wife and son. Here is the beginning of the murder house.AMERICAN HORROR STORY also makes references to the 1940's murder of Elizabeth Short known forever as "The Black Dalia" and even the murder of actor Sal Mineo in the 1970's. Nothing is left unturn and no subject is taboo.AMERICAN HORROR STORY is addictive but it does have plenty of plot holes. We never know why the house seems to have a life and power of its own and why it feeds on human tragedy. Why are the souls trapped? Why do Constance and Addie see dead people? I could go on and on with questions but just sit back and enjoy these creepiest and scariest ride of your life.

When someone gives you an Amazon Gift Certificate and says "buy yourself something you won't normally get for yourself" get AMERICAN HORROR STORY! I'd "heard" little about the series, and read a few short articles here and there, but after SIX FEET UNDER and OZ, I refused to get involved in serial television at all. And I didn't! A news junkie M-F, and a sci-fi guy on the weekends, I was fine with supplementing repeats and heavily rotated news with something from my eclectic DVD and laserdisc collection.I did, however, end up with an Amazon Gift Card from a "client" after what was a courtesy photo session...and I saw AMERICAN HORROR STORY "used/like new" priced significantly below the list price. OK, why not? I could always pass it on to a friend if I REALLY hated it. So I bought it.And the DVD box languished on my shelf. No. I wasn't about to start watching a serialized show. I was too busy. I didn't want the addiction which comes with serial television. Hell. I bought the DARK SHADOWS DELUXE LIMITED EDITION BOX SET of the entire 1,225 episodes...and watched THAT again, after seeing its first run in the 60s, and second run on the SciFi (then) channel in the 80s. But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I had to watch it again.And then on Super Bowl Sunday, when the rest of the networks were Toilet Bowl television, I thought "ok, I'll watch one or two episodes and see what's what."And two discs later (eight episodes, I think) I had to turn off the television and get to bed.WHAT A SHOW! WHAT A SHOCKER! WHAT A RIOT!It took me a few minutes here and there to figure out what was "really" going on, and then I was totally hooked. AMERICAN HORROR STORY is definitely a nod to DARK SHADOWS (1966 - 1971) but not about vampires. It's about the house, and the characters and the storyline. But it's also a shocking nod to the headlines of the day (no spoilers here) and is impeccably sequenced, written and filmed.I'd missed Jessica Lange on the screen for so long, I was surprised and shocked to see she was in the show. Scraping the bottom, Ms Lange? Not in the least! More like on a seriously slow boil with one of the best psychologically-damaged portrayals I'd ever seen. Sheer Jessica Lange. A part written for her, and she just eats it up (literally?) Dylan McDermott was a pleasant surprise. I'd never really been a fan of his, nor had I been a non-fan, but we did go to the same high school (separated by about 3 years) so I like watching a city native (who has a serious backstory of his own!) as a psychiatrist with his personal set of demons sweating it through every episode.I could go on and on and on, but here's the scoop: if you liked DARK SHADOWS (the original series), Se7en, The Twilight Zone (Rod Serling), SIX FEET UNDER, and some noted classic 60s/70s horror movies (ROSEMARY'S BABY, HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL), and some other great, and overlooked, art house and/or indie films (THE FALL, INK) you'll love AMERICAN HORROR STORY.There's really nothing like watching something terribly original, walking the razor's edge for the usual television fare, and knowing you've got the whole season ("one long movie") as someone put it...so just put the discs in and enjoy it, episode after episode (try to watch a disc at a time, or at least two/three episodes in sequence).I'd give this four stars because I know it's going to come to the last episode and the roller coaster ride will be over, but AMERICAN HORROR STORY rates a TEN for me. Everything about it is great.Watch this with blocks of time, an open mind, open eyes, and put it on pause if you need to leave the room. Missing even five minutes can derail a future character development (or appearance!)If you love Jessica Lange? This is perfect for you. She's brilliant, and I hope she picks up an award or two. Classic Jessica Lange, updated!