"American Horror Story" and Using Every Trick in the Book: Early Impressions (Epis. 1-3, Blu-Ray)

*full disclosure: a Blu-Ray screener of this film was provided by 20th Century Fox.

Creators: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk.

Directors: Bradley Buecker, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, and David Semel.

Writers: Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy, Tim Minear, Jennifer Salt, Jessica Sharzer, and James Wong.

Cast: Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Taissa Farmiga, Denis O'Hare, Frances Conroy, and Kate Mara.

The "American Horror Story" television series received good ratings during its premiere season. This series was the most popular new show on cable during 2011. As well, actress Jessica Lange won a Best Supporting Actress award at the Golden Globes for her performance as Constance. Also notably starring are Dylan Mcdermott and Connie Britton. This is a very popular show for some people. Creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk incorporate far too many plot elements in its early shows and a few bizarre directing techniques, as well. Some characters are dead, others are living and almost everyone is killing someone else. This frenetic and very chaotic plot style did not create a fan with this reviewer.

The show's story is very complex and diffuse. This reviewer will simply focus on the Harmon family. McDermott plays Ben (McDermott), the father. He cheats on his wife, Vivien (Britton), after she experiences tragedy, a stillbirth. Ben moves his family from Boston to Los Angeles for a "new start." Unfortunately, Ben chooses "The Murder House" for his family's new roost. Over twenty murders have occurred here before Ben, Vivien and daughter Violet (Taissa Farmiga) move in. Five more murders will happen before the end of Epis. 2 titled "Home Invasion."

Lots of characters to follow.

There is far too much happening in the show's pilot. In this first episode, this reviewer counted at least 10 new characters introduced in fifty minutes. That is far too many characters to keep track of. The major themes in this showing included infidelity, with Ben trying to renew passion in his marriage. Vivien turns to a masked bondage character for solace. Even with the show's central characters there is chaos. The story then presents a mish-mash of ideas in this first showing. Two twins are killed, a bully is scarred in the basement, Violet shows that she has a penchant for cutting herself, a new maid can transform from the nubile to the old, said maid tries to seduce Ben and on and on and on the wheel spins out of control. This pilot just seems like an overstuffed suitcase with every horror idea stuffed into its lining. There is too much going on in this episode and the show does not improve much from here on in, in this viewer's opinion.

"American Horror Story" is also a very gay friendly show. Creator Ryan Murphy is admittedly a homosexual filmmaker. Some of his input into the show includes male characters disrobing often. In the first episode, McDermott is nude at least three times. This is great for female and homosexual fans, but not so great for a straight male. A male masturbation scene involving a Peeping Tom does not make a viewing of this series any easier.

This series also has a prominent feminine edge to it, as well. There is this focus on pregnancy and motherhood across several shows. Vivien miscarries, becomes pregnant again, experiences contractions (in just the first four episodes!), while Constance is overly protective of her daughter, Adelaide (Jamie Brewer). Constance also begins to reveal her many other children who have died over the course of these early episodes. Unbelievably, another character is pregnant with Ben's child, but it is all too much to cover. These topics of pregnancy are sure to resonate with some members of the audience. This show has definitely found a viewership, but some of the themes, topics and plot elements were not interesting at all to this watcher.

From a technical perspective, this series fails miserably in the premiere episode, but it improves slightly over time. Returning to the pilot, the director has chosen to use jump cuts, quick edits and a shaky camera to unsettle the viewer. This style of shooting must be similar to what a seizure feels like. You just want it to be over. Some scenes are held for a few minutes, but the next scene will only last for 10 to 15 seconds. This style seems unprofessional and amateurish. The visual style does steady a bit by Epis. 3, "Murder House." The pacing evens out as well by this point. However, this viewer felt like the show had been produced by eager filmmakers right out of film school. There is lots of experimentation, but very little of this exercise is successful.

The Blu-Ray release special features are also lackluster. There is a commentary from creator Ryan Murphy for the pilot, only. Murphy gives a lot of great detail of what was happening behind-the-scenes on the show in general. He also relates some of his horror influences, which included Rosemary's Baby, the Lindbergh baby (kidnapping) and many others. Murphy is verbose in his commentary, but one extra on the release is very sparse, indeed.

This reviewer procrastinated on writing this critique because there is obviously a market for this show and a wide audience. This watcher is, however, not a fan after watching several episodes. Those looking for horror with a feminine and chaotic touch will find lots to appreciate here. Others, who like focused storytelling with a few well drafted characters and situations, will not find much to like in this series. "American Horror Story" is still in the experimental phase in this first season, so hopefully it improves. So far, from what this reviewer has seen, there is no reason to continue watching further episodes.

Overall: 5.5 out of 10 (the filmmakers are trying hard - too hard, too many story elements, plots and characters, trying to jam too many ideas into the show, unfocused and terrible directing styles).

*the Blu-Ray for Seas. 1 of "American Horror Story" released September 25th.

**shot in Rosenheim Mansion.

"American Horror Story" at FX:

"American Horror Story" at FX

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