Thursday, October 9, 2014

American Horror What, Now?



How much longer will American Horror Story hypnotize the ADD generation? Tonight, it debuted its fourth season. Given the show's anthology format, I dropped as many pre-conceptions as I could from past installments and watched the pilot.

Again, a crucial ingredient was missing: STORY.

Yes, Jessica Lange is depressed and abusive, Kathy Bates is all butch'd up, the Siamese twins are two people (~woahhhh~), and Evan Peters' character makes an oblivious nod to Kenneth Anger's "Scorpio Rising."

 Why?

Any possible reason seemed so peripheral I had to squint. Mark my words, we've already seen the full character trajectory of that "scary" clown (get some personality, sister! Doesn't Ryan Murphy do "Glee?").

"American Horror Story: Freak Show" falls right in line with the signature "wooooh, look at this" desperation of previous seasons, sucking all soul from the 60's and 70's motifs it rips off. Even if nihilism is your thing, there are probably better freak shows to be seen on Bravo and "E."

Anyone craving creepy, surreal circus vibes that won't insult their intelligence owes it to themselves to see or re-watch Alejandro Jodorowsky's "Santa Sangre." You'll get all that's missing in "Freak Show," and more.   

No comments: