American Horror Story

American Horror Story is an ambitious project in the horror genre; with a touch of exaggeration, it could be compared to The Pacific in the war genre. Despite featuring a strong ensemble cast, the result does not meet my expectations, even though I really liked the pilot and would give it about four to five stars. In horror, it is generally believed that fear is best evoked by what you do not see or know. Unfortunately, this series is too literal and tries to explain the motivations and past of its (anti)heroes in such a way that both the horror and mysterious potentials of the story quickly disappear. Where in the first episodes the camera cuts and explores the underground spaces of the house, showing artifacts from a mad laboratory, faded photographs, and small pieces of the gloomy estate's history, the atmosphere is excellent. However, later on, it becomes more of a fantasy series about a world and a place where the living and the dead converge, resembling something like True Blood, though without its entertaining sexually deviant aspects. The series is more interesting in its first third because it still plays with the theme of uncertainty about the future of the characters. In this context, it is impossible not to think of the excellent Twin Peaks, which completely overturned the idea of the mystery genre and essentially redefined it. The strength of that project lay in Lynch's ability to deftly balance several genres, constantly keeping the viewer in suspense, as he revealed very little about his characters, and the viewer never knew where the ever-changing nature of his favorites would lead next. American Horror Story has many good gimmicks and micro-stories that would be rated with 5 stars if they were standalone Tales from the Crypt episodes, but here, it is necessary to evaluate the whole work comprehensively. Some of the characters are fantastic, with selfish and cold Jessica Lange being truly fascinating. However, as the series approaches its end, the screenwriters' helplessness increasingly surfaces, dragging the series down to mediocrity. In general, the direction is better than the screenplay. The second season followed the rule that sequels must bring much more to maintain the viewer's attention. It inundates the viewer with motifs that together create an incredible mishmash, which is more laughable than evoking tension and fear. It seems as if the team of screenwriters did not create a whole, but each followed their own line and played in their own sandbox, so Asylum mixes motifs of aliens, psychopaths, serial killers, war criminals, and purely spectral themes, including the devil himself. Again, there are many interesting characters whose stories often get lost, and because the series loses any logic and internal coherence, I have to mercilessly give it only two stars. Overall impression: 40%. (06/27/2013)

The second season adhered to the rule that a continuation must bring significantly more in order to hold the viewer's attention. Literally, it overwhelms with a flood of motifs that together create an incredible tangle that is more laughable than it is suspenseful or scary. The team of writers seems to have not formed a cohesive unit, but each did their own thing and played in their own sandbox, thus Asylum mixes motifs of aliens, psychopaths, serial killers, war criminals, purely ghostly motifs, and even the devil himself. Again, there are great acting performances and very interesting film characters, but their stories often get lost because the series loses any logic and internal coherence, so I have to ruthlessly give it two stars. Overall impression: 40%. (12/23/2014)