The aroma of the pumpkin spice latte is in the air and there is no better complement to the warm feeling it provides than another season of a chilling American horror story.
Grab your latte, cozy blanket and your bravest best friends and tune into FX Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. for a story that will haunt your dreams.
The intro to “American Horror Story” season four is filled with circus tents, clowns, monkeys and balloons galore — but beware, it is not for children. I’m not sure if the Brothers Grimm would be proud or disgusted at the fact FX managed to take an innocent childhood memory of going to the circus and transform it into a “monstrously deformed” circus tent that leaves viewers second-guessing the thought of ever attending a Barnum & Bailey show again.
For those who are immersing themselves into the horror for the first time, don’t be alarmed that you haven’t seen a previous season. Each season is set up as a mini-series that usually focuses on mysticism and mystery. The majority of the actors return as different characters every season, and they have done an astounding job at separating their new roles from the past ones. So well, in fact, that the show has been nominated for 34 Emmy awards between seasons two and three, which is pretty impressive since co-creator, writer and director Ryan Murphy has a portfolio that mostly consists of hits such as Fox’s “Glee,” FX’s “Nip/Tuck,” and “Eat Pray Love.”
This season, the producers left behind the mysticism and focused on creating a story that twists and sculpts a common joy into a terrifying nightmare.
America’s favorite “bad bitch” Jessica Lange returns as Elsa, the outcasts’ freaky fairy godmother eerily reminiscent of Disney’s favorite independent princess — only 40 years older. For the first time in forever, the character who originally encouraged us to “let it go” has left an icy reference to Disney’s masterpiece with a twist that leaves viewers unable to stand up and walk away from the television set. When Elsa was “Frozen,” she fought through her insecurities as an outcast with abnormal powers to save her kingdom from snow, but FX’s Elsa appears to be using her powers to create a safe haven for the people society deemed as outcasts (all while wearing a baby blue outfit and singing her feelings — sound familiar?).
It seems that this season will make more of a social commentary than previous seasons and will do so in a way that makes the viewers’ blood curdle at the realization of how accurate the season’s depiction of reality is. Throughout the premiere, the “freaks” are constantly commenting on how others have labeled them and they feel as they’re not allowed to be happy. The big moment of foreshadowing comes when AHS heartthrob Evan Peters, who has taken on the role of Elsa’s son, Jimmy Darling, steps up and says that they won’t let people bring them down any longer.
Whatever Murphy does to capture his audience’s attention, he does it amazingly well. Viewers will laugh and cry (both at different times and simultaneously) because of the gruesome images and the terrifying, yet fascinating plot.
Beware — AHS oozes with mature content. Between the glimpses of nudity, sounds of foul language and images of bloody, cringe-worthy crimes, it is definitely not a show for the weak at heart or young in age. For those who dare, gather ‘round and enjoy the show because the scare must go on.
