Movies News Talk
Renowned for its gripping horror and surprising turns, American Horror Story has often used a specific revelation—that of exposing significant characters to be dead—in several seasons. Although this storytelling method is powerful when used well, repetition has lessened some of its force.
This essay delves further into the background of this reoccurring cliché, looking at how it first flourished in the first season, "Murder House," and then saw declining returns in succeeding seasons like "Hotel" and "Roanoke." We will also look at how the eighth season, "1984," effectively rejuvenated the twist, thereby rendering it fresh and interesting once more.
The first season of this Anthology Series, "American Horror Story: Murder House," set the 'dead character' twist as a startling and successful narrative device. A terrifying backdrop was created by the knowledge that the namesake site was a purgatory for those who passed within its boundaries. But when the show revealed Violet, Taissa Farmiga's character had been dead all along, the suspense became even more.
Given that the first season had no historical precedence, this turn-about was quite unexpected. 'Murder House' deftly managed this reveal so as not to overwhelm the whole story or feel like a cheap tactic. Violet's development, her acceptance of her fate, and finally her finding of serenity inside the haunting mansion all grew out of the twist.
But the "dead character" turn was reprised in "Hotel" and "Roanoke," both seasons under fire for depending too much on this formula. The surprise for "Hotel" was less significant since the characters were already imprisoned in a limited location, the haunted hotel, hence less effectful. Though the twist was there, it finally felt like an attempt to replicate the popularity of the previous season without adding anything fresh.
'Roanoke' too battled with this twist. Unlike 'Murder House,' the discovered footage style showed all people as dead, lacking the surprise. Given the horror genre context, the season seemed to be stressing the unavoidable death of the characters—a predicted result. 'Roanoke' unintentionally made the season seem less interesting and less erratic by always declaring the fate of the characters.
'1984,' the eighth season, demonstrated how creatively handled a known Horror Twist may still be powerful. Inspired mostly by vintage camp horror movies like "Friday the 13th" and "Sleepaway Camp," the slasher movie environment of the season gave the "dead character" twist fresh and appropriate.
Rather than merely stating the individuals were dead, '1984' deftly linked their demise to the '80s theme of the season. The reveal—which took place over a campfire story—added a dimension of sarcasm and nostalgia, therefore enhancing the recall quality of the twist. It underlined even more the season's dedication to its slasher movie origin, both respecting the genre and adding its own spin.
'Delicate,' the newest season, offered a novel break from the 'dead character' formula. The story deftly avoided repeating the well-known surprise even with a terrifying and erratic Twist Ending. Examining the power of suggestion and the complexity of parenthood, the season concentrated on a more modern and psychological approach to terror.
Making the deliberate choice to forego the 'dead character' twist enables the season to forge its own route inside the Anthology Series. It demonstrated how 'American Horror Story' was not hesitant to reject its own accepted clichés and welcome fresh, surprising stories. This therefore emphasizes the continuous development of the anthology series, investigating several horror themes and genres, thereby guaranteeing that the show stays interesting and original for viewers.
Although the "dead character" revelation is a common device in American Horror Story, the show's genius resides in its capacity to investigate several horror subgenres and themes over its seasons. Often praised as some of the best seasons with gripping stories, unforgettable characters, and deft use of horror clichés are "Murder House," "1984," "Coven," "Asylum," and "Apocalypse."
Conversely, seasons like "Hotel" and "Roanoke" are sometimes seen as among of the weakest, attacked for their unoriginal stories, bloated casts, and repeated exploitation of known twists. Even if these seasons might not have connected with viewers as powerfully as others, 'American Horror Story' is still a revolutionary show that pushes limits and investigates the sinister sides of human nature.