American Horror Story Takes Us to Roanoke
By K. LO Oct. 2, 2016
Most of us horror fans have come to expect certain motifs—demons, ghosts, witches—within the genre. However, what is most appealing about these themes is not that they keep reappearing, but how. Some of the best horror shows and movies have utilized similar ideas but set themselves apart because they portray them in a unique way. Freddy Krueger sought to get even, Ghostface craved notoriety, and the Buckner family was the result of a ritual led by a group of underground scientists. Similarly, American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck’s demon spawn, has frightened us for the past five seasons with its tantalizing storylines and captivating characters.
Copyright: FX
Season one’s murder house established American Horror Story (AHS) as a franchise willing to push boundaries. Not only was it one of FX’s highest rated shows when it premiered, many of its stars (Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Lady GaGa) have also won awards
for their performances. Possibly a combination of its seemingly unconnected seasons, homage to various horror classics through cinematic style and music, and exploration of taboo topics, AHS has managed to stay fresh and keeps viewers coming back for more.
Now that its sixth season has begun, we have been introduced to a documentary about a family that resides on a haunted farm. Aptly subtitled Roanoke, this season shows us reenactments of supernatural occurrences Shelby (Lily Rabe / Sarah Paulson), Matt (Andre Holland / Cuba Gooding Jr.), and Lee (Adina Porter / Angela Bassett) experienced while living in that home.
Apart from implementing the documentary style this season, each episode so far has received a chapter and a number rather than a title like previous seasons. Also, the pacing allows us as the audience to relate to at least one of the main characters. True, they are being haunted by supernatural presences, but what I enjoyed more is the parallel drawn to
Copyright: FX
their more physical “ghosts,” or personal problems. My favorite character so far is Angela Bassett’s Lee because even though the hauntings appear to be affecting her the most, her main concern is her desire to be a suitable parent to her daughter, Flora.
While it is still too early to determine whether this season will surpass the rest in terms of overall storytelling and scary moments, Roanoke has the potential to become one of the better seasons. Murphy and Falchuck’s love for the horror genre have been evident through this series and they continue to explore new ways of demonstrating that through their work. They give us gore, jump scares, murder, possession, and sex, but they also tell us that sometimes what’s scarier are our inner desires and the sinful acts we can commit if and when we decide to give in to them. Whichever way Roanoke decides to unfold this season, I will be watching and hoping that I get to see many more seasons of AHS!
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