Horror Story: Asylum series a manic mix of fiendishness
What is it? American Horror Story: Asylum, Complete Series, 13 episodes on three discs from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment How much? $49.98, $59.99 (Blu-ray) When? Now What’s so horrible about this horror story? Well, being forcibly committed to an insane asylum in the 1960s wouldn’t exactly be a trip to the beach, now would it?
You’d have to look long and hard to find a worse place to be than Briarcliff Manor, a sanitarium for the clinically insane run by the Catholic Church.
Steely Sister Jude (Jessica Lange) is (sort of) in charge. She’s the type of person who has a cabinet full of canes for doling out corporal punishment and says things like “Mental illness is the fashionable explanation for sin.”
Jude lusts after Monsignor Tim Howard (Joseph Fiennes) while carrying on a war with sadistic scientist Dr. Arthur Arden (James Cromwell), who conducts experiments on patients in the basement. Equally disturbed psychiatrist Dr. Oliver Thredson (Zachary Quinto) doesn’t exactly do much to improve things.
Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe) is Jude’s right hand. But then the weak, gentle young nun starts to go through some changes.
As for the unfortunate inmates, some are there for good reason. But then there are the others.
Kit Walker (Evan Peters) is a normal gas station attendant whose biggest secret is his interracial marriage to Alma (Britne Oldford). But then Alma is allegedly murdered and Kit becomes one of Briarcliff’s newest residents when he’s accused of being the serial killer Bloody Face.
Ambitious journalist Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson) is soon in a similar boat. She sets out to write a story on Briarcliff but finds herself wrongfully committed when she sees more than she should.
The primary story is in 1964, as Lana, Kit and an accused axe murderer (Lizzie Brochere) attempt to escape and as Jude and Arden fight for power. But the story also jumps back and forth in time, on into the present day when Bloody Face is re-awakened for a new rampage.
I thought this show was about ghosts. That was the first season. The series is like a repertory company. Each season has a new setting, new plot, new characters, but mostly uses the same stable of actors.
What’s it like? It’s horrifying, to be sure. And it doesn’t spare much in the way of violence, twisted sex and gore. It is genuinely scary with some dark humor thrown in, the sets are incredible and the unusual camera work enhances the nightmarish quality.
Those familiar with co-creator Ryan Murphy should have an idea what to expect: style and shock over substance and sense. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing on this show, which feels like a nightmarish dreamscape. The problem is, there is a lot going on: alien abduction, demonic possession, monsters, Nazis, serial killers — and that’s in addition to the already horrific tale of a dark and scary insane asylum. It’s overkill. While there are attempts made to address serious themes, like homosexuality and the battle between science and religion, the whole story is so hyperactive not much of value comes across.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for thrills, scares and crazy plot twists, you’re definitely in the right place.
Are there extras? There’s a creative tour and character recap called “The Orderly,” a few deleted scenes and more standard featurettes on the series as a whole, the set design and the makeup and effects.
New this week: Diagnosis Murder, Season 6; MADtv, Season 4; Merlin, Complete Series; The Mod Squad, Complete Series; Silk, Season 1.
Next week: Here’s Edie, the Television Collection; Peter Gunn, Season 3; Touched by an Angel, Season 9; Treme, Season 3.