American Horror Story Season 10 Part 1: Red Tide - A Few Thoughts

It had been known for some time that American Horror Story tenth season would consist of two stories. Red Tide would be the first six episodes and then Death Valley would be the last four. It's definitely an interesting decision that shakes up the status quo. 

Typically, an American Horror Story would be one central story consisting of ten episodes. In the beginning there was a larger episode count. However they managed to find the sweet spot with ten episode count. Personally, I would have preferred a bit more episodes in Season 9 - 1984. If only because I loved the camp slasher setting. 

Now, this past week we saw the end of Red Tide. This season was all about 'vampires'. For the most part, I like the way they handled it. Ryan Murphy and his crew did their own take. I mean for the most part, it handles the theme of addiction very well. Especially because it all revolves around a little black pill. This little pill unlocks your amazing gifts or turns you into a mindless creature looking for it's next meal. That's a very strong concept.

However, there were a time or two that I rolled my eyes. It all ended up coming down to some characters. Now, if I dove into everything - this would be a long article. So I'll highlight some things. 

The daughter. She was very sweet in the beginning. However because she wants to prove herself so much, she allows herself to be lost. And left in her place is a complete monster. I mean she terrorized her mother so much. Come on Alma, you didn't need to go that far. It came down to a few times that I wanted her smacked. Not sure if it was intended for her to be a pain or not. 

Harry Gardner. He had such good intentions. Take the pill. Write lots of content. Then stop. But good intentions pave the way for hell. And boy do they here. First of all, he loses himself. He loses himself because he wants so much to be good. He wants the fame and recognition. Then it came to endangering his family further because he couldn't stop. If he cared about his family, he would have kept track of the pills. By the end, he's just so lost and doesn't know how to get back. There honestly was no way things would end well because he had already lost everything. He just hadn't realized it yet. 

Belle and Austin. These two were portrayed as being the big bads of the season. Oh, they are so terrible cause they do such terrible acts. They got Harry's feet wet with everything going on. No. They were just there. They weren't the bad guys. Yeah, Belle ate a baby or two. That's terribly monstrous. But honestly, Harry was far worse. Belle and Austin were just there to dislike. 

Mickey was another standout for this season. His character was so good. He was in a terrible spot with life. I mean literally rock bottom. However, his journey was so entrancing. I found myself hoping for a good ending for him. It's honestly all credit to Macaulay Culkin's performance. He's so likeable and has such acting chops. My personal standout for the season by far. 

Now, I know this wasn't everything. There was so much that could be discussed. This was just a few of my thoughts. If you liked the season, let me know what it was you liked. If you disliked, well let me know that too. 

Honestly, season ten feels a bit off. It probably has to do with the fact that we had a whole season of anthology episodes in American Horror Stories already. And so far, Season Ten feels like it is an extension of that. 

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American Horror Stories 1.05 - "Ba'al"

Alright everyone, it's Thursday. You know what that means? All-New episode of American Horror Stories from Hulu and FX.  Be prepared that this week I will be having spoilers for the episode. So, if you don't want to be spoiled - turn back, watch the episode, then come back here.

This week was the fifth episode of the series entitled "Ba'al". As of right now, it's looking like there will be seven episodes in this premiere season. 

So far, I would say overall the series has proven why it was made. It allows a chance to tell stories that wouldn't be deemed worthy of getting a full season. To me, it feels a bit like Masters of Horror. I'm hoping that it will return for a second season. 

Now this week's episode "Ba'al" focuses on a wife, Liv (Billie Lourd), that is willing to do the unthinkable for a chance at a successful pregnancy. 

Liv and her husband, Matt (Ronen Rubenstein), had visited a fertility clinic. On their way out, the receptionist talks with Liv and then hands her a totem that had been in her family. It was of Ba'al, a fertility god. Liv was given instructions to put it underneath their bed before they had a night of intimacy. Liv, not seeing many more chances and desperate for a child, placed the totem underneath the bed. 

16 months later, we see the happy family now as Liv is carrying their son, Aaron. Liv is a bit worse for wear as it seems this has been a tough time for her. She's seen being scolded by their house keeper, Norma. Matt is now a bit actor on a few shows across Hollywood. 

During the course of the episode, we see some manifestations of a demon - Ba'al. He's trying to take their son. As things progress, it takes its toll on Liv. She visits the receptionist who gave her the totem. It has shifted appearances throughout the episode so far. She tells Liv of a pagan spell that should banish the demon. 

Later that night, Liv begins the spell and uses a ceremonial dagger. Then when she thinks she's summoned Ba'al, she turns and stabs...Matt. 

Time passes as we now see that Liv is in an asylum. She has been shaken by everything at this point. Matt visits and asks if she could come home. But she says it's for the best and that she's not coming home till her therapist says it's okay. 

Things now shift to Matt as he gets in a car in the parking garage. Inside is the receptionist, Bernadette (Virginia Gardner). They return to Liv's home. Matt's other friends are there as well. Everyone is celebrating.

They are celebrating that they had pulled 'best con' - driving Liv over the edge. Each of them had a hand in bringing everything that appeared supernatural to life. They are all happy with what they have done. Aaron's cries calls Matt upstairs. 

Things take a turn as Matt hears screams from downstairs. He goes down to find mostly everyone has been maimed. Bernadette is held up against the wall by the very demon they had faked, Ba'al. Ba'al spares no time and murders Bernadette as well...

Matt has now been imprisoned and held responsible for the murder of his friends. Liv visits him asking what happened. He tries to explain and tell her it was real. He even goes as far as asking for help. Liv walks away leaving him to his fate.

Later that evening, Liv puts Aaron to bed. She is greeted by Ba'al. She explains that it was all because of Bernadette's stupidity that she had tried the spell again to find out it was a summoning spell. Ba'al asks her to do something for him. Liv has more on her mind and says she'll do whatever he asks asks, but first to give her another child.

"Ba'al" was directed by Sanaa Hamri and written by Ali Adler & Manny Coto.

This episode was the episode that proves why American Horror Stories needed to be made. It is absolutely fantastic. At first, I thought I knew where the episode was going to go. But just as the events progressed, I found myself hoping they weren't going to cop out of it being a supernatural occurance. It would have robbed the story of its power. And frankly would have played things very safely. However, after the big reveal, I found myself hoping that Ba'al wasn't returning for Aaron. But the cherry on the top was Billie Lourd's powerful performance. She made the episode very special.  

Let's hope these last two episodes don't skimp on the bar that was set. 

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American Horror Stories airs on Hulu as part of the FX on Hulu. 

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American Horror Stories 1.03 and 1.04

American Horror Stories. It's been a very interesting experiment so far from Hulu. We have had at least four episodes. They all encapsulate perfectly what has been making American Horror Story great. 

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American Horror Stories 1.03 "Drive In"

Last week, we saw the release of Episode 3 "Drive In". At the time, it was an episode that I fell in love with. It's always great when we see cursed tapes. Yeah, it's a bit of a trope by now. But Ryan Murphy's crew did a wonderful spin on it. 

(It also reminded me of the John Carpenter Masters of Horror episode "Cigarette Burns" with Norman Reedus. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. ) 

The story was simple. Guy likes girl. Guy gets girl to watch Bob Ross in the hopes of reaching the next step in the relationship. Girl says No. Guy talks to his friends and comes off a bit douchey. Friends suggest going to the Drive In to see a lost film called Rabbit Rabbit. They go and then hell breaks loose. 

It's a bit simplostic. But it worked so well. Especially with the fantastic performances of Rheney Feliz, Madison Bailey, Ben J. Pierce, Leonardo Cecchi and Kyle Red Silverstein. Everyone did a great job of making their performances memorable in the first few moments we see each of them on screen. We also get Adrienne Barbeau running the Drive In. She always does a fantastic job. And then we have two alums (John Carroll Lynch and Naomi Grossman) - these two deliver amazing performances. It's these two along with Feliz and Bailey that are even absolutely essential to this entire episode. The places that John Carroll Lynch goes to in this episode are dark and deep. Yet, he is able to do so in just a few moments. That is absolutely incredible. 

And yeah, there's gore. Quite a bit of it. But nothing too over the top. It feels like this takes the cursed film trope and mashes it into a zombie film. 

The only thing that I have to say that's bad about this episode is that it left me wanting more. The pacing was perfect. And Eduardo Sánchez delivered a great episode. But it just felt like the ending was only the beginning. And I know others that wouldn't be disappointed if we saw a Part 2 to this. 

Rating: 5 out of 5.

(If you enjoyed this episode and looking for another similar idea, check out Midnight Movie from the great Tobe Hooper)

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American Horror Stories 1.04 "The Naughty List" 

This week's episode was brought to us by Max Winkler. 

One of the coolest things of this series has been seeing the different title sequences. This one had a nice return of the theme music from 1984. A nice fit that highlighted the tone of the episode. 

This episode was slightly a rough one for me. I have a good idea of why. It may involve Bro House. 

The setup is A group of influencers face a reckoning after posting a problematic video online. Quickly it's established that we are not supposed to be rooting for the members of the Bro House. We are supposed to be cheering for their demise. As they encapsulate all that is wrong with Social Media influencers perfectly. The perfect examples of douchebags. 

Bro House consists of Zinn (Nico Greetham), James (Dyllon Burnside), Wyatt (Charles Melton) and Barry (Kevin McHale). Each of them have let their fame status go to their heads. They think they can do no wrong. That they are untouchable. Well except for Barry. Barry seems to have finally realized he's had enough. 

This is more true after their latest excursion - witnessing a tragic event. Do they stop filming? No, Zinn is first to say Keep running because it'll do well for their views. However they are shown what disgusting humans they have turned into. After losing subscribers, they believe their next idea will work. No matter how morally wrong it is. Their last attempt to try and rekindle things leads them to harassing the elves of the Mall Santa. Quickly the Santa tells them they will get what they deserve. 

The pacing on this episode felt off. The focus was mostly on establishing how much of a douchebag these influencers are. Whereas, I would have had the final act be like a wraparound story - the Mall Santa (wonderful Danny Trejo) picking them off one by one. We would have small highlights of the 'douchebag diaries' that led them to these events. This would have strengthened the story. Instead, it just feels like a quick one and done conclusion. 

The actors all do a great job with their performances. They literally make it so we wish to see these characters meet their ends. I wish Barry could have gone on and learned from this event. But that's to the strength of Kevin McHale's wonderful performance. Danny Trejo does a great job being intimidating and menacing. 

Overall, this was an okay episode. With all that we have seen so far, we were bound to come across a meh episode. I say it's Meh. However, it could have been a lot worse. 

Rating: 3 out of 5.

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