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American Horror Story season 6 title reveal

American Horror Story: My Roanoke Nightmare (2016) Premiere Review

HaydnSpurrell HaydnSpurrell I haven't finished every season of American Horror Story. It's something I plan on rectifying with a series of retrospective reviews, taking a leaf out of our regular reviewer Skye Wingfield's book. But while I didn't finish season 5, Hotel, either, I reviewed the premiere with dissatisfaction.

The anthology series is a stylish, visually impressive one, and I'm a sucker for its format. I'll work my way through Hotel one day, but critical reception indicates that it continued the FX series' downward trajectory. Until, in my opinion, now, that is. The mystery surrounding the theme behind season 6 of the show sparked plenty of debate, evidence of its popularity, and that mystery has been answered with another mystery. What we do know now, though, is that the show will be taking a step back.

Instead of taking a supernatural, fantastical step forward, the show is dipping into the aura of true fiction (for now). Based on true events that transpired in the late 1500's, season 6, titled My Roanoke Nightmare (for now), premieres with no title sequence (a gorgeous staple and highlight of the series thus far), and opens immediately with an interesting new structure. The events that take place within the show, so far at least, will unfold through a documentary-style retelling. What's more, the show seems to have, at this point, shed the gory, disturbingly over-the-top imagery and gone back to basics.

There is suspenseful, slow-burn horror to be found in the episode, despite the fact that, even if it might feel slow, it covers a fairly large expanse of ground in 40 minutes. We're introduced instantly to Matt and Shelby Miller, an interracial couple who move out into the sticks, in the middle of nowhere. A point is made of racial vilification, which will no doubt be revisited in subsequent episodes. The documentary format is presented as if we're watching it unfold ourselves, and different actors portray the interviewees and their younger selves. Essentially, it's a show within a show. Whether there's enough in that formula to keep things lively for an entire season remains to be seen. Whether the powers that be are going to stick to that formula for the entire season is another relevant question.

For now, though, it works, and ramps up the suspense. What it did remove, though, was the sense of danger in terms of staying power for the three main characters we're introduced to. Given that their tales are being retold via a documentary that's "airing" presumably years later, there's no doubt that these three at least will survive what's to come. That doesn't make it any less scary, but it does remove some of the suspense. Instead, the show will want to rely on the mystery and intrigue to keep things immersive. Of course, the show could very well have a twist in store for us relating to the dual-acted main characters.

Sarah Paulson is back, playing Shelby, and, following her work in The People v. O.J. Simpson, there's little else to say about her talent as an actress. She spends a large amount of this episode teary or terrified, so there's little stretching room here, but she certainly sells it. Cuba Gooding Jr. has joined the horror show after his role as O.J Simpson, and I liked him a whole lot more here. Instead of screaming and acting out, he gets to exercise a lot more nuance, and is a surprising and pleasing addition. We don't get our first look at Lady Gaga in this episode, and we only see Kathy Bates very briefly, but no doubt their official entrances will be showcased with all the flashiness and lively intensity the show is known for. Wes Bentley, too, appears at the very end of the episode, and Evan Peters is yet to make himself known.

It's quite impressive, then, that we meet so few characters and there's still so much more to come. And yet this felt cohesive and tightly put together, perhaps because of that. While the writing isn't perfect, and indeed at one point Shelby contradicts herself by at first stating that they would not run from fear or danger anymore, only to later claim that "it's better to know when to run" (I'm paraphrasing). That's a little too sloppy in such a short space of time, and it stands out. But American Horror Story seems to have found the key ingredient again. There's true horror here, and it's horror that stems from mystery, from not knowing, and from watching characters move into scenarios that are so clearly baiting us as viewers.

In the late 1500's, the Roanoke colony's residents seemingly disappeared into thin air. In season 1 of the series, Sarah Paulson's own character retold the tale of Roanoke, and claimed it a location that had successfully been exorcised. If this is American Horror Story coming full circle, then kudos. It's an impressive feat to circle back, particularly given that so much debate had been made over the mystery. To think that fans only needed to recall the show's own history is joyous. With a shorter season order, of ten episodes instead of recent standards set at thirteen, I'm confident that season 6 of the show can reinvigorate the series. With a complete makeover, there's a renewed sense of dread and awe that's superbly delivered in the premiere. Episode 2 can hopefully maintain the same established, eerie tone.

Story8
Cast10
Direction7
Characters7
Setting6

Posted in American Horror Story,

HaydnSpurrell HaydnSpurrell

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