“AHS 13: Episodes 1 – 3” Review – All Over The Bloody Place

As most fans of “American Horror Story” know by now, you’re safe going into a new season not fully knowing what to expect. There have been several seasons highly deserving of critical acclaim, while others have been the exact opposite. As it stands right now, the aptly titled “AHS 13” is somewhere in the middle. Without much ado, let’s dive in!

The Writing

First things first, let’s get the hard part out of the way: the writing and story. Despite advertising the returns of several fan-favorite characters, creator Ryan Murphy made the very odd decision to shoehorn in an entirely new character. Starring Joey Pollari, the season focuses on new main character Ben DeSoto, who’s scared of the number 13 and… that’s really it right now. There are hints that this is a sequel to “Apocalypse,” but, three episodes in, we still don’t know much.

When it comes to the other characters, they’re all sort of just there right now. If this ends up like any other season, there’s bound to be a twist explanation, as hinted in the episode “13”. Now, take this next statement as you will, but the show also retains its campy nature. Previously mentioned returning characters are aplenty, with some of the cheesiest dialogue this way of Wisconsin. Personally, some of the cheesy one-liners made me laugh or forced a smirk as camp is part of the franchises DNA.

Last comes the pacing. Overall, the pace is alright. The first episode, “13”, moves at the usual AHS pace, as does the third episode, “Rauhnacht”. However, “1:13 AM” had the weird decision to focus heavily on an old man’s sponge bath, making things feel like they screech to a halt and slow down.

Acting & Cinematography

Now, as I mentioned previously, a lot of the writing feels properly cheesy. Under most actors, this would come across as clunky or even laughable in a bad way. However, with the likes of Sarah Paulson and Jessica Lange returning, the writing is handled with love, levity, and deep understanding. Other returning actors include the likes of Evan Peters, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, and Angela Bassett. Evan Peters specifically has to handle two different characters within the same scene, and he does so excellently. As for new lead Joey Pollari, he does a good job as the new addition alongside his longtime castmates, making space for himself.

As for the cinematography, most of it is exactly what you expect when thinking of “American Horror Story”. The off-angles, creative camera movements, fisheye shots…they’re all here! While great in parts, there are times when the movements can feel a bit nauseating. As per usual, the camera work mixed with the lighting makes a show that’s beautiful to look at, helped even further by the set design.

Final Thoughts

The latest season of “American Horror Story” is off to a very middling start. While the actors carry the material to good heights, the story by itself feels messy, if not overstuffed. That being said, Stanley Fernandez Jr. and Andrei Bowden Schwartz should pat themselves on the back for overall great cinematography.

Overall Grade: 7/10

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Comments

Were you able to catch these first three episodes of the new AHS season? What are your thoughts? Let’s discuss in the comments below!