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American Horror Story

Asylum : the Complete Second Story
Jul 21, 2015
A killer who skins his victims for masks, demonic possession, alien abduction, a possibly ex-Nazi doctor whose “experiments” roam in the forest outside, a homicidal Santa, the Angel of Death, and a swinging dance number. Watching American Horror Story “Asylum” is a bit like watching an acrobat juggling a machete, a chainsaw, a bowling ball and a flaming torch all at once. You’re part thrilled by the audacity, part terrified that something will drop, and part awed by the sheer talent to even attempt something like this. It can’t work, it shouldn’t work, yet somehow it does, mostly because the writers, cast and crew emulate the tension filled restraint, dry humor, and stylistic stamp of Alfred Hitchcock; I half expected the rotund director to make one of his famous cameos. They use some of his favorite themes too, like “the innocent man mistakenly pursued by villains” (North By Northwest), “Caught up in mysterious conspiracy” (The Man Who Knew Too Much) and of course, the MacGuffin. It may be too much for some folks, but true horror fans (like those who can recognize the musical theme from “Carrie”) will savor it like dark, bitter chocolate.