American Horror Story: Open House (1.7)

I sometimes wonder what Jessica Lange, Frances Conroy and Denis O'Hare all think about this show, in light of the scene where two of them stood around while Conroy's sexy doppelganger chewed a guy's penis off. Lange especially, as she's always been pretty vocal about her appearances in bad projects (check out the 'mother-in-law-from-hell' Gwyneth Paltrow vehicle Hush... or don't). American Horror Story isn't at all a bad show, but I don't think anybody can deny that it's a series that waves its shlock flag proudly. Seeing these esteemed actors perform scenes like that feels so arresting as a viewer, and you can almost imagine them asking "has it really come to this?"

It's a curious sensation, since so much of the pulpier elements of American Horror Story seem ripped right out of some late-night cable slasher movie. Yet the cast are made up of Emmy, Tony and Oscar winners. Heh. I don't know if it's a testament to Ryan Murphy's esteem, or more a reflection of the lack of roles for older actors. Sometimes I think this show could be so much more classy if the gory absurdity was omitted, but then we'd lose those attention-grabbing moments perfect for watercooler gossip the next day. It's a risky balancing act, but at least it provokes conversation, right?

Of the various subplots this week, it was probably the introduction of Constance's other son Beau that was the most affecting. Locked up in the attic like a monstrous version of Eric Stoltz in Mask, I felt a little guilty for at one point being squicked out by his deformation, assuming he was this show's resident inbred hillbilly ghost. It's after a while that you realize he's harmless and pretty darn scared himself, a real person hidden away to protect from prying eyes (which is obviously a questionable approach in itself). Poor Constance, though. You can almost understand why she wants things to remain the same at Murder House, so desperate to keep her family intact.

Open House was a lot more scattered than episodes in recent weeks, which was both a blessing and a curse. We got a ton of information about Larry, the Montgomery's and the mythology of the house; but the episode was lacking in anything hugely substantial from a character stand-point, working more as a bridge to further plotlines than as anything that really resonated. That's not to say I was unhappy. American Horror Story works on that level where literally every episode is fun and absorbing, and you're similarly eager to watch every additional week. But this felt a little filler-ish in certain areas. B

Credits
Guest stars Frances Conroy (Moira O'Hara); Alexandra Breckenridge (Moira Two); Lily Rabe (Nora Montgomery); Matt Ross (Charles Montgomery); Christine Estabrook (Marcy); David Anthony Higgins (Stan); Amir Arison (Joe Eskandarian); Eve Gordon (Dr. Hall); Rebecca Wisocky (Lorraine Harvey); Rosa Salazar (Maria); Morris Chestnut (Luke)
Writer Brad Falchuk Director Tim Hunter