The popular horror television show, “American Horror Story”, premiered its eighth season Sept. 12. Each season has a specific title relating to the subject of that season; season eight’s title is Apocalypse.
“American Horror Story: Apocalypse” is set in post-nuclear-apocalyptic time. The story focuses on a select group of people living in the last successful Outpost, a safe haven from the deadly atmosphere after the apocalypse, thriving on vitamin gelatin cubes for meals and the Outpost for safety.
The leaders of the outpost are Wilhemina Venable and Miriam Mead, played by actresses Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates. Paulson and Bates embody ruthless, strict and all–knowing heads of the house. Paulson and Bates, who have been leads of the past seven seasons, portray these characters strongly and seem to instill fear into the other characters (and myself) based on the jumps of fear when Venable and Mead walk into a room.
Although Paulson has portrayed many victims in the previous seasons of “American Horror Story” such as Cordelia Foxx in Coven and Lana Winters in Asylum, she seems to be stepping up as the crude head of the household in this season.
Apocalypse differs from the past seasons in that it takes place in present-day Calif. and plays to the audience’s fear as the apocalypse obliterates everyone on earth (except for the remaining people living at the outpost).
This season contains a lot more eeriness and darkness incorporated in the filming. Even though it is set in present day, some aspects of the filming are unique to make it more “retro” and “mysterious” such as when they darken the lighting and create an orange like ambiance to represent fire as the show is surrounded by the idea of “the end” and hell.
This season really does provoke fear as it emphasizes the idea “only the strongest survive” due to the fact that all the characters are vying to survive at the outpost with the same people while at the same time those very people are mentally and physically breaking down. Such as the time when one of the main characters becomes paranoid of a haunting figure following them, causing them to go on a killing spree.
If someone wants a creepy show to get them in the spirit of the Halloween season “American Horror Story: Apocalypse” is one worth bingeing.
