Read our exclusive review on American Horror Story written by Marisa Turek.
Editor’s Note I personally am in love with the TV series American Horror Story. This TV show hit home with my childhood memories. As a little girl I would watch movies that are probably too scary for a young child to watch. Examples of some of these movies include The Ring, Halloween Part II, and more. I’m a Halloween baby as well therefore anything ghoulish or frightening, for example this TV series, draws me in instantly. For my writing process, I chose the show instantly because it’s my favorite one on FX. I took into account my peer review comments and comments from my teacher to help mold my review into a better one. My first draft had no criteria, my second draft sort of had one and now my final draft definitely has criteria. The only problem is that there aren’t a lot of, actually any, reviews on the authenticity of this TV show. So instead, I added in facts of people who believe in ghosts and why people don’t. I also added in how other movies or TV shows make ghosts look authentic. For the design portion of my magazine cover and review, I customized it myself. I wanted something simple. Simplicity catches my eye therefor I was hoping it might catch others too. At first I wanted something flashy, maybe something kind of scary but then I thought of a saying my grandpa says, “less is more.”
Review of
American Horror Story By Marisa Turek
Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk seem to
committed here. Each day something odd
be doing something right with their TV series
happens, something more odd than the
American Horror Story, season 1. American
occasional tick here and there, a big shadow,
Horror Story is the definition of mind-blowing
or loud footsteps. To the Harmon’s lack of
twists. These twists come from the many
knowledge, the souls of the previous owners or
ghosts that wander throughout the Harmon’s
guests who have been brutally murdered in the
home in human form.
house cause these odd
Ironically, the
occurrences. Soon, the Harmon’s
Harmon family makes
will find out that ghosts walk
friends with the dead
among them.
not knowing they are
Tate Langdon, played by
actually dead (until
actor Even Peters, is one of the
later on in the
main ghosts in the house. Tate is
season). No one ever said it wasn’t ok to be
the cause of mischief in the Harmon’s new
friends with ghosts, right?
home. He is the reason why there are so many
The Harmon’s received the unordinary
souls locked inside of the house. Unlike other
chance of becoming friends with these ghosts
scary TV shows and movies, Tate looks like a
by moving into what is known as the “murder
normal teenage boy. Tate doesn’t have the
house” due to a series of murders that were
looks of a ghost or someone who has passed
away… he just looks normal. Sometimes, Tate
Like Tate, the ghosts in the Paranormal
can choose can be invisible when he doesn’t
Activity movies and A Haunting at Silver Falls,
want to be seen. Most people picture ghosts
can touch people, move things around the
as scary, invisible, and/or cloud-like. Is Tate’s
house, and are invisible like Tate can be, to
human appearance authentic in this series to
others. The only differences are the
the viewers?
appearances of the actual ghosts and the
Many movies portray ghosts differently.
people that ghosts choose to be seen by. For
In the Paranormal Activity 1-4 movies, the
example, Jordan sees the ghosts of Holly and
portrayal of the authenticity of ghosts is much
Heather in A Haunting at Silver Falls because
different. In these 4 movies, the ghosts are all
the ghosts chose her and only her to be able to
invisible. No one can see them but the
see them.
characters can feel their presence, their breath
American Horror Story, just like many
on their necks, and even see bruises on their
other TV shows and movies, is filled with many
skin from the ghost grabbing their body. I see
paranormal things that people have mixed
this as more authentic than ghosts in human
feelings on. According to Lee Speigel in his
form… Another example would be the
article “Spooky Number of Americans Believe
authenticity of the ghosts in A Haunting at
in Ghosts” from thehuffingtonpost.com, out of
Silver Falls. Two twin sister ghosts, Holly and
1,000 people that were surveyed in February
Heather are only seen by the main character,
of 2013, 45% of the people believe in ghosts
Jordan. The sights of these twins are scary due
and 64% stated that they believe there is an
to the fact that they have blue skin, black eyes,
after life. On the other hand, Ayanna Guyhto
sopping wet clothing, and blood and cuts all
from Yahoo Contributor Network where her
over them.
article “Why People Don’t Believe in Ghosts”
was posted on October 3rd, 2012, some people
other, it’s a breathe of fresh air, something
say that they don’t believe in ghosts due to
new and different besides the typical ghost
their religion or just because it’s silly and they
story. How many shows do you see with ghosts
need proof. If this many people out of 1,000
in human form? This is a must see!
believe in ghosts, does anyone believe that American Horror Story is authentic? As a whole, American Horror Story is a TV series that should be seen by people who love a good ghost story and some interesting portrayal of ghosts. This series is like none-