American Horror Story – Asylum: Blu-ray Review

Season Overview:

(Source: Wikipedia)

The second season of American Horror Story follows the patients, doctors and nuns who occupy Briarcliff Mental Institution in Massachusetts in 1964, intercut with scenes from the present. Sister Jude (Jessica Lange) and Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe) maintain the institution that was founded by Monsignor Timothy Howard (Joseph Fiennes) to treat and house the criminally insane. Psychiatrist Dr. Oliver Thredson (Zachary Quinto) and scientist Dr. Arthur Arden (James Cromwell) treat the patients within the facility. The patients, many of whom claim to be unjustly institutionalized, include lesbian journalist Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson), accused serial killer Kit Walker (Evan Peters), and alleged murderer Grace Bertrand (Lizzie Brocheré).

After the first very successful season of AHS I wondered where they were going to take it. This was the real test if the series was going to be a success. If you didn’t look anything up on the internet about the series then you were going in to it kind of confused but immediately after the first episode you kind of knew what direction it was headed. I’m really glad that they didn’t do “The Murder House” part two and chose to create a unique story. The asylum itself is a creepy location as it is but you add the pateints, doctors and the evil lurking around and that makes it a show that will give you nightmares…..and then give your nightmares, nightmares. I think it creeped me out so much because when I was younger I had always said “Man, I just want to be locked up in a padded room for a few hours just to see what it’s like. As I thought more about it I nixed the idea because of the thought of some evil guy would just keep me there and no one would believe that I wasn’t crazy and that’s exactly what happens to Paulson’s character. That was the part of the show that had me really intrigued and had me continuously wondering if she was going to get out of that place and at what cost. The other portion that had me curious was the Bloody Face story. The character itself was one that had me wanting to know more and how it was going to come into play. I loved this show and everything about (even the eerie theme song) but I did feel like there was too many stories going on at one time. I didn’t feel a huge connection to any of the characters and I felt like the last two episodes were made to quickly tie up any loose ends. Don’t get me wrong, it shaped up to be a great story and I loved the fact that you really can’t pinpoint what kind of genre of horror this fell under because it had a bit of everything. I just wish it had a little less than what was given. Sometimes less is more. I may have a bit of criticism for this season of AHS but it still doesn’t change the fact that this is one the shows that has changed the spectrum of horror on cable TV and as a lover of all things horror I will continue to watch religiously.

Special Features:

Deleted Scenes – A decent amount of scenes that are on the 2nd and 3rd disc.

The Orderly – A short involving an interview with one of the orderlies of the asylum. It basically gives you a rundown of the show.

What is American Horror Story: Asylum? – A great feature that explains the direction Asylum is taking and what to expect from the show.

Welcome To Briarcliff Manor – A interesting feature about the asylum itself and how the cast and crew interact with the sets that have been built.

The Creatures – The make up effects artists discuss how they came up with the design of all the creatures on the show.