American Horror Story - A Scary Treat.

The one word you could never use to describe American Horror Story is restrained. But, then again, it does come from Ryan Murphy, who after Glee and Nip Tuck knows a thing or two about going over the top.

We've seen the premise a million times a deeply troubled family, the Harmon's, looking for a fresh start move into a deeply troubled house. But trying to make a fresh start in this house of horrors is like trying to  take a relaxing holiday in Helmand Province. In fact it is the sort of place only Beetlejuice would feel at home in. You have to push through the familiarity because it is the sheer lack of subtlety that makes American Horror Story such creepy, melodramatic fun. This isn't The Others or The Turn of the Screw, this is slam bam lashings of The Shining and Amityville thrown in your face. If you haven't seen it yet, I won't spoil the sheer weight of horrors and bad behaviour coming your way. And this is only episode one. Add to that a motley collection of deeply Gothic characters, led by Jessica Lange who acts like she has just walked out of a Tennessee Williams play and you have a joyous, demented stew. OK, it is one of those houses you would run out of screaming after just the viewing, but that wouldn't make much of a show would it. I'm hooked.

So Monday nights will be lights off, headphones on and I will let this mad,nasty treat scare me into a night of bad dreams. Bliss.

Over