Elena Morey
A&E Editor
“American Horror Story” (“AHS”) has done it again with the seventh season, “Cult,” which was recently released on Netflix. This season is focused around the enticing current political and cultural climate of the United States. Since the 45th presidential election, the writers of “AHS” have not been afraid to voice their opinions through the season itself.
The season starts out with a whole new cast of iconic characters, played by some well-loved actors and actresses from past seasons. Returning to the show are Evan Peters playing the charismatic and charming Kai Anderson, Sarah Paulson playing the fearful Ally, Adina Porter playing the dark news reporter and newcomers like Alison Phil playing Ally’s beloved wife, Ivy, and Billie Lourd playing Winter Anderson, the scheming sister of the infamous cult leader who really draws from reality in this season.
“AHS” daringly begins with powerful shots of the characters listening to the news, awaiting the results of the presidential election. The mixed reactions are truly shocking and emotional. Ranging from absolute terror, fear, shock, anger and pure ecstasy, “AHS” writers stun audiences with the reality they witness on screen, which is fitting, as the season is about fear.
Ally’s psyche becomes the focus of fears. She possesses many irrational as well as rational fears that the audience follow. Two examples of her fears that are notable in the season are Tropophobia, the fear of holes and Coulrophobia, the fear of clowns. The clown scares in the news inspired the writers, as well as the cultural discussions around the fear of holes.
Through the season, the audience cannot help but sympathize with the common fears of Ally as her life begins to fall apart. Those she loves begin to move away from her, and she struggles to pull it together. Behind the scenes, notorious Kai Anderson moves into power with his charisma, great vocabulary and ability to connect with almost anyone. Perplexed audiences watch as he gets to the very hearts of his followers and slowly turns them into murderous slaves, similar to Charles Manson.
Infamous killers and other cult leaders make dazzling appearances throughout the season, magically brought to life by cast members already playing other notable roles. The transformative quality taking place before the eyes of the viewer draws you in, and does not let you go. This is most definitely a binge-worthy season of “AHS.”
The strong basis in reality allows this season of “AHS” to step away from the typical scare tactics they have been drawing from since season one. Now, they use our own realities to scare the viewers. The writers do their best to show an array of lives and stories of people in reaction and following the presidential election. It displays the slow ascension of Kai Anderson, and how he begins to take hold of people like a sickness. Even audiences feel the draw and allure of Kai’s promises. His character really inspires thought and further reflection on our own realities and how one might be following a person or concepts like the sheep in this season.
Makeup, special effects, gore and the psychological horror make this season very strong in the “AHS” body of work. Camera work and post effects create the psychological distortions and uneasy imagery that allow viewers into the minds of the characters they are getting to know on screen.
Typically in “AHS”, the gore forms the basis of their horror effects. Now, the characters themselves carry the horror factor. The eerie personas the audience grows to know envelope the mind and really gets under one’s skin. Moments of great tension and horror come with the rationales for decisions the characters make and how strongly they believe what they are doing. Bit by bit, Kai manages to tear logical and “good” people from their morals to serve his darker ambitions. Piece by piece, characters begin to fall to the way-side of the cult, or become its victims. This season is completely summed up as one cliched phrase: “You are either with us, or against us.”