American Horror Story: Freak Show – “Monsters Among Us” Review. A Helluva Show!

Season 4, Episode 1
Air date: Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 10PM ET/PT on FX
Rating: ★★★★★

“Oh no, my darling, you are confused; you liked it here with us…no. No, you loved it.” —Elsa

Step right up, folks; step right up to the most amazing show in town! American Horror Story: Freak Show (AHS: Freak Show) steps into a darker realm with its chilling season premiere complete with what some might call “monsters.” And a carnival side show wouldn’t be complete without clowns…but Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch) is unlike any clown you ever want to encounter. AHS: Freak Show will excite and terrify you in the season premiere “Monsters Among Us.” Enter the tent if you dare.

Enter if you dare

The entire anthology of American Horror Story (AHS) over the last few years has truly been enchanting. From the haunted house in the first season, insane asylum in the second, witches and voodoo in season three, and now carnivals and deadly clowns in the fourth installment, AHS continues to push the boundaries of television. AHS: Freak Show is yet another venture where AHS opens up strange and intriguing new worlds for the audience to be weekly voyeurs.

Admittedly, I abhor clowns. My last good memory of a red nosed, white faced man was Bozo the Clown, but I was only six years old. After some childhood trauma where my older brother forced me to watch Killer Clowns from Outer Space in 1988, and then Stephen King’s It in 1990, I have been off the clown bandwagon. I was able to overcome my fear of zombies, becoming a fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead, but the same cannot be said for my aversion to clowns. Just writing the word gives me the heebie jeebies! AHS: Freak Show delivers one of the creepiest and most frightening clowns I’ve seen in a long time. I’m sure there are scarier ones out there that I haven’t seen but then again, I’m not looking out for them either.

Despite the über terrifying clown, “Monsters Among Us” is a fantastic introduction to the world of carnival side shows. We meet many of the characters during this new venture of AHS, and learn some fascinating things about them. The main person you want to keep your eyes on is Fräulein Elsa Mars (Jessica Lange). With secrets of her own, she is the madam of the show; she manages the attraction and is the HBIC (head bitch in charge), if you will. All the freaks, so to speak, feel indebted to Elsa for taking them in. They are outcasts in normal society but what AHS: Freak Show tries to do is show us the freaks aren’t always the ones performing under the big top.

Elsa has secrets too…

Lange masterfully commands the screen every time she appears. Her performance is mesmerizing, especially during one scene in particular. After obtaining a candy stripper’s outfit, Elsa makes her way past the guard at the hospital room door to see for herself what all the fuss is about. The provocative conversation she has with the Siamese twins, Bette and Dot (Sarah Paulson) is very revealing. Bette and Dot have two heads on a shared body. I was hanging on Lange’s every word as she continues her inquisition of the women whose mysterious background is slowly revealed throughout “Monsters Among Us.” Bette is more vocal and sociable, while Dot would rather have everyone leave them alone. Not to be outdone, Paulson also does a brilliant job of portraying two varied personalities. The narration at the beginning and throughout the season premiere as both Bette and Dot write separate diary entries, tells a tale of two sisters whose separate hearts each have their own desires.

With the age of television growing, the attraction of carnivals is beginning to fade out. Elsa is desperate to find new and interesting acts to headline her show, and finding Bette and Dot could be just the ticket. But there are darker forces lurking in the sleepy town of Jupiter, FL where Elsa’s carnival has come to be, and there is unrest among some of Elsa’s monsters.

From Jimmy Darling (Evan Peters) using his strange deformity to please a group of unsatisfied housewives, to the tiniest woman in the world Ma Petite (Jyoti Amge) folding dainty silk stockings for Miss Elsa, AHS Freak Show has something for everyone. There is one particular gentleman that intrigues me like no other — Paul (Mat Fraser). While he only has one scene, his uniqueness is quite unavoidable. I am reminded of a Tyrannosaurus Rex’s arms when I see him standing there with his suspenders. His thick British accent lends to his appeal. I’m very curious about his back story and how his strangeness came to pass. The odd, the tall, the bizarre, the bearded, the horrifying, and an enchanting musical number are waiting for you…won’t you come in?

What did you think of “Monsters Among Us?” I’d love to hear from you. Tweet me @judybopp or leave a comment below.

Check out interviews from the red carpet premiere on Sunday, October 5, 2014

Tune in to American Horror Story: Freak Show, Wednesdays at 10PM ET/PT, only on FX.

For more on the show, go to www.fxnetworks.com/ahs
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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.