Oct 25 2012

Satan Compels You. Review: American Horror Story: Asylum, S2 Ep 2, “Tricks and Treats”

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  • October 25, 2012

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Review: American Horror Story: Asylum, S2 Ep 2, “Tricks and Treats”

Air date: Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 10 pm ET, on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

At Briarcliff Manor, a former tuberculosis ward and now a Catholic Church-run asylum for the criminally insane, Sister Jude (Jessica Lange) rules the facility with an iron fist. When “Tricks and Treats” opens, in present day, we learn what happened to Leo (Adam Levine) and his girlfriend Theresa (Jenna Duwan-Tatum). It looks like Bloody Face is running loose in the asylum. Not a very bright couple if they get their kicks from having sex inside abandoned asylums. This is what happens when you do stupid stuff. Run from Bloody Face, Theresa, but you’re outta luck if you think you’re going to escape. 

 

Satan Compels You. Review: American Horror Story: Asylum, S2 Ep 2, "Tricks and Treats" 1

Dr,. Arden relishes his work

You know, I’ve always liked horror films so imagine my glee when I learned about this show. When I was a wee one, my parents allowed me to watch horror films like The Exorcist and Night of the Living Dead. They probably shouldn’t have because I’ve suffered with Nightmare Disorder for many years now. Still, I can’t resist; besides, American Horror Story: Asylum is nothing like such schlocky flicks as Halloween, Friday the 13th or Saw.

So, isn’t Sister Jude the awesomest nun to grace the small screen? She’s so evil she makes me laugh out loud and clap in glee. Really, she wears red knickers and has hot fantasies about Monsignor Howard (Joseph Fiennes), who is too sexy to be a priest. Lange is simply delightful and I can’t sing her praises enough. In “Tricks and Treats,” we find out some of her dark secrets, none of which are really surprising considering we already know she wears red knickers. Still, Sister Jude is horrified when her secret past is spat in her face by Jed (Devon Graye), a patient possessed by a demon. But, when she wants to stay in Jed’s room to assist with an exorcism, she’s rebuffed. What a huge mistake that is because Sister Jude is stronger than the priests, and anyone else at Briarcliff Manor, for that matter. She’s not to be messed with!

Satan Compels You. Review: American Horror Story: Asylum, S2 Ep 2, "Tricks and Treats" 2

Sister Jude has words with Dr. Thredson

How about that Dr. Arden (James Cromwell)? He creeps me out, with his secret medical experiment room and seeming flirtation with Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe). When he meets the good Sister outside, he tempts her with a candied apple. This calls to mind the biblical story of Eve, when the serpent lured her to temptation with an apple. Could the writers be hinting at Dr. Arden’s monstrous nature? His antagonistic relationship with Sister Jude effectively displays Cromwell’s formidable acting talent; both he and Lange give us some of the best scenes in this show.

Which brings me to Pepper (Naomi Grossman), a patient with a shaved head and a baby pigtail, some big buck-toothed chompers, and a mad look in her eyes. How did she wind up with such a name? Her penchant for bringing food into her room elicits a mild admonition from Sister Jude, who likes her rules to be followed to the letter. Why is food not allowed in the patients’ rooms? “Rats!” is Pepper’s response. Because American Horror Story is a miniseries, I fear Pepper’s back story won’t be explored in depth, which would be too bad because I’d love to know more about her.

The 1960s weren’t exactly a bright spot in women’s liberation so when nymphomaniac Shelley (Chloe Sevigny) confesses to Dr. Arden the reason for her “incarceration” (“Because I like sex. That’s my crime”), it’s a rather bold statement. It’s clear she’s not insane at all—she just loves sex. Sevigny obviously delights in her role, and imbues her Shelley with a down and dirty sexuality.

Satan Compels You. Review: American Horror Story: Asylum, S2 Ep 2, "Tricks and Treats" 3

Shelley eyes the candied apple in Sister Mary Eunice’s basket

When the demon is cast out of Jed, it appears to go straight for Sister Mary Eunice. After her fainting spell, however, she appears to be normal. Next week might tell us something different, though. Demon or not, what I really want to know is, what the hell are those creatures she’s feeding in the woods? She’s an unwitting helper for Dr. Arden. Or is she? She might be willfully ignoring the horrific experiments the doctor is conducting. The fact she even knows about the creatures in the woods tells us she is at least clued in that there are monsters out there, and the doctor has something to do with it. Will the doctor do in Sister Mary Eunice, or treat her like the hooker who appears at his home? Stay tuned for more chills!

 

American Horror Story: Asylum airs Wednesdays, 10pm ET, only on FX Networks.

 

LIKE the show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americanhorrorstory.

Follow American Horror Story: Asylum on Twitter: @AHSFX

You might also like to follow co-creator Ryan Murphy @MrRPMurphy, Director/Producer Brad Falchuk @BFalchuk, Dr. Thredson @ZacharyQuinto, Lana Winters @MsSarahPaulson, Spivey @MarkConsuelos, and Kit Walker @tweetsonurface

 

Photos ©2012 FX Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Juana

My favorite forms of escapism are books and telly/film. I require plenty of solitude.

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