I've just finished watching this and have to say that I think this is the weakest of all the seasons I've seen so far. That being said, much of the reason for my dislike is the format. I really don't like the 'found footage' format. It's an overused and overrated style - used so much in fact that the format has become a cliche in itself. The first half of the series used a dramatized re-enactment format before moving on to the 'found footage'. I didn't think the re-enactment worked either because with actors playing actors, playing characters, you never felt any sense of danger for the characters or any need to care what happend to them and so I think both styles flopped badly.
Of course, it could be argued that the success of AHS is built on horror cliches (haunted house, asylum, witchcraft, etc) and I'd say that is true. But the style in which these typical horror tropes were handled is really what made the show for me. However, take a cliche and stick it inside a stylistic cliche and all you're left with is something not very interesting. The normally classy approach of AHS was not enough to save this one from the bloody pit of mediocrity. A shame. Hopefully the next one will get the show back on track.
Of course, it could be argued that the success of AHS is built on horror cliches (haunted house, asylum, witchcraft, etc) and I'd say that is true. But the style in which these typical horror tropes were handled is really what made the show for me. However, take a cliche and stick it inside a stylistic cliche and all you're left with is something not very interesting. The normally classy approach of AHS was not enough to save this one from the bloody pit of mediocrity. A shame. Hopefully the next one will get the show back on track.
