American Horror Story comes from the stable of the creators of Nip/Tuck and Glee. Whilst the characters do not randomly break into choreographed song, it similarly tests the boundaries of television. Every scene is a little horror movie on its own, crammed with images and techniques from every known movie or series in the genre. And whilst there is very little originality in the various elements of the story, the end product is so concentrated and intense that the experience is totally unique.
The story. In 1978 two spoilt twin brothers die in an old haunted house. In the current day, a family moves into the same house, which has apparently been lovingly restored. They bring their own demons. Vivien Harmon (Connie Britton) is still suffering from the consequences of a traumatic miscarriage, whilst trying to overcome the infidelity of her psychologist husband, Ben (Dylan McDermott). Their chain smoking daughter, Violet (Tessa Fermiga) has to adjust to the new school and violent bullying from a female class mate. 
Some excitement comes when creepy neighbour Constance (Jessica Lange) invades their house in search of her vicious Down Syndrome daughter. Housekeeper, Moira (Francis Conroy) also forces her way into their lives, bizarrely manifesting as a young sex kitten to philandering Ben. Vivien is impregnated by a man in a gimp suit. She thinks it's Ben, but the viewer knows it's not.
Dodging Moira's affections, Ben starts up his psychology practice from the house and encounters Tate (Evan Peters), a deliciously psychotic young man. Tate takes a liking to Violet, to the great distress of Ben. Tate helps her to scare off the school bully by luring her into the basement of their haunted house. But when, in the climax of the pilot, he unleashes terrifying and violent visions on them, she chases him from the house.
The story clearly needs time to evolve away from the cliched premise, but shows enough promise to keep our interest. Rated 18, and littered with violence, depravity, deformity and sagging naked man ass, this is strictly late night viewing material. Keep an eye out for Zachary Quinto in later episodes.
American Horror Story lurks on M-Net Series on Fridays at 22h30.
