Who Watched American Horror Story: Hotel? (Season Review)

With a platinum bedazzled glove, the Countess (Lady Gaga) traces the chin of her next victim of love, and huskily recites, "You have a jaw line to die for."

Cut to Black. Season Five of this horror anthology series comes to a close.

Throughout this season, we were introduced to characters addicted to demons of their own making. Be it love, drugs, or the past, these hotel's willing and unwilling guests were given some thoughtful storytelling.

In the Season finale, there was even a healthy dose of happy endings (the non-sexual kind, however). The stories of transgender Liz Taylor ( Denis O'Hare), Iris (Kathy Bates), and even the dysfunctional Lower family ending harmoniously. So sweet cavities should tremble. It was too much fluff more my taste, but in classic AHS form, the thrills returned when the psychic Billie Dean (Sarah Paulson) returned to investigate the hauntings at the hotel. On a future Halloween Night, Ms. Dean was lured away to Mr. March's (Evan Peters) Devil's Party by the deceased 10 Commandment Killer/Det. Lowe (Wes Bentley). I was on edge as Ms. Dean went willingly unbeknownst to her that she was about to meet history's notorious serial killers.

Overall, here's what I liked about Hotel:

• Kudos to the costume and local team. The design of the sets and clothes were awe inspiring and punk. From Gaga's constant fashion changes to the hotel's physical structure and torture devices, everything was beautifully crafted. The season's sinful obsession with fashion eventually paid off. It may have also been a bit overpowering (See what didn't work).
• O'Hare, Peters, Paulson, and Bates proved themselves to be some chameleon actors. Each gave stellar performances that really should win them awards or nominations. Even Gaga had some moments of emoting when her character wasn't asked to be Gaga as the Countess.
• The connections to past seasons. The Realtor from Season 1 met her end at the hotel, and sadly so did Queenie (Sidibe), but it's good to see the writers drawing the anthology together.
• The child actors this season aslo were some stand outs. Scarlett (Shree Crooks) and Lachlan (Lyrics Lennon) were very strong. When they weren't telling off the delusional adults around them, they were on the sidelines watching the train-wreck.

What didn't work:

• The  premature end of the child vamp apocalypse, without a hint of consequences for Ms. Lowe (Sevigny) whose obsession with her lost son caused her to neglect her medical practice and family. There could've been more to that story line.
• Speaking of the Lowe Parents. Mr. and Mrs Lowe earn no awards for parents of the year. Daughter, Scarlett Lowe, had to watch her parents turn into a serial killer and vampire and somehow came out okay. The ending with all of them sleeping lovingly in a hotel room while Scarlett watched was total BS. But everyone gets a happy ending at the Hotel Cortez.
• What's the deal with the Countess' baby? Did I blink and not see it?
• And what's up with the Rubber man with the drill bit phallus. One really shouldn't just be please with the writers short cut of downplaying the demon as Mr. March's to will around when the demon followed Sally around much of the season.

This season didn't hit it out the park like Season One's: Murder House, although the hotel operated much like that house. It was still great to watch. Thematically it held together. I don't know what the hell I'm going to do with my Wednesday nights now.

Since the Thatcher Boarding school was brought up twice in the season finale, I expect Season 6 to take play in a school or camp cast with the child actors that really stood out this season. The creepy child trope has returned! And maybe aliens or wolves next time.

You can catch AHS: Hotel on FX and on most VOD sites for purchase.

Who Watched Scream Queens (the Series)?

Scream Queens which ended early December was a dark, campy mystery brought to you by the king/queen of such things, Ryan Murphy. Staring heavy hitters like Keke Palmer, Emma Roberts, and Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens held my attention all the way to the bitter end.

Much like much of Murphy's productions, Scream Queens was inspired by many horror movie tropes and cliches of the 80s. It was a classic whodunit with plenty of black comedy. By the two part season finale, it certainly delivered on its promise of solving the mystery, but in my opinion, there was a theme here that wasn't fully realized.

All along we are led to believe a serial killer, the Red Devil, is stalking and hacking off the frat brothers and sorority sisters of Wallace University's campus. Everyone is a suspect. People die and then come back. Dead bodies go missing, and everyone's pointing fingers at everyone else. All the while, the sisters of the sorority plot to kill each other, then vow to keep each other alive, and then go back to every girl for themselves.

I initially thought that there was a feminist agenda here. Something along the lines of: Greek life being woefully out of touch with reality and perpetuating the very cycles of sexism that has stalled the feminist movement.  It appeared to be a metaphor for our current media and society at large. There were countless times where Chanel Oberlin (Roberts) developed some insight into her own bullying behavior and attempted to make amends with her sorority and protect it. However, in the very next episode, she reverts back into a Queen B* and pariah to those around her.

The season finale was great. It was as funny and cooky as the premiere, never taking itself too serious. I wouldn't have a problem with it if it weren't for the redemption arc of its main character that was prematurely started and stopped several times.

Overall the series was good, and you should watch it for yourself. Few episodes ever rose to the caliber that the premiere did. Maybe it was the many twists and turns that kept pulling focus away from the main objective.

The series has been renewed for a second season. Relive the first season currently streaming on FOX.

Thriller Thursdays!

I happened across an article online that reported that there were some good horror films on Netflix that was worth a watch. "I'll be the judge of that!" I admittedly told the computer screen. Netflix isn't necessarily known for its treasure trove of movie selections.

As I set these films onto my queue for later viewing, I decided that select Thursdays, I was going to watch and review a horror film in theaters currently or streaming online. Join me for these Thriller Thursday and look for me reviews. Also please follow me.

Upcoming Schedule
1/14/16 - Are You in the House alone? A 1978 classic streaming on Amazon Instant Video.
1/21/16 Starry Eyes - Netflix
1/28/16 Dead Silence - Netflix