PopHorror Let's Get Scared
The new season of American Horror Story will kick off in less than two weeks. Excited fans are chomping at the bit to get even tiny kernels of information on this season, titled Cult. So far, we’ve gotten cast lists, teasers, a trailer, and the opening credits. Reported by EW, this past Friday following a special screening of the first three episodes, there was a Q&A session between screening attendees and FX network chief John Landgraf and show creator Ryan Murphy, where even more juicy tidbits for season 7 were revealed.
As fans already undoubtedly know, each new season of American Horror Story has been different from the last, in everything from color saturation to action to characters to time in history. After the flashy affair that was Hotel, Murphy decided to take things down a notch or three, beginning with Roanoke, a pared down, grounded reality show spoof. His intention with Roanoke was to go back to the beginning of the series with a season more in line with Murder House in tone and color, and Cult will build upon that mood with muted hues, a middle America setting (Michigan), and, for the first time, no supernatural elements. Not even one. The monsters are human, indeed.
A few more characters were revealed as well. Remember way back in July when Murphy disclosed that Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson’s characters were going to be living “a love story for the ages”? It seems as though we all may have jumped the gun on them being romantically involved. Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters will not play lovers, at least not in the traditional sense. According to Paulson herself during the Television Critics Association’s press tour on Wednesday, the married couple for this season will be played by herself and Allison Pill as Allie and Ivy Mayfair-Richards. Maybe this suggested Peters/Paulson love story will be the result of a cult of personality?
Again according to Murphy, Peters will play multiple characters – mainly Kai Anderson, a blue-haired cult leader who uses the fear and anger caused by the 2016 presidential election to sweet talk emotionally fragile people into doing his bidding. Although season 7 will mostly take place in the modern era, there will be flashbacks to the past to show the power and persuasiveness of other cult leaders, including Charles Manson, David Koresh, Jim Jones and artist Andy Warhol, who will all be played by Peters. These men were the epitome of the classic manipulator, charming sociopaths with charismatic authority who convinced weak-willed people to idealize and worship them. And yet, every single one of them had enemies who knew who they were and wanted to kill them for it.
Which leads us to Lena Dunham’s character. Said Murphy:
“Lena Dunham is playing Valerie Solanas, who attempted to shoot Andy Warhol, because she felt denied the cult of personality that was Warhol and the Factory at the time.”
The TV series maestro also explained that the Lena Dunham episode is specifically about the rage that festers in the minds of women both then and now, most eloquently explained in Solanas’ SCUM manifesto. Tiny tornado Emma Roberts also plays a bit part – more like a cameo – in one episode as a news reporter.
As for how often Trump himself will be showing up in season seven, executive producer Alexis Martin Woodall said during Wednesday’s press tour:
“I would say honestly that when Ryan had made the announcement originally that the season would deal with Trump, it’s more about what’s going on in the world around us… We talk about the streak of paranoia, and a lot of it launches from that. It’s not what you think it is. As with all good horror and suspense, knowing less is so much more. But it’s an element in our launch point.”
Last but not least – what’s the deal with the bees? Are they merely a representation of the hive mind, the original cult? That could be. But the bees in the screenshots, poster, trailer and teasers could also represent the new guy in the neighborhood, a character played by Billy Eichner who just happens to be a suburban beekeeper.
There are still so many mysteries surrounding American Horror Story Cult. Just like we fans do every year, we will all tune in and try to piece together the clues to solve this well-woven mystery. Will you be tuning in? American Horror Story Cult will premiere on Tuesday (not Wednesday, as in previous years), September 5th.
