Jeri Jacquin
Coming to DVD from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is
the stellar hit FX series that brings questions, fright and jaw drops with
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: Cult, The Complete Seventh Season.
The 2016 Presidential elections are happening and it is even
reaching the city of Brookfield Heights, Michigan United States
Ally and her partner Ivy (Alison Pill) share a son named Oz
(Cooper Dodson) who they both dote on lovingly. Since Ally can't keep herself
under control emotionally, she leans on her psychiatrist Dr. Vincent (Cheyenne
Jackson) to help put it all into perspective. Winter becomes Oz's nanny to help
relieve some of the stress Ally is feeling and give her more time to help her
restaurant succeed. What she doesn't know is that Winter has a little bit of a
different nanny style. Kai has a plan that requires unthinkable actions that he
sees no problem with - beginning with the clown-deaths of Ally's neighbors and
paying someone to beat him up.
With the death of the neighbor, a city council seat
magically opens up and Kai is all over it. But Ally is dealing with problems at
the restaurant when one of her employees is found in the meat locker. The new
neighbors, Harrison (Billy Eichner) and Meadow Wiltons (Leslie Grossman), help
Ally get a gun for protection especially since Ally is now seeing killer clowns
roaming the streets. Det. Jack Samuels (Colton Haynes) suspect Ally's delivery man Pedro (Jorge-Luis Pallo) for the crime
and that puts her in a position to defend herself with the same gun the Wiltons
gave her. When the neighborhood is covered in a mysterious gas, Ally blames the
Wilton
Kai sees what's happening with Ally and say's he'll help try
to stop the protests at her business but he has motives for everything he does.
As the election draws closer Ivy meets Winter at a rally. Upset that a man took
advantage of her in the crowd, Ivy tells Winter and a plan is hatched to make
his day a little less important. Thinking it's harmless, Kai decides to make an
example of the man by giving him a choice - stay chained up or do the unthinkable so he can vote.
The election is in full swing and Kai moves onto bigger and
better things and starts with getting himself in shape. Hiring a personal
trainer, it becomes clear that he will have other uses. He also becomes
interested in reporter Beverly Hope (Adina Porter) and uses his charm to prove
he is dedicated to her. In return, Beverly
Kai is having lady problems and when a lady's feelings
aren't being returned, well, all sorts of mayhem ensure and there comes a time
when Ally discovers that all friends aren't true friends. Thinking that the
only way to keep her family safe is to expose Kai turns badly, Meadow has no
choice but to take matters into her own armed hands. Surviving Meadow's
instructions, Kai decides to take his political bid one step further and
announce a run for Senate publically, but privately he asks his followers to
prove their loyalty. The problem is by the time the event is over, Ally is left
holding evidence and the police want to arrest now and ask questions later.
Once again Ally is the victim of people with their own
agendas and driving her crazy is just a bonus that gets her out of the way and
into the hospital. There are still women in the group that have a plan of their
own as Kai keeps moving forward.
Winter isn't sure what to make when Kai announces his
divinity and believes that she should carry a child. In the meantime Ally is
finally released from the hospital and has had time to formulate a little plan of her own that includes
getting her son Oz back from the group and settling little fires here and there
and see what burns - and joining the group is step number one. Ivy isn't
thrilled but Ally tries to show that having her family back is the most
important thing. Using a little psychology of her own, Ally's steps are slow
but very, very deliberate as she edges closer to her mark.
She needn't have worried about Kai because his own delusions
have taken him down a dark road and visions of Charles Manson. Believing there
is a mole in the group, Ally shuffles the information around with deadly
accuracy.
Stronger by the deed, Ally secretly puts everyone on notice
and knows it is what has to happen in order for the group and Kai to be
stopped. Even when she begins to get her life together, Kai tries to strike one more time. Of course you
can't keep a good woman down!
Paulson as Ally continues to just own her parts in the
American Horror Story seasons. There is not one part that she has played that
isn't filled with every human emotion possible and maybe a few inhumane ones as
well. She can freeze up one minute and pour it on the next and she has the most
stunning facial expressions to pull it all off. She continues with each season
to broaden the characters she plays and take them just one step further never
truly knowing until the end whether she's gone over or rides the edge of
insanity with unique perfection.
From the beginning, along with Lange and Bates, Paulson has
made this series ever changing and ever glorious to watch. With the new season
premier of American Horror Story already airing its first episode, it is clear
that she is going full bore.
Peters as Kai leaves no doubt almost immediately that this
character is a force to be reckoned with and showing no fear of repercussions
means he is well past being dangerous. He has a little bit of someone else we
all know in that Kai can be very endearing to your face while planning your
demise at the very same time - to your face. This character seeks out like
minded crazies and if you don't follow the rules - a new crazy will emerge.
Watching Peters take on such depth with each of his characters has also proven
that from the moment he came aboard AHS, it isn't going to be over until he
damn well says its over.
Lourd as Winter has such duality in this season. There are
moments when Lourd's portrayal of Winter gives you hope that she isn't going to
be like her brother and then she flips the script and I'm saying, "oh
there is the crazy lady now!". The character of Winter is cold, harsh,
loving, loyal and every bit as whacked out as her brother - but which brother?
I have so enjoyed watching Lourd come into her own and she is her mother's
daughter when it comes to talent and the ability to give us all a reason to
keep watching.
Pill as Ivy is another actress that has just managed to keep
me guessing as to whether her character has the ability to be real or has her
nose right on too tight which makes it easy to lead her around. Becoming one of
the group wasn't something I thought was going to happen but then again, that's
AHS for you!
Other case include Emma Roberts as Serena Belinda, Mare
Winningham as Sally Effler, Lena Dunham as Valerie Solanas, Frances Conroy as
Bebe Babbitt, Chaz Bono as Gary Longstreet, Dermot Mulroney as Bob Thompson,
Cameron Cowperthwaite as Speedwagon, John Carroll Lynch as Twist the Clown,
Zack Ward as Roger, Laura Allen as Rosie, Dot-Marie Jones as Butchy May and
Jamie Brewer as Hedda.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings
award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital
HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own
home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have
please visit www.fox.com.
FX continues to provide viewers with amazing programming
including the new series Mayans M.C.
along with favorites Legion, Archer and
You’re the Worst. For more of what FX has to offer as well as shows, apps
and information please visit www.fxnetworks.com.
The DVD also includes the Special Bonus Features of the FX
Promo Spots which are artistic, misleading, strong, telling, mysterious and
everything else every season manages to bring to American Horror Story fans.
It's like the biggest most colorful tease in the world. The three disc set
contains all eleven episodes including Election
Night, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Neighbors from Hell, 11/9, Holes,
Mid-Western Assassin, Valerie Solanas Died for Your Sins: Scumbag, Winter of
Our Discontent, Drink the Kool-Aid, Charles (Manson) in Charge and Great Again.
American Horror Story began it's run on FX in 2016 and
hasn't shown any signs of slowing. Fans have waited patiently year after year
to see how all the seasons connect yet don't mind if its not so straight
forward in the explanation.
In 2016, viewers had no idea what to expect from the show
and it has continued to be the case since then. Already, people I know who
watch AHS are trying to guess where the 2018 story is going to take them and
all I say to them is, 'why are you trying to guess?'. I mean seriously folks,
that's what makes good television when you sit back and let the ride take you
wherever it may.
Nominated for two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress
in a Limited Series or Movie for Sarah Paulson and Outstanding Supporting
Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Adina Porter is validation that the
show is award worthy (as if AHS followers needed that to know how fantastic the
show is!).
What truly makes this show is the cast that returns to show
us the range and diversity of AHS. I just love their dedication to the show and
the storyline which, I believe, is another reason fans of the show come back
time and time again.
In the end – know your neighbors and politicians!
