A new teaser for American Horror Story 1984 doubles down on the ‘80s slasher movie-inspired story, while also promoting what looks to be a killer (not sure if the pun is intended) spoof of movies like Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp. It can sometimes be difficult to tell whether or not Ryan Murphy and AHS are deliberately trying to be funny or if any perceived humor is accidentally the result of the show’s fondness for extreme exaggeration. Either way, the new season looks to be a potentially interesting change of pace for the long-running series, as it places the show firmly in the realm of a horror movie staple most audiences are very familiar with.
American Horror Story has more or less run the gamut with regard to the storylines covered by its anthological format. While it has by no means exhausted potential narratives, the show has, in recent years, seemingly begun to cannibalize its own ideas, particularly with last season’s Apocalypse, which not only brought back season 1’s Murder House, but also the witches of Coven. Audience’s mileage on returning “favorites” certainly varied, which is perhaps why the show is looking to capitalize on the ongoing nostalgia for the ‘80s, as seen in shows like Stranger Things, GLOW, Snowfall, and the Murphy-produced Pose.
But there’s a special kind of nostalgia for the slasher films of the ‘80s, especially their fondness for torturing teens for being, well teenagers. As the new teaser trailer demonstrates, American Horror Story 1984 is keeping that tradition alive, as a group of rowdy, beer-swilling camp counselors drive to Camp Redwood with an uninvited guest in tow. Check out the teaser for American Horror Story 1984 below:
Arguments for the season being a full-on spoof the slasher genre are front and center, as the shot of the masked killer hanging out underneath the teens pickup truck is one of the funniest things the series has ever produced. But the teaser’s not done there, as it very nearly outdoes itself with a shot clearly ripped from the final scene in Friday the 13th. While the teaser doesn’t actually feature any footage from the new episodes, it certainly succeeds in setting the tone for what may be a very different season of American Horror Story.
AHS continues to be the show FX loves to renew, seemingly becoming the cable network’s version of The Simpsons, as the series seems as though it could continue in perpetuity. If this new season is as refreshing as it sounds like it could be, perhaps the horror anthology will find a new lease on life.
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American Horror Story 1984 premieres Wednesday, September 18 @10pm on FX.
