American Horror Story season 6: Theme and cast list revealed
The anthology show has finally revealed its season 6 theme in its premiere episode - after months of intense secrecy
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Finally, an end to the mystery that's been slowly torturing American Horror Story fans for months now.
Was it worth it? That'll be up for the fans to decide, though the revelation certainly brings something entirely unexpected; a complete re-hash of the show's traditional formula, and a return to the tightly-wound scares which had largely dissipated by the time Hotel came knocking on our doors.
Early speculation arising out of leaked set photographs hinted at a possible link with the legend of the lost colony of Roanoke, with Murphy himself hinting that the series would be set in both the present and the past; suggesting the Roanoke colony had possibly taken on a supernatural form now haunting the modern age.
However, could anyone have guessed the show would throw out its usual narrative formula, and opt for faux-documentary style inspired by paranormal reality shows such Paranormal Witness? Yes, this year's theme is American Horror Story: My Roanoke Nightmare; staging talking heads, dramatic reenactments, and a claim that it's all been "inspired by true events".
The show opens on couple Shelby (Lily Rabe) and Matt (André Holland) recounting to camera their horrifying paranormal experience in a desolate North Carolina farmhouse; after attempting to make an escape from the city in the wake of a sudden tragedy. Their confessions are intermixed with dramatic reenactments of the pair's toils, where they're played onscreen by The People vs. O.J. Simpson's Sarah Paulson and Cuba Gooding Jr.
My Roanoke Nightmare's premiere episode also saw the return of favourite Angela Bassett, playing Matt's troubled sister in the reenactments, with Adina Porter taking on the role in the talking heads.
The show's supernatural entity has so far been kept fairly muted; though we've already gotten a glimpse at Kathy Bates and Wes Betley as two of the supposed Roanoke colonists, with Denis O'Hare also briefly appearing in a mysterious videotape found playing in the home's basement.
However, the show's closing credits brought a few more casting confirmations: listing returns from Evan Peters and Cheyenne Jackson. Lady Gaga's name doesn't appear, which fits with indications her role is much smaller this season; Finn Wittrock is also set to appear in some capacity, though he doesn't appear in the credits.
American Horror Story airs Wednesdays at 10PM in the US on FX, and airs on FOX UK the following Friday at 10PM.
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