American Horror Story Every Horror Movie Easter Egg In Murder House
American Horror Story: Every Horror Movie Easter Egg In Murder House
Contents
American Horror Story: Murder House features any array of references to some of horror’s most iconic movies; here are each of them explained.
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Ryan Murphy’s premiere season of his critically acclaimed series, American Horror Story, references some of the horror genre’s most iconic movies. In 2011, American Horror Story season 1 released with Murder House, which introduced the Harmon family, who would go on to define later seasons of the show. After moving across the country from Boston, they find a home at an unbelievably low price due to an expansive list of murders that happened on the property. In the midst of the series’s events, American Horror Story: Murder House references various horror movies to define their characters, set up a recurring theme, or pay homage to some of the greatest in history.
Season 1 of the horror anthology starred Dylan McDermott as Dr. Ben Harmon who, after being caught in an affair, moves to California with his wife, Vivien (Connie Britton) and their daughter Violet (Tiassa Farmiga). They quickly discover that their new home is haunted by the spirits who physically died on the property, including Constance Langdon’s (Jessica Lange) son Tate (Evan Peters). AHS: Murder House became an immediate fan favorite, and nearly every cast member went on to return for several seasons.
Murphy’s series is known for its references to historical moments, various real-life serial killers, and iconic horror movies. AHS: Murder House sparked the anthology’s popularity, which set this precedent that would continue in later seasons. As such, it is important to highlight the horror movies season 1 used to craft its story, characters, and set up the future of the series, which continually uses these references as Easter eggs and nods to both fans of American Horror Story and the larger horror genre.
The Shining
As season 1, episode 1, “Pilot” opens, it is the year 1978 where two twins,Troy and Bryan, are breaking into the murder house. The two demolish everything inside and smash every window, mirror, and light in sight. After a trip to the basement, the boys are killed by Thaddeus Montgomery. Troy and Bryan are now trapped in the home forever, just like the twin girls from Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining.
While they are not as ominous as the twin girls, Troy and Bryan appear in various instances with blank stares that resemble those from The Shining. However, they are not the only reference Ryan Murphy’s AHS: Murder House makes to the iconic horror movie. Moira O’Hara (Frances Conroy/Alexandra Breckenridge) resembles the woman found in room 237 who initially appears as youthful, but is actually an old woman. She is meant to appeal to Ben in order to tempt him, just like the old lady in The Shining. Moira plays a much bigger part in the series, but her remarkable resemblance is noteworthy.
Rosemary’s Baby
After Vivien Harmon becomes pregnant with twins, it is revealed to her that one may be the antichrist. As was revealed at the end of AHS: Murder House and expanded on in AHS: Apocalypse, she did happen to conceive a child who is destined to bring destruction onto the Earth. Her pregnancy resembles Rosemary’s in Rosemary’s Baby—this character also gives birth to the antichrist.
Both women—Rosemary and Vivien—are surrounded by neighbors and other people who are determined to ensure the health of the child. In fact, Murphy has suggested he wanted to attempt to one-up the scene where Rosemary eats liver by making Vivien eat raw brain on American Horror Story. The entire structure of Ms. Harmon’s character is based off of Rosemary from Roman Polanski’s 1968 movie. In another parallel, after both of them deliver their children, their demonic sons are taken from them before they have the opportunity to actually meet.
The Amityville Horror
After moving into the house, Ben begins to exhibit bizarre behaviors similar to Ronald Defeo Jr., who brutally murdered his family in The Amityville Horror (1979). He wanders the house at random hours of the night as the spirits attempt to make him lose his mind and possibly kill his family. While Ben does not murder them, Larry Harvey (Denis O’Hare) was influenced by Constance and the spirits of the house to burn his own family alive.
Poltergeist
Zelda Rubinstein, who portrayed Tangina Barrons in Poltergeist, influenced Sarah Paulson’s Billie Dean Howard. Both women are strong mediums who are able to contact spirits from beyond the realm of the living and relay messages for them. Billie Dean Howard attempts to help Violet rid the home of evil spirits, but she is ultimately unsuccessful. Regardless of Tangina Barrons’s influence on the character, they don’t actually hold the same power, so the connection ends there.
Halloween
The first time Larry Harvey is seen, he is standing between sheets and staring up at the window Ben is looking out of. This Easter egg is a direct reference to John Carpenter’s 1978 movie, Halloween. Harvey is no Michael Myers but, in this instance, he represents the evil that lurks outside of the house as well as what lurks inside.
Gaslight
During season 1, episode 1, “Pilot”, Vivien describes the plot of the 1944 movie Gaslight. The psychological thriller features a young woman who is being tormented by her husband. As he attempts to break down her psyche, the horrors of mental abuse frame the entire narrative. Gaslight’s plot did not necessarily influence any character in AHS: Murder House, but mentioning the horrific relationship between the couple undoubtedly influenced Ben and Vivien.
Demon Seed
The 1977 movie Demon Seed was used as the foundation for Vivien’s home delivery scene. The sci-fi horror film features a woman named Susan who becomes pregnant to an artificial intelligence (A.I). As the fetus begins to grow inside of her, it exhibits strange behaviors; Susan becomes fearful of what will happen upon delivery. After a strenuous birth, the baby is immediately taken from her. Vivien experiences similar events when one of the twins begins to grow faster than the other and she undergoes a bloody home birth. After both babies are out of her womb, they are whisked away by Dr. Montgomery to give to his wife and Constance, who will raise the antichrist as her own.
There are a multitude of references to various horror movies throughout AHS: Murder House but only those detailed above have been confirmed by Ryan Murphy. Fans have theorized that the girls who bully Violet are from Heathers, Larry Harvey’s burns are a reference to A Nightmare On Elm Street, and every ghost in the house represents The Others. Movies are constantly influenced by the predecessors without being fully aware of it, so it is likely that is the same for Murphy’s anthology series. Regardless, American Horror Story season 1 confirmed references and influences are some of the most iconic and integral to creating an unforgettable season that helped nurture the growth of an entire series.
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/american-horror-story-season-1-horror-movie-easter-eggs/
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