One of the most recognizable motifs in a 1980’s slasher film is that of a jump scare, in which a filmmaker uses the camera, sound, and editing to set the stage for an unexpected scare.
The problem is that seasoned horror fans have been conditioned to expect these scares and, in other instances, these “scares” are cheap and unnecessary. In order to keep a poorly written script scary, a filmmaker may insert a jump scare fakeout, in which a character stumbles into an object or another character just to shock the audience.
This new promo for FX’s “American Horror Story: 1984” plays into that trope, only it quickly turns everything on its head. The self-awareness in these TV spots gives me confidence that this new season is going to be great.
This year’s cast includes Emma Roberts, Gus Kenworthy, Angelica Ross, Cody Fern and Billie Lourd, and will premiere on Wednesday, September 18.