American Horror Story
Ryan Murphy ’s premier season of his critically acclaimed series , American Horror Story , reference some of the horror music genre ’s most iconic movies . In 2011,American Horror Storyseason 1 released withMurder House , which introduced the Harmon syndicate , who would go on to define former seasons of the show . After moving across the country from Boston , they find a home plate at an unbelievably low price due to an heroic list of slaying that happened on the property . In the midst of the serial ’s event , American Horror Story : Murder Housereferences various repugnance movies to define their characters , set up a recurring composition , or give homage to some of the greatest in history .
Season 1 of the repugnance anthology starred Dylan McDermott as Dr. Ben Harmon who , after being caught in an involvement , moves to California with his wife , Vivien ( Connie Britton ) andtheir daughter Violet(Tiassa Farmiga ) . They apace discover that their new home is haunted by the feeling who physically die on the prop , including Constance Langdon ’s ( Jessica Lange ) son Tate ( Evan Peters).AHS : Murder Housebecame an immediate rooter favourite , and nearly every cast member run on to come back for several seasons .
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Murphy ’s series is know for its references to historical moments , various real - life sequential killers , and iconic repugnance movies . AHS : Murder Housesparked 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 dress up the hereafter of the series , which continually uses these extension as Easter eggs and nods to both fans ofAmerican Horror Storyand the larger horror literary genre .
The Shining
As time of year 1 , installment 1 , " Pilot " opens , it is the year 1978 where two Gemini the Twins , Troy and Bryan , are kick downstairs into the murder planetary house . The two demolish everything indoors and smash every window , mirror , and sparkle in visual sense . After a tripper to the basement , the boys are kill by Thaddeus Montgomery . Troy and Bryan are now trapped in the home base forever , just likethe twin girl from Stanley Kubrick’sThe Shining .
While they are not as threatening as the twin little girl , Troy and Bryan appear in various illustration with blank stares that resemble those fromThe beam . However , they are not the only reference Ryan Murphy’sAHS : Murder Housemakes to the iconic horror moving-picture show . Moira O’Hara ( Frances Conroy / Alexandra Breckenridge ) resembles thewoman discover in room 237who initially appears as youthful , but is actually an old fair sex . She is intend to appeal to Ben so as to tempt him , just like the old gentlewoman inThe Shining . Moira plays a much bigger part in the series , but her remarkable resemblance is noteworthy .
Rosemary’s Baby
After Vivien Harmon becomes significant with Gemini , it is revealed to her that one may be the antichrist . As was revealed at the end ofAHS : Murder Houseand expanded on inAHS : Apocalypse , she did happen to conceive a child who is destined to convey wipeout onto the Earth . Her maternity resembles Rosemary ’s inRosemary ’s Baby — this reference also return birth to the antichrist .
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Both women — Rosemary and Vivien — are surrounded by neighbors and other people who are set to ensure the wellness of the child . In fact , Murphy has suggest he wanted to assay to one - up the scene where Rosemary deplete liver by make Vivien eat sensitive brain onAmerican Horror Story . The entire structure of Ms. Harmon ’s part is based off of Rosemary from Roman Polanski ’s 1968 movie . In another parallel , after both of them deliver their children , their unholy sons are taken from them before they have the chance to actually meet .
The Amityville Horror
After moving into the menage , Ben begin to exhibit flaky behaviors similar to Ronald Defeo Jr. , who brutally dispatch his menage inThe Amityville Horror(1979 ) . He wander the house at random hour of the dark 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 charm by Constance and the spirits of the house to glow his own family alive .
Poltergeist
Zelda Rubinstein , who portrayed Tangina Barrons inPoltergeist , shape Sarah Paulson ’s Billie Dean Howard . Both women are substantial medium who are able to contact booze from beyond the realm of the living and relay messages for them . Billie Dean Howard set about to facilitate Violet rid the menage of malevolent disembodied spirit , but she is at long last unsuccessful . irrespective of Tangina Barrons ’s influence on the character , they do n’t really arrest the same power , so the connection finish there .
Halloween
The first metre Larry Harvey is seen , he is standing between shroud and staring up at the window Ben is looking out of . This Easter egg is a lineal mention to John Carpenter ’s 1978 movie , Halloween . Harvey is noMichael Myersbut , in this example , he be the immorality that lurks outside of the house as well as what lurks inside .
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Gaslight
During season 1 , episode 1 , " Pilot " , Vivien describes the plot of the 1944 movieGaslight . The psychological thriller have a young woman who is being tormented by her husband . As he attempts to wear down her psyche , the horrors of mental ill-treatment soma the entire narrative . Gaslight’splot did not necessarily influence any graphic symbol inAHS : Murder House , but mentioning the horrific relationship between the yoke undoubtedly mold Ben and Vivien .
Demon Seed
The 1977 movieDemon Seedwas used as the foundation for Vivien ’s home delivery view . The sci - fi horror picture show features a woman named Susan who becomes pregnant to an artificial intelligence ( A.I ) . As the foetus begin to rise inwardly of her , it show unusual conduct ; Susan becomes horrific of what will happen upon delivery . After a straining birth , the baby is directly assume from her . Vivien experience similar events when one of the twins begins to grow quicker than the other and she undergo a bloody habitation giving birth . After both babies are out of her uterus , they are whisk away by Dr. Montgomery to give to his wife and Constance , who will raise the antichrist as her own .
There are a the great unwashed of references to various revulsion moving-picture show throughoutAHS : Murder Housebut only those detail above have been confirmed by Ryan Murphy . devotee have theorized that the girl who bully Violet are fromHeathers , Larry Harvey ’s burns are a reference toA Nightmare On Elm Street , and every ghost in the theatre representsThe Others . Movies are always influence by the predecessors without being fully cognizant of it , so it is likely that is the same for Murphy ’s anthology series . Regardless , American Horror Storyseason 1 confirm book of facts and influence are some of the most iconic and integral to creating an unforgettable time of year that helped nurture the growth of an entire series .
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