THE SHOW "American Horror Story: Asylum" 
 WHEN|WHERE Wednesday night at 10 on FX 
 WHAT IT'S ABOUT Sister Jude (<a href="/topics//Jessica_Lange">Jessica Lange</a>) is a sociopath in a habit -- cruel, vindictive and repressed (that goes without saying) who maintains a collection of whips, canes and other assorted instruments of torture which she administers on her unruly flock. But the flock at Briarcliff asylum for the criminally insane, which she runs, is about to grow even more unruly: Kit Walker (Evan Peters) has been admitted for a medical evaluation to determine whether he can stand trial for the murder of several women, his wife included; and Lana Winters (<a href="/topics//Sarah_Paulson">Sarah Paulson</a>), a reporter looking for a scoop, is committed by Sister Jude, fearful she may know too much. Briarcliff has its own resident sadist M.D., <a href="/topics//Arthur_(designer)">Arthur</a> Arden (<a href="/topics//James_Cromwell">James Cromwell</a>), assisted by simpleminded Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe), who wonders about the ravenous creatures he has apparently cobbled together from ... what? (Or from whom?) 
 MY SAY If any of the above scared you, then my sincere apologies. I've obviously overstated the case for "Asylum." There's nothing particularly scary about this messy, overstuffed cartoon -- successor to 2011's first (and superior) season of "American Horror Story." There is something offensive about it to Catholics and nuns: Especially nuns because, if anything, "Asylum" qualifies as an addition to the nunsploitation genre that includes other recent titles like "Nun of That" and 2010's "Nude Nuns With Big Guns." Plus, you'd be right to expect a story from a series called "American Horror Story" except that creators <a href="/topics//Ryan_Murphy">Ryan Murphy</a> and Brad Falchuk have cobbled together far too many here. "Asylum," which toggles between present day and 1964, is bloated with elements from half a dozen horror genres, including splatter films, alien abductions, pulp, sci-fi and so-called "body horror," which concerns itself with mutations. The boys are obviously having fun with their toys -- who wouldn't! But they don't seem to have any clear idea what to do with them. 
 BOTTOM LINE Terrific title sequence, but it's what comes after that's the problem. "Asylum" has some good special effects, just not much of a story to hang them on. 
 GRADE C

THE SHOW "American Horror Story: Asylum" WHEN|WHERE Wednesday night at 10 on FX WHAT IT'S ABOUT Sister Jude (Jessica Lange) is a sociopath in a habit -- cruel, vindictive and repressed (that goes without saying) who maintains a collection of whips, canes and other assorted instruments of torture which she administers on her unruly flock. But the flock at Briarcliff asylum for the criminally insane, which she runs, is about to grow even more unruly: Kit Walker (Evan Peters) has been admitted for a medical evaluation to determine whether he can stand trial for the murder of several women, his wife included; and Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson), a reporter looking for a scoop, is committed by Sister Jude, fearful she may know too much. Briarcliff has its own resident sadist M.D., Arthur Arden (James Cromwell), assisted by simpleminded Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe), who wonders about the ravenous creatures he has apparently cobbled together from ... what? (Or from whom?) MY SAY If any of the above scared you, then my sincere apologies. I've obviously overstated the case for "Asylum." There's nothing particularly scary about this messy, overstuffed cartoon -- successor to 2011's first (and superior) season of "American Horror Story." There is something offensive about it to Catholics and nuns: Especially nuns because, if anything, "Asylum" qualifies as an addition to the nunsploitation genre that includes other recent titles like "Nun of That" and 2010's "Nude Nuns With Big Guns." Plus, you'd be right to expect a story from a series called "American Horror Story" except that creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk have cobbled together far too many here. "Asylum," which toggles between present day and 1964, is bloated with elements from half a dozen horror genres, including splatter films, alien abductions, pulp, sci-fi and so-called "body horror," which concerns itself with mutations. The boys are obviously having fun with their toys -- who wouldn't! But they don't seem to have any clear idea what to do with them. BOTTOM LINE Terrific title sequence, but it's what comes after that's the problem. "Asylum" has some good special effects, just not much of a story to hang them on. GRADE C

Entertainment

ETTEL17.WEB

'American Horror Story: Asylum' not much of a story

Newsday

american horror story cropped

Entertainment trending

Take our quizzes

34 must-see fall concerts

Fall theater preview

Too much 'Jeopardy'?

Most Popular

Entertainment Rail Module

Odds are you've forgotten about these oddities, including "Russian Roulette."

Remember 'Shenanigans' and these other game shows?

Mike DelGuidice will sing and play piano for the band's Dec. 5 show in Atlantic City.

Billy Joel Band to play in Atlantic City minus the Piano Man

The drummer later became a filmmaker who helmed two of Joel's music videos.

Billy Joel bandmate, Jon Small of The Hassles, dies at 79

Monday's awards have an air of nostalgia and questions about the show's future.

Could this be the Emmys' last year on network TV?

Doctors say the procedure, in many cases, helps patients with the disorder, which can affect balance and walking.

What surgery did Billy Joel have to ease the fluid buildup on his brain?

"If you said to me, 'Hike up Mount Everest and she'll come back,' I'd be packed and ready to go," Baldwin says in the trailer. "Whatever I can do. But there's nothing you can do."

Alec Baldwin says fans will see him 'at my worst' in 'Rust' shooting aftermath doc

Sign up for Newsday's Entertainment newsletter

Entertainment newsletter widget

More Entertainment

Entertainment Article Bottom Module

Family and friends reflect on him as a "go-getter" who was always moving at "a million miles an hour."

Remembering Glen Pettit, NYPD videographer from LI who died on 9/11

It'll be Brunson's first time hosting SNL after he helped the Knicks snap their NBA championship drought.

Live from New York, it's Jalen Brunson on SNL

Will Jean Smart take home another Emmy for 'Hacks'?

Ahead of his HBO Max show, we recall the Roosevelt native's first talk show.

Remember Howard Stern's talk show from 1990?

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

As New York picked up the pieces and began to rebuild after 9/11, Newsday's photographers were there. NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland has more.

Picture This: When New York and America rose from 9/11

FDNY firefighter Ronnie Gies, of Merrick, was killed on Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, his three sons have honored his legacy by becoming firefighters themselves. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'I still grieve every day'

Steel beams from the World Trade Center have become memorials to those who were lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and can now be found scattered throughout Long Island. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

'It's a beautiful testament'

NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn looks at how Long Island schools are using first-person memories and immersive experiences to teach about 9/11, 25 years later.

How LI schools are teaching 9/11 to those who didn't experience it

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa checks out this viral social media hit that has customers flocking to Chefs Corner in Mineola.

Trendy Bites: Lemon curd pancakes in Mineola 

The Jets find themselves with a lot to prove as they prepare to open the season in Tennessee, facing off against former head coach Robet Saleh and with the return of former quarterback Geno Smith. Newsday's Jets beat writer Al Iannazzone has the story.

Jets face their old coach in Week 1

The proposed Amazon warehouse and distribution center in Holbrook would be one of Amazon's largest facilities in the U.S. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Residents oppose proposed Amazon warehouse

50 years of farm-fresh fun! NewsdayTV's Doug Geed takes us to a Water Mill u-pick farm that's harvesting way more than just apples.

Out East: The Milk Pail U-pick apple farm in Water Mill

Mark Nash, who was an assistant coach at Molloy and Stony Brook, takes over as head coach for the Ward Melville girls soccer team this season and is looking to bring back a championship standard, NewsdayTV's Jonathan Ruban reports.

New coach, different strategy for Ward Melville girls soccer

Organizers say the efforts will help restore the water quality in the bay because these sprats act as "filters." NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

Baby oysters released into the Great South Bay

Sitewide Video Playlist

'I don't know anybody who wants this'

Mohammad Salman Hamdani, a Muslim 23-year-old NYPD cadet and paramedic living in Queens, was the subject of a police wanted poster until his remains were found at Ground Zero. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger has more.

'It's about my son, Salman, his sacrifice'

The picture brought together the photographer and the Woodmere firefighter whose image he captured. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa has more.

'I came upon a crew of firefighters'

Dominick Critelli concluded five weeks of rehabilitation at Lynbrook Restorative Therapy & Nursing with a saxophone concert.

'It comes from the heart'

The sentencing brings to an end a 6-year case that began in the early days of the COVID pandemic. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

'I would just like to move on'

For many of the approximately 100,000 Muslims living on Long Island, the deadliest terrorist act committed on U.S. soil — carried out by 19 al-Qaida hijackers — pointed an unwelcome spotlight at them. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'Hoping things will be different for my kids and my grandkids'

'History's a living, breathing thing'

Thomas Lobianco, 26, of Lake Ronkonkoma, was arraigned on a 19-count indictment in a Riverhead court room. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

'They're sitting ducks out there.'

Salvadorans on Long Island are preparing for the end of their Temporary Protected Status. The federal humanitarian program that allows immigrants to legally live and work in the United States, expires on Wednesday. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

'I never thought this would happen to them'

ScieGen Pharmaceuticals wants to build a 60,000-square-foot factory and warehouse in Hauppauge to meet consumer demand. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'Very important for us'

Street takeovers this summer on Long Island have led to traffic tickets, impounded vehicles and arrests. Newsday reporter Nicholas Grasso provides insight on this trend.

Different views on LI street takeovers

App Nativo Ad Unit Slot

TV - megaslot

Newsday TV critic Verne Gay reviews new TV shows and series from Netflix, Max, Hulu and more. Plus, what Long Island actors are working on and Long Island filming locations.

'American Horror Story: Asylum' not much of a story

Most Popular

Top Stories

Stay logged in.