It’s not long until we finally get to see what American Horror Story: 1984 has in store for us, with the series offering its take on slasher movies and summer camps. Recent promos have showcased returning and new cast members for the ninth season of the FX show, while there’s also been new footage that features some familiar slasher beats. Now, however, Ryan Murphy and the team behind American Horror Story have given us another 1980s-themed treat in the form of a poster that pays tribute to 1980s video box art.
The poster, which you can see below, shows a screaming woman with a knife breaking through a wooden door frame. The AHS: 1984 logo also has echoes of 1980s horror movie fonts for series like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th. It’s difficult to tell, though, from the image whether the victim is one of the main cast, or just a generic example of an unlucky character in a slasher movie.
In any case, we’re looking forward to seeing how American Horror Story takes on the tropes of 1980s horror films, with the producers behind the show promising a lot of satisfying genre nods for fans. The setting of Camp Redwood, and the glorious 80’s fashions on display in previous teasers, suggest a lighter touch than some of the more recent seasons of the show. Furthermore, the absence of franchise mainstays like Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson may mean that the season’s central storyline won’t be as connected to the wider American Horror Story mythology as in recent years.
Regardless, we’ll find out whether American Horror Story: 1984 gives a boost to the long-running series when it premieres on FX on Wednesday, September 18th. As with all seasons of the show, it’ll probably be a mixed bag in terms of final effect, but will, as ever, rarely be a boring watch.