It's clear that to achieve the 7 episodes that this series promises, a lot of artistic licensing and sensationalization has to be done in order to inject mystery and intrigue into this narrative.
With this first episode, there was mystery and intrigue. But when it is surrounded by insufferable characters and incredulous dialogue, the series is closer to more of a cheap and cheesy horror flick.
It's impossible to not be familiar with this story before choosing to watch this series, and it would be a challenge to to find anyone who thinks there is any kind of horror or supernatural elements behind it. But that's what this series tries to do, whether intentional or not. Whether it's through suspicious glances from some supporting characters directed at the family, or foreboding music oddly inserted at strange moments like a conversation about arrugula salad, these efforts to inject intrigue into the narrative just falls flat.
The characters are miscast, everyone from the two kids to the police officer to the kooky neighbors. And most of all the husband. Nobody in real life talks like these characters. As much as the characters yell and scream, they don't seem to be saying anything of substance or lasting importance.
This is the acclaimed Ryan Murphy that people rave about?