Ep 1. Camp Redwood

In the season 9 premiere of American Horror Story, entitled "Camp Redwood," viewers are transported back to the summer of 1984. The episode opens with a group of young adults who are all excited about spending their summer working at the newly reopened Camp Redwood. However, there's a dark history surrounding the camp that may put a damper on their summer fun.

We're introduced to the main characters, who are all former campers returning as counselors. Brooke (played by Emma Roberts) is the new girl in town, still reeling from a traumatic event that happened back home. Xavier (Cody Fern) is a drama student looking to spend his summer away from the city. Montana (Billie Lourd) is a fitness enthusiast with a mysterious past. Chet (Gus Kenworthy) is a former athlete, trying to make a name for himself as a personal trainer. And finally, there's Ray (DeRon Horton), a video game enthusiast who serves as the group's resident tech expert.

As they arrive at the camp, they're greeted by Margaret (Leslie Grossman), the owner of Camp Redwood. Margaret is a devout Christian who believes that the camp's past is behind them and that they can have a safe, enjoyable summer together. However, there's something sinister lurking in the woods, and it's not long before strange things begin to happen.

The group of counselors decide to explore the camp and quickly notice the strange artifacts and decorations that fill the cabins. They find a cabin with an old TV and VHS tapes, which they decide to watch. One tape shows a news report about a mass killing that happened at Camp Redwood in 1970, in which all the campers and counselors were murdered. The group is shaken, but Margaret reassures them that it's all in the past.

Despite Margaret's pleas to stay away from the forbidden areas of the camp, Xavier convinces his friends to sneak into the neighboring park for a night of fun. The park is home to a new attraction known as the "Night Stalker," a notorious serial killer who's been terrorizing the city. As the group makes their way through the park, they encounter the Night Stalker (Zach Villa) and are almost killed, but they manage to escape.

Back at the camp, the group is still reeling from their encounter with the Night Stalker. As they try to process their experience and come up with a plan, they notice that the Night Stalker is now inside the camp. What follows is a tense game of cat and mouse as the counselors try to survive the night, and we're left wondering what other horrors await them in the woods.

"Camp Redwood" manages to capture the essence of classic slasher movies, with its eerie setting, mysterious killer, and a cast of characters who all have their own secrets. The episode sets up a thrilling season, promising plenty of scares and surprises along the way. Fans of American Horror Story won't want to miss this latest installment in the series.