Summary
Ever since its debut in the early 2010s,American Horror Storyhas enjoyed many years of success, as the show continues to create ever more zany and outlandish stories within the realm of horror. Each series introduces new characters, new stories, and new frights to thrill the audience.
In anthology series or films, there are high points and low points, andAmerican Horror Storyis no different. There are those seasons that stand out among the rest thanks to the acting chops of the cast, the story with its twists and turns, and just how much it lives up to the title.
7Delicate
Never Shies Away from Tackling Tough Subjects
Movies and TV have never shied away from delving into thehorrors of pregnancy and childbirth, and this is exactly what season 12 delved into, subtitledDelicate,based on the novelDelicate Condition. In this next tale of terror, Anna Alcott has already achieved fame and is on the way to her next goal: having her own child. Her fertility issues lead her to an IVF specialist called Doctor Hill, who is supposedly the best at what he does, but in typicalAHSfashion, not all is quite as it seems.
The journey of Anna’s pregnancy is a torrid one filled with turmoil as she fears someone or something is dead set on ruining her pregnancy. Her paranoia is palpable, and the audience can truly feel the stress she is under. The ending reveals the nature of the Delicate’s who seek to overthrow the world and instate a matriarchy, killing all men but a select few for complete servitude to the women in charge, but Anna gets her happy ending through the intervention of her late husband’s ex. In the end, she gets to have her baby and her Oscar, though it does leave the question of whether it was truly deserved, as it seems no lesson was learned. Nevertheless, the build-up of the season is well worth a watch.
6Hotel
Guests Can Check Out, but They Can Never Leave
Bringing in pop star Lady Gaga,Hotelwas a source of excitement for fans leading up to its release, and thankfully, it didn’t disappoint. Whileinvestigating the gruesome murderof a couple, Detective John Lowe makes his way to the Hotel Cortez, where he decides to stay so his work doesn’t pose a threat to his family. While staying in the Cortez, he meets the colorful cast of permanent residents, such as the broody Sally, the mysterious Sally, and the delightful Liz, and slowly learns the dark truth beneath the Cortez.
The Countess is a vampire who has a penchant for stealing children and turning them. The original proprietor, James March, tortured and murdered all his victims, and then there is Devil Night, when the Cortez has more than mischief to worry about, as certain ghosts decide to check in for the night. It’s a strange instance forAHS, as almost everyone achieves some semblance of a happy story and complete closure, marking this as a unique entry in the franchise.
51984
A Slasher Story with a Killer Twist
Slashers are by far one of the most popularhorror picks, as it is surprising what can be done with a killer, a notable mask, and a weapon of choice against a group of hapless victims who do everything they can to not be the next one to die. It was only a matter of time beforeAmerican Horror Storycovered a story about a slasher without being too derivative. Granted, it does source heavy inspiration fromFriday the 13th, but it puts its own spin on things with a twist that appears down the line in the series.
A group of adolescents is set to be camp counselors at the notorious Camp Redwood, with most gearing up for a summer of fun partying. There was a grisly string of murders 14 years prior, and now history is repeating itself as those in the camp are turning up dead one by one. Those who died come back as ghosts trapped in the camp, and most take delight in killing those who wander too far into the camp. It’s a clever and much-needed twist that adds that little something extraAmerican Horror Storyalways brings, preventing it from being just another cliche slasher story.
4Freak Show
An Homage to a Classic 30s Horror Flick
The fourth season ofAmerican Horror Storyis one of the strongest, thanks to the stellar performances of franchise stars such as Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, and Evan Peters, and the strong message within. Elsa acts like something of a mother hen to her troop, fancying herself the star of her own show as a singer. After catching news that a set of conjoined twins were recently orphaned, she convinces them to join her carnival attraction, where she meets people born differently, just like herself.
Though the troop likely feels a sense of kinship with another, the otherness is capitalized on by advertising them as ‘freaks’ to whatever audience Elsa can scrape together, immediately capturing the attention of the spoiled, entitled, and downright dangerous Dandy, but there is also another threat–the killer clown known as Twisty, and Stanley, who would do anything for a quick buck, and sees this attraction as his ticket to wealth and fame. But in an ending that is so satisfactory, Stanley himself becomes one of the ‘freaks’ as he is mutilated and trussed up to be a human chicken, a clear homageto the classic1930s movieFreaks.
3Murder House
The Pilot Season is a Refreshing Take on the Haunted House Subgenre
American Horror Storybegan with theMurder Houseseries, as the Harmon family struggles to overcome the husband’s infidelity with one of his students. Ben, Vivien, and their daughter Violet move to Los Angeles and find a stately home too good to be true. This turns out to be exactly what it is, as the realtor discloses the tragic murder-suicide of the house’s previous owners, but the offer is too good to pass up.
But they probably should have kept on driving, as reality seems to unravel for the Harmon family, as everyone who has ever died on the property remains stuck there as spirits unable to move on. Not every ghost is dangerous, such as the maid Moira, who remains the caretaker even in the afterlife, but those that are can be downright deadly to the Harmon’s. Boasting more ghosts than most horror movies, each one is full of personalitybeyond the tired cliches, which makesMurder Houseall the more intriguing to watch.
2Coven
The Season of the Witch
American Horror Storydelves into stories around many supernatural creatures, such as vampires, ghosts, andeven witches.Covenwas this season, which was all about witches living in a specialist boarding school in the heart of New Orleans, one of the most magically inclined cities in the entire world. Of course, cramming magical teenage girls under one roof is bound to drum up some drama, whichCovenhas in spades.
But alongside the drama of the present day, the past is unearthed quite literally when the cruel Madam LaLaurie is brought back to continue her eternal rivalry with the Voodoo Queen herself, Marie Laveau. Combined with the stress of the coven as the current Supreme slowly succumbs to death, leaving the rise of a new supreme,Covenwill constantly surprise its audience with just how many skeletons are hidden in the closets, and will leave everyone guessing as to which witch shall rise as the next Supreme.
1Asylum
The Best Season With Creepiness, Suspense, and Intrigue
Asylumis often lauded by both critics and fans as the bestAmerican Horror Storyseason of all time, and it is clear to see why. Set primarily in the 60s, Briarcliff Institute is another unfortunate asylum that does very little to help its patients, subjecting them to the same song day in day out, and delivering ECT to some of the more struggling patients. Lana Winters, a reporter, finds herself thrown in the asylum as she tries to investigate, along with Kit Walker, who was falsely accused of the gruesome Bloody Face murders. The two make the acquaintance of patient Grace Bertrand, and the harsh woman who runs the establishment, Sister Jude.
Along with delivering serious scares with the mysterious visitors that seemnot tobe of this planet, Asylum also doesn’t shy away from including more grounded horror, clearly critiquing barbaric practices of the past. Dr. Arden stands out as one of the most fearsome villains, subjecting anyone under his care to pure torment, and Zachary Quinto’s performance as the real Bloody Face is likely something that will never be forgotten by its viewers. All in all,Asylumstands out for the quality of its writing, performance, and the sheer terror found within the walls of Briarcliff.
