Американская история ужасов как пишется на английском

«Американская история ужасов» (англ. American Horror Story) — американский телесериал-антология в жанре ужасы, созданный и поставленный Райаном Мёрфи и Брэдом Фэлчаком.
Каждый сезон задуман как самостоятельный мини-сериал с различными персонажами и локациями, а также с собственной сюжетной линией. Некоторые сюжетные элементы каждого сезона в общих чертах вдохновлены реальными событиями^[3][4][5]. Единственные актёры, появившиеся во всех сезонах шоу (за исключением 9 и 11 сезонов) — Эван Питерс и Сара Полсон.

Действия первого сезона, позднее названного как Дом-убийца, происходят в Лос-Анджелесе, штат Калифорния, в течение 2011 года и сосредоточиваются на семье, переезжающей в новый дом, населённый его бывшими умершими жителями. Действия второго сезона, субтитрованного как Психбольница, разворачиваются в Массачусетсе в 1964 году и повествуют о пациентах и сотрудниках учреждения для душевнобольных преступников. Третий сезон Шабаш проходит в Новом Орлеане, штат Луизиана, в течение 2013 года и рассказывает о шабаше ведьм, противостоящих тем, кто хочет их уничтожить. Действия четвёртого сезона, Фрик-шоу, происходят в Юпитере, штат Флорида, в 1952 году и сосредотачивается вокруг одного из немногих оставшихся американских шоу уродов. Пятый сезон под заголовком Отель проходит в Лос-Анджелесе в 2015 году и сосредоточен на персонале и гостях сверхъестественного отеля. Действия шестого сезона Роанок происходят на одноимённом острове в 2016 году и сосредотачиваются на паранормальных явлениях, происходящих в изолированном фермерском доме. Действие седьмого сезона под названием Культ происходит в Мичигане и сосредоточено вокруг культа, терроризирующего пригород после последствий выборов США в 2016 году. Восьмой сезон называется «Апокалипсис», и он представляет собой кроссовер первого и третьего сезонов: ведьмы из «Шабаша» противостоят антихристу из «Дома-убийцы», чтобы предотвратить Апокалипсис. Действие девятого сезона, озаглавленного «1984», происходит в 1984 году под Лос-Анджелесом в летнем лагере «Редвуд», который становится местом массовой резни. Премьера десятого сезона состоялась 25 августа 2021 года. Сезон разделен на две части: Красный прилив и Долина Смерти.

В Соединённых Штатах сериал транслируется на кабельном телеканале FX с 5 октября 2011 года по настоящее время. 3 августа 2018 года руководство телеканала продлило шоу на десятый сезон^[6]. 9 января 2020 года шоу было продлено до 13 сезона включительно^[7]. Позже, в тот же день, было подтверждено участие Сары Полсон в 10 сезоне^[8].

Несмотря на то, что отзывы о каждом сезоне разные, сериал «Американская история ужасов» был в целом хорошо воспринят телевизионными критиками, при этом большинство похвал идёт игре актёрского состава, в частности Джессике Лэнг, которая выиграла две награды «Эмми», премию «Золотой глобус» и Гильдию актёров США за свою игру в телесериале. Кроме того за свою актёрскую игру Кэти Бэйтс и Джеймс Кромвелл получили премии «Эмми», а Леди Гага — «Золотой глобус». Сериал неоднократно показывал самые высокие рейтинги для сети FX, а первый сезон стал самым просматриваемым из новых сериалов в 2011 году.

Обзор сезонов[править | править код]

Дом-убийца (2011)[править | править код]

Действие первого сезона происходит в Лос-Анджелесе, штат Калифорния, в течение 2010
года и сосредотачивается на семье Хармонов, переехавшей в новый дом, который прославлен как «дом-убийца». В течение года семья сталкивается с призраками бывших владельцев и их жертв.

Психбольница (2012—13)[править | править код]

Действие второго сезона происходит в психиатрической больнице для душевнобольных преступников «Брайарклифф» в 1964 году. Главой клиники является властная монахиня сестра Джуд, которой помогает сестра Мэри Юнис, и основатель клиники монсеньор Тимоти Говард. Журналистка Лана Уинтерс, занимающаяся освещением в прессе серии жестоких убийств молодых женщин, приезжает в «Брайарклифф», куда на лечение поступает главный подозреваемый — Кит Уокер. Но став невольной свидетельницей зверских вещей, происходящих в больнице, она по приказу сестры Джуд сама оказывается одной из её пациентов.

Шабаш (2013—14)[править | править код]

События разворачиваются через 300 лет после печально известного процесса над салемскими ведьмами, в результате которого около 20 человек было повешено и почти две сотни оказалось за решеткой. Те из них, кто успел избежать расправы, теперь находятся на грани исчезновения. Очередная загадочная атака на ведьминский род заставляет группу юных колдуний отправиться в специальную школу в Новом Орлеане, где их должны научить, как защищаться. Одна из новоприбывших, Зои, имеет некий секрет. Между тем, поднятая на уши внезапной агрессией в адрес их вида, долго отсутствовавшая Верховная ведьма Фиона возвращается в город, преисполненная решимости защитить ведьминский клан.

Фрик-шоу (2014—15)[править | править код]

Четвёртый сезон начинает своё повествование в тихом, спокойном пригороде Джупитера, штат Флорида. Действие происходит в 1952 году. В город прибывает группа диковинных актёров, по совпадению, одновременно с какой-то тёмной сущностью, которая терроризирует как жителей города, так и самих фриков. Это история актёров и их отчаянных попыток выжить среди умирающего в Америке искусства бродячего цирка.

Отель (2015—16)[править | править код]

В пятом сезоне детектив Джон Лоу расследует серию жестоких убийств, которые приводят его в таинственный отель «Кортез», в котором он сталкивается с его сверхъестественными гостями.

Роанок (2016)[править | править код]

Шестой сезон повествует о супружеской паре, чьи переживания разыгрываются актёрами. Шелби и Мэтт Миллер переехали из Лос-Анджелеса, Калифорния, в дом в Северной Каролине, после жестокого нападения на Мэтта на улице. Мэтт был госпитализирован, и эта ситуация вызвала у Шелби выкидыш. Как только пара переезжает в свой новый дом, странные и паранормальные явления начинают преследовать их.

Культ (2017)[править | править код]

Действия сезона разворачиваются в пригороде современного Детройта. Эллисон Мейфэр-Ричардс страдает посттравматическим стрессовым расстройством, вызванным драматическими событиями 11 сентября. У неё развились целых три фобии: трипофобия, коулрофобия и гемофобия. С течением времени она научилась справляться со своими страхами благодаря жене, но победа Дональда Трампа на выборах возобновила их. Когда Эллисон угрожает группа зловещих клоунов, вдохновлённых идеями «Заводного апельсина», её жена думает, что с ней происходит психоз. Отсутствие поддержки толкает Элли принять решительные меры для того, чтобы защитить себя и свою семью.

Апокалипсис (2018)[править | править код]

Действия Апокалипсиса разворачиваются на Западном побережье США в ближайшем будущем. После ядерного взрыва, который уничтожает мир, действия переносятся в Аванпост 3, подземный бункер, который был создан для того, чтобы укрывать конкретных выживших с сильным генетическим составом. Вильгемина Венабл и Мириам Мид управляют бункером, пытаясь уничтожить тех, кто там живёт. Среди людей, которые оказались в этом месте, есть парикмахер Мистер Галлант, его бабушка Иви, ведущая ток-шоу Дайна Стивенс, её сын Андре, дочь миллиардера Коко Сен-Пьер Вандербильт, её помощница Мэллори и пара Тимоти Кэмпбелл и Эмили, все из которых сталкиваются с натиском двух женщин. Тем не менее Майкл Лэнгдон, Антихрист, прибывает и начинает наводить хаос. Он намеревается перевезти тех, кто достоин, в особое место, называемое «Святилищем».

Позже прибывают уже знакомые нам персонажи: Корделия Гуд, Мэдисон Монтгомери и Миртл Сноу, также возвращаются и остальные ведьмы из Шабаша, такие как Зои Бенсон, Куинни, Мисти Дэй и Нэн. События переносятся на несколько лет назад, чтобы показать, что именно привело мир к такой катастрофе. Также действия происходят и в Доме-убийце, зрители встречают множество знакомых лиц.

1984 (2019)[править | править код]

Летом 1984 года пятеро друзей покидают Лос-Анджелес, чтобы работать вожатыми в лагере «Редвуд». Привыкая к своей новой работе, они начинают понимать: единственное, что страшнее рассказов у костра — это прошлое, преследующее тебя.

Двойной сеанс (2021)[править | править код]

Часть 1: Красный прилив[править | править код]

Испытывающий проблемы писатель, его беременная жена и их дочь переезжают на зиму в изолированный пляжный городок. Как только они обустраиваются, истинные жители города начинают заявлять о себе.

Часть 2: Долина смерти[править | править код]

Группа студентов колледжа, отправившихся в поход, оказывается втянутой в ужасающий и смертоносный заговор, который готовился десятилетиями.

NYC (2022)[править | править код]

В 1981 году в Нью-Йорке происходит серия убийств, направленных против гей-сообщества, что вызывает ненависть к бездействующей полиции Нью-Йорка. Детектив Патрик Рид (Рассел Тови) и его напарник, репортер Джино Барелли (Джо Мантелло), ради которого Рид бросил свою бывшую Барбару (Лесли Гроссман), начинают расследование. Однако их разные мнения о том, как подходить к расследованию, приводят к разрыву в их отношениях. К Риду и Барелли присоединяется Адам Карпентер (Чарли Карвер), чей друг пропал без вести. Поиски Карпентера приводят его к связи с фотографом Тео Грейвсом, хотя это вызывает ревность со стороны токсичного партнера Грейвса – Сэма (Закари Куинто). Тем временем доктор Ханна Уэллс (Билли Лурд) исследует новую болезнь, распространяющуюся с острова Файр-Айленд, а певица кабаре Кэти Пиццаз (Пэтти Люпон) справляется с уменьшающейся аудиторией в местной бане.

Производство[править | править код]

Концепция[править | править код]

Создатели сериала, Райан Мёрфи и Брэд Фэлчак, начали работать над «Американской историей ужасов» до того, как запустилось производство их ещё одного совместного проекта «Хор», транслирующегося на канале Fox. Мёрфи хотел сделать противоположное тому, что он делал ранее, и поэтому начал свою работу над телесериалом. Он сказал: «Я шёл от „Частей тела“ до „Хора“, и конечно, это было разумно, ведь я хотел сделать что-то сложное и мрачное. И мне всегда нравился, как и Брэду, жанр ужасов. Так что это было естественным для меня»^[10]. Фэлчак был заинтригован идеей постановки жанра ужасов с иной точки зрения, заявив, что их с Мёрфи главной целью в создании сериала было напугать зрителей. Он сказал: «Мы хотели, чтобы люди были немного вне равновесия после просмотра»^[11].

В феврале 2011 года представители телеканала FX заявили, что заказали пилотный эпизод возможного сериала при том, что Мёрфи и Фэлчак напишут сценарий, в то время как первый выступит в качестве режиссёра. Позже, Данте Ди Лорето был назначен исполнительным продюсером. Производство телесериала началось в апреле 2011 года^[12], а в июле проект был одобрен и производство первого сезона продолжилось^[13].

С самого начала, Мёрфи и Фэлчак планировали, что каждый сезон сериала будет рассказывать свою историю^[9]. После того, как финал первого сезона был показан, Мёрфи рассказал о своих планах сменить актёрский состав и локации во втором сезоне^[14]. Однако он добавил, что некоторые актёры, сыгравшие в первом сезоне проекта, вернутся во втором. «Люди, вернувшиеся в сериал, будут играть совершенно других персонажей, существ, монстров и прочее. История Хармонов закончена», — заявил он^[9]. В ноябре 2012 года глава телеканала FX, Джон Лэндграф  (англ.) (рус., описал уникальный формат сериала, высказав: «Идея сделать антологичный мини-сериал с особым актёрским составом оказалась принципиально новой, крайне успешной и задающей тенденции»^[15].

В 2013 году на фестивале PaleyFest  (англ.) (рус., Фэлчак сравнили сериал с фильмами ужасов: «Он требует немного жалости, потому что в конечном счёте, вы влюбляетесь в этих персонажей иначе, чем в кино», добавив: «Если вы хотите убить каждого в кино, кроме одного персонажа, вы можете себе позволить это, но если вы хотите создать телешоу ужасов, у вас совершенно другая ответственность по отношению к персонажам, потому что у зрителей совершенно иная привязанность к ним»^[16].

Мёрфи объяснил, что на разработку одного сезона уходит около года, поделившись: «Сначала мы придумываем историю, а потом персонажей». «Это постоянная группа актёров, поэтому мы перемещаем людей, и иногда для кого-то не находится никакой роли. Например, когда мы работали над вторым сезоном, я понятия не имел, что Дилан Макдермотт будет играть сына Сары Полсон, но чем больше мы работали, тем, я думал, лучше получится»^[16].

В статье для журнала Entertainment Weekly за август 2015 года, Мёрфи раскрыл, что продюсерская команда разрабатывает два сезона в данном году. Показ первого из двух планировался на весну, а второй на осень. Он объяснил: «Сейчас мы делаем то, что никогда ещё не делали с нашим шоу и мы даже разделили продюсерскую команду на две группы. Следующий сезон будет очень отличаться от Отеля, но не будет хуже — просто менее роскошный. Больше дикости и мрачности»^[17].

Кастинг[править | править код]

Конни Бриттон была первой, кого позвали в сериал, где она исполнила главную женскую роль Вивьен Хармон в Доме-убийце^[18], вторым стал Денис О’Хэр, исполнивший роль Ларри Харви^[19]. Вскоре присоединилась Джессика Лэнг в роли Констанс, что стало её первой главной ролью на телевидении^[20]. Дилан Макдермотт присоединился к составу вскоре после Лэнг в главной мужской роли Бена Хармона^[21]. Таисса Фармига и Эван Питерс стали последними актёрами, присоединившимися в основной актёрский состав, получив роли Вайолет Хармон и Тейта Лэнгдона, соответственно^[22].

В марте 2012 года Мёрфи раскрыл, что второй сезон был концептуализирован вокруг Джессики Лэнг, которая исполняет роль сестры Джуд, садистской монахини, которая руководит лечебницей^[23]. Эван Питерс, Сара Полсон, Лили Рэйб и Закари Куинто также возвращаются в качестве членов основного актёрского состава во втором сезоне^[24]. Питерс играет Кита Уокера, заключённого, обвиняемого в убийстве своей жены^[25]. Полсон играет Лану Уинтерс, репортёршу-лесбиянку, которую передают в лечебницу из-за её сексуальности и намерения исследовать санаторий^[25]. Персонажем Рэйб является сестра Мэри Юнис, неуклюжая сестра, стоящая после сестры Джуд^[26]. Куинто исполняет роль доктора Тредсона, психиатра лечебницы^[27][28]. Лиззи Брошре играет роль Грейс Бертран, персонажа, изначально описанного как «лютая, свирепая, чрезвычайно сексуальная и опасная бунтующая бабёнка», но впоследствии роль была переработана^[29][30]. Джеймс Кромвелл появился в роли доктора Артура Ардена, который провозглашает себя руководителем лечебницы и проводит тёмные эксперименты над пациентами психбольницы^[31][32][33]. Джозеф Файнс снялся в роли монсеньора Тимоти Ховарда, возможного любовного интереса сестры Джуд^[33][34][35].

Для третьего сезона, исполнительные продюсеры и создатели сериала Райан Мёрфи и Брэд Фэлчак заявили, что, как и во втором сезоне, «много актёров» вернётся, чтобы исполнить другие роли, начиная с Джессики Лэнг^[36]. Было подтверждено возвращение Эвана Питерса и Сары Полсон, которые исполнили роли Кайла Спенсера и Корделии Фокс, соответственно. Мёрфи добавил, что Лэнг сыграет «настоящую, гламурную как кошку леди», а позже стало известно имя персонажа, Фиона Гуд^[37]. Таисса Фармига, сыгравшая Вайолет в первом сезоне, появилась в роли Зои Бенсон, персонажа, которая участвует в заметном романе в течение сезона^[38]. Лили Рэйб появилась в роли Мисти Дэй^[39]. Актриса второстепенного состава сериала Фрэнсис Конрой присоединилась в качестве члена основного состава, исполнив роль Миртл Сноу^[38]. Также было подтверждено участие в сериале актрисы-лауреатки премии «Оскар» Кэти Бэйтс. Вначале сообщалось, что она исполнит роль «женщины, которая, в начале, является лучшей подругой персонажа Лэнг, но станет её злейшим врагом», но это было изменено^[40]. Мёрфи заявил, что персонаж Бэйтс будет «в пять раз хуже [её] персонажа из „Мизери“», и что он вдохновлён «реальным событием». Она исполнила роль мадам Дельфины Лалори, бессмертной расистки^[41]. В мае 2013 года было объявлено, что Эмму Робертс добавили в актёрский состав. Робертс исполнила роль Мэдисон Монтгомери, «самовлюблённую тусовщицу»^[42]. В июле 2013 года, выпускник первого сезона Денис О’Хэр также присоединился к актёрскому составу с неизвестной ролью^[43], позже ставшей известной как Сполдинг.

В ноябре 2013 года Райан Мёрфи подтвердил, что Джессика Лэнг вернётся в четвёртом сезоне, хотя и в небольшом объёме. Позже выяснилось, что она будет играть владелицу Фрик-шоу Эльзу Марс^[44]. Кэти Бэйтс вернулась и получила главную роль, изображаю бородатую леди Этель Дарлинг^[45]. 29 марта 2014 года Мёрфи объявил, что Сара Полсон, Эван Питерс, Фрэнсис Конрой, Эмма Робертс, Денис О’Хэр и Анджела Бассетт вернутся в четвёртом сезоне^[46]. Полсон сыграла двуглавую женщину-сестёр Бетт и Дот Таттлер; Питерс сыграл «Мальчика-лобстера» Джимми Дарлинга; Конрой сыграла состоятельную Глорию Мотт; Бассетт исполнила роль трёхгрудого гермафродита Дезире Дюпри; а О’Хэр сыграл Стэнли, афериста, работающего с персонажем Робертс, Мэгги Эсмерельдой. На фестивале PaleyFest  (англ.) (рус. в 2014 году стало известно, что Майкл Чиклис присоединится к актёрскому составу в роли Делла Толедо, отца Джимми, бывшего мужа Этель и нынешнего мужа Дезире^[47]. Позже Финн Уиттрок присоединился к основному актёрскому составу в роли избалованного сына Глории, Дэнди Мотта.

По поводу пятого цикла сериала было объявлено, что певица и автор песен Леди Гага станет первым и новым членом актёрского состава 25 февраля 2015 года^[48]. После появления в качестве специально приглашённой звезды в предыдущем сезоне, Мэтт Бомер присоединился к актёрскому составу пятого сезона вместе с новичком сериала, Шайенном Джексоном, во время PaleyFest 2015 года^[49]. Хлоя Севиньи и Уэс Бентли были повышены до членов основного состава, до этого они появлялись в качестве приглашённых звёзд в Психбольнице и Фрик-шоу, соответственно^[50]. После PaleyFest, Мёрфи объявил, что в сериал вернутся Кэти Бэйтс, Сара Полсон, Эван Питерс и Анджела Бассетт^[51]. В июне 2015 года Денис О’Хэр также вернулся в пятом сезоне^[52]. В августе 2015 года Мёрфи объявил роли для актёров: Гага сыграла Элизабет Джонсон, также известную как «Графиня», модницу, которая владеет отелем Кортес; Джексон исполнил роль отчаянного дизайнера Уилла Дрейка; персонаж О’Хэра, Лиз Тейлор, был барменом-транссексуалом, который работает в баре Blue Parrot Lounge в отеле; Севиньи сыграла педиатра доктора Алекс Лоу, которая была женой персонажа Бентли, Джона Лоу, детектива, который расследует убийства в отеле; персонаж Бомера, Донован, был знакомым Графини и часто конфликтовал со своей матерью и менеджером отеля, Айрис (в исполнении Бэйтс); Бассетт сыграла актрису Рамону Ройал, которая была бывшей любовницей Элизабет; Полсон описала своего персонажа, Салли, как наркоманку, которая соперничает с Айрис и формирует связь с Джоном с момента его визита в отеле^[53]. Питерс исполнил роль серийного убийцы Джеймса Патрика Марча, и он при этом был первоначальным владельцем отеля Кортес.

В феврале 2016 года Анджела Бассетт подтвердила, что вернётся к основному составу шестого сезона во время интервью с Ларри Кингом^[54]. Денис О’Хэр подтвердил, что он также появится в сериале в интервью в мае 2016 года^[55]. В июне 2016 года Шайенн Джексон и Эван Питерс вернулись в шестом сезоне, а также Уэс Бентли и Кэти Бэйтс^[56][57][58]. В августе 2016 года Сара Полсон объявила, что она вернётся в шестом сезоне сериала, и Райан Мёрфи объявил, что лауреат премии «Оскар» Куба Гудинг-мл. присоединился к основному составу^[59][60]. В сентябре 2016 года был объявлен полный основной актёрский состав после пилотного эпизода, где также были включены Андре Холланд и повторяющийся ветеран сериала Лили Рэйб^[61]. Во время Хэллоуина 2016 года Мёрфи объявил, персонаж Полсон из Психбольницы, Лана Уинтерс, также появится в сериале после недавнего появления первой роли актрисы, Билли Дин Ховард из Дома-убийцы, в финальном эпизоде пятого сезона^[62][63].

В седьмом сезоне вернулись Полсон и Питерс, об этом было объявлено во время пресс-тура Winter 2017 TCA Press Tour^[64]. Билли Лурд, у которой был актёрский прорыв в другом шоу Мёрфи в 2015 году, подтвердила, что она присоединилась к основному актёрскому составу в апреле, в то время как Джексон стал следующим основным актёром, который вернулся в следующем месяце^[65][66][67]. В июне было объявлено, что Элисон Пилл присоединилась к сериалу, где она играет партнёра персонажа Полсон^[68].

19-летняя Кайя Гербер сыграет в 10 сезоне «Американской истории ужасов»^[69]

Съёмки[править | править код]

Пилотный эпизод был снят в доме под номером «1220» на улице Уэстчестер-Плейс, клуб «Кантри-Парк»  (англ.) (рус., Лос-Анджелес, Калифорния, который выступает в качестве дома с призраками и места преступлений в сезоне. Построенный в 1908 году архитектором Альфредом Розенхимом  (англ.) (рус., президентом Американского института архитекторов в Лос-Анджелесе, коттедж в стиле английской готики  (англ.) (рус. ранее использовался в качестве католической женской школы при монастыре^[70][71]. Первый сезон был снят в отдельном павильоне, где была построена точная копия дома^[72]. Детали, такие как витражные стёкла Луиса Комфорта Тиффани и кованные бронзовые светильники были воссозданы для сохранения образа дома^[70].

Промокомпания[править | править код]

Universal: Хэллоуинские ночные кошмары[править | править код]

16 августа 2016 года FX объявила о заключении сделки, в результате которой в Universal Studios Hollywood и Universal Orlando появились тематические хэллоуинские аттракционы, основанные на франшизе. В лабиринте представлены декорации и темы из «Дома-убийцы», «Фрик-шоу» и «Отеля»^[73].

Трансляция[править | править код]

Реакция[править | править код]

Отзывы критиков[править | править код]

Награды и номинации[править | править код]

Всего «Американская история ужасов» имеет 64 награды и 252 номинации. Франшиза заработала 28 номинаций на премию «Эмми», при этом Джессика Лэнг получила премии за лучшую женскую роль второго плана в мини-сериале или фильме и за лучшую женскую роль в мини-сериале, Джеймс Кромвелл за лучшую мужскую роль второго плана в мини-сериале или фильме, а Кэти Бэйтс за лучшую женскую роль второго плана в мини-сериале или фильме. Сериал получил дополнительные 50 номинаций на творческую премию «Эмми», выиграв 11 раз, включая за лучшие причёски в мини-сериале или фильме, лучшие костюмы в мини-сериале, фильме или специальной программе, лучший звуковой монтаж в мини-сериале, фильме или специальной программе и лучший сложный грим в сериале, мини-сериале, фильме или специальной программе^[74]. Сериал также получил 9 номинаций на «Золотой глобус», победными из которых оказались за лучшую женскую роль второго плана в мини-сериале, телесериале или телефильме для Лэнг^[75] и за лучшую женскую роль в мини-сериале или телефильме для Леди Гаги^[76]. Сериал также получил 3 номинации на премию Гильдии киноактёров США, и Лэнг получила премию за лучшую женскую роль в драматическом сериале^[77]. Дополнительными наградами являются 18 номинаций на премию «Выбор телевизионных критиков», победив 4 раза^[78], премия «GLAAD Media Awards» за лучший мини-сериал^[79], 4 номинации на премию Гильдии художников по костюмам, победив 3 раза^[80], 8 побед из 10 номинаций на премию Гильдии гримёров и стилистов^[81], 5 номинаций на премию «People’s Choice Awards», победив один раз^[82], и 11 номинаций на премию «Спутник», победив 3 раза^[83].

Телевизионные рейтинги[править | править код]

Спин-офф[править | править код]

11 мая 2020 года в своём Instagram Райан Мёрфи рассказал, что работает над спин-оффом, который получил название «Американские истории ужасов» (American Horror Stories). Новый сериал состоит из часовых эпизодов, каждый из которых рассказывает новую историю^[84]. Премьера первого сезона из 7 эпизодов состоялась 15 июля 2021 года, а 21 июля 2022 года в эфир вышел второй сезон, в котором запланировано 8 эпизодов.

Примечания[править | править код]

Ссылки[править | править код]

• Официальный сайт сериала​ (англ.)
• «Американская история ужасов» (англ.) на сайте Internet Movie Database
• Американская история ужасов (англ.) на сайте TV.com

American Horror Story is an American anthology horror television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the cable network FX. The first installment in the American Story media franchise, seasons of AHS are mostly conceived as self-contained miniseries, following a different set of characters in a new setting within the same fictional universe (which the show occasionally utilizes for crossovers between seasons, and shares with episodic spin-off American Horror Stories), and a storyline with its own “beginning, middle, and end.” Some plot elements of each season are loosely inspired by true events.^[4][5][6] Many actors appear in more than one season, usually playing a new character though sometimes as a returning character, and often playing multiple characters in a season. Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson and Lily Rabe have returned most frequently, with each having appeared in nine seasons, followed by Frances Conroy who appears in eight, with Denis O’Hare appearing in seven, and Emma Roberts set to appear in her sixth. Other notable actors such as Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Adina Porter, Finn Wittrock, Jamie Brewer, Billie Lourd, and Leslie Grossman appear in five of the seasons.

The first season, Murder House, takes place in Los Angeles, California, in 2011, and centers on a family in a haunted house. The second season, Asylum, takes place in Massachusetts in 1964 and follows the patients and staff of a criminally insane institution. The third season, Coven, takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2013, and follows a coven of witches and their enemies. The fourth season, Freak Show, takes place in Jupiter, Florida, during 1952 and centers around an American freak show. The fifth season, Hotel, takes place in Los Angeles, California, during 2015 and focuses on the staff and guests of a supernatural hotel. The sixth season, Roanoke, takes place in North Carolina during 2014–2016 and focuses on an isolated farmhouse haunted by the deceased Roanoke colony. The seventh season, Cult, takes place in Michigan, and centers on a cult after the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The eighth season, Apocalypse, features the Coven witches and the Murder House Antichrist. The ninth season, 1984, takes place outside Los Angeles in the 1980s and focuses the staff of a summer camp reopening after a massacre. The tenth season, Double Feature, focuses on a family in 2021 in Provincetown, Massachusetts and the town’s true inhabitants, and a group of camping students in a conspiracy involving the extraterrestrials of Asylum. The eleventh season, NYC, takes place in 1980s New York City, and focuses on the killings of gay men and the emergence of a virus. In January 2020, FX renewed the series through to at least thirteen confirmed seasons.

Although reception to individual seasons has varied, American Horror Story largely has been well received by television critics, with the majority of the praise going towards the cast, particularly Jessica Lange, who won two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performances. James Cromwell and Kathy Bates each won an Emmy Award for their performances, while Lady Gaga won a Golden Globe Award. The series draws consistently high ratings for the FX network, with its first season being the most-viewed new cable series of 2011.

Seasons[edit]

Murder House (2011)[edit]

Set in 2011, the season follows the Harmons, consisting of wife and mother Vivien (Connie Britton), her psychiatrist husband Ben (Dylan McDermott), and their teenage daughter Violet (Taissa Farmiga), as they move from Boston to Los Angeles to make a fresh start after Vivien has a miscarriage. Soon after the miscarriage and before the move, Ben has an affair with one of his students, which almost tears the family apart. They move into a restored mansion and soon encounter the residence’s housekeeper, Moira O’Hara (Frances Conroy and Alexandra Breckenridge), as well as their neighbors—the eccentric Langdon family, consisting of Constance (Jessica Lange) and her daughter Adelaide (Jamie Brewer), who has Down Syndrome. The Harmons’ lives are troubled by the meddling Langdons, the incompetent realtor Marcy (Christine Estabrook), as well as the disfigured Larry Harvey (Denis O’Hare), a former resident of the mansion who is secretly in love with Constance, and the scorned Hayden McClaine (Kate Mara), Ben’s former student who follows him to Los Angeles. Ben and Vivien try to rekindle their relationship while Violet, experiencing depression, finds comfort in Tate (Evan Peters), one of Ben’s patients. The family soon discovers that the home is haunted by the ghosts of anyone who has ever died on the property, including its creators Charles (Matt Ross) and Nora Montgomery (Lily Rabe); and their deformed son Thaddeus (Ben Woolf) who is sometimes referred to as the ‘Infantata’. Flashbacks depict the mansion’s previous homeowners throughout the last century, dating back to its construction in the 1920s.

Asylum (2012–13)[edit]

Set in 1964, the season follows the patients and staff members of the church-owned mental asylum Briarcliff Manor, located in an undisclosed town in Massachusetts, which was founded to treat and house the criminally insane. Kit Walker (Evan Peters), accused of being a prolific serial killer named “Bloody Face” after the disappearance of his wife Alma (Britne Oldford)—though he claims she was abducted by aliens—is incarcerated at Briarcliff. This piques the interest of ambitious lesbian journalist Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson), who is yearning to find a story for her big break. At Briarcliff, Kit meets the other patients, many of whom claim to be unjustly institutionalized, including microcephalic Pepper (Naomi Grossman), nymphomaniac Shelley (Chloe Sevigny), whose cheating husband hypocritically committed her after finding her in bed with two guys; and the unassuming Grace Bertrand (Lizzie Brocheré) from France. Believed to be a violent serial killer, Kit becomes the subject of interest of pragmatic psychiatrist Oliver Thredson (Zachary Quinto) and the sadistic Dr. Arthur Arden (James Cromwell), the latter of whom routinely conducts scientific operations on patients. The institution is run under the watchful eye of the stern Sister Jude (Jessica Lange), as well as her second-in-command, the naïve Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe), and the founder of the institution, Monsignor Timothy Howard (Joseph Fiennes). Briarcliff’s inhabitants are routinely subject to supernatural and scientific influences, including demonic possession and extraterrestrial abduction.

Coven (2013–14)[edit]

Set in 2013, the season follows the dwindling descendants of the witches who survived the Salem witch trials and their struggle to hide their identity in the modern world. Those who share this genetic condition are being subjected to violent attacks from outside forces, such as voodoo practitioners. Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga), a young teenager completely unaware of the existence of witches, discovers her identity as a Salem descendant after an accident that causes the death of her boyfriend. She is sent to an all-girls boarding school in New Orleans which aims to protect and house young women who carry this unique bloodline, and keep them from the dangers of the outside world. There, she meets the other students, narcissistic movie star Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts), outspoken human voodoo doll Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe), and enigmatic mind-reading Nan (Jamie Brewer), and gets romantically entangled with Kyle Spencer (Evan Peters), a non-witch and good-natured college student. The school is run by headmistress Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson), head of the Witches Council, eccentric fashionista Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy), and the mute butler Spalding (Denis O’Hare). Cordelia’s mother, Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange), is the Supreme and most powerful witch of her generation, though she regularly avoids her responsibilities, much to the chagrin of Cordelia and her long-time rival Myrtle. After a mob of townspeople discover and burn a young witch living in the swamps named Misty Day (Lily Rabe), Fiona returns to lead the coven, creating conflict with Cordelia and the other young witches as they all conspire to become the next supreme.

Freak Show (2014–15)[edit]

Set in 1952, the season follows a struggling freak show led by Elsa Mars (Jessica Lange) in the sleepy town of Jupiter, Florida. Decades have passed since the public has looked upon freak shows as a form of entertainment, but Elsa dreams of finding a home for her “monsters”, as well as for her own fame and fortune. Other members of her troupe include “Lobster Boy” Jimmy Darling (Evan Peters), who dreams of living a normal life, and his mother Ethel (Kathy Bates), a bearded lady who acts as Elsa’s second-in-command by maintaining law and order under the tent. A strongman from Ethel’s past and Jimmy’s biological father Dell Toledo (Michael Chiklis), and his three-breasted wife Desiree Dupree (Angela Bassett), arrive to join the freak show. To drum up business and save her troupe once and for all, Elsa also recruits conjoined twin sisters Bette and Dot Tattler (Sarah Paulson) to perform for her show. In a time when the era of television is beginning to reign high above sideshow acts, these individuals must overcome those who persecute them based on their looks. However, as the season unfolds, it is revealed that multiple dark entities have taken up residence in Jupiter, with all of their eyes being set on the freaks. A conman named Stanley (Denis O’Hare), posing as a Hollywood executive, arrives with his young protégé Maggie Esmerelda (Emma Roberts), who becomes involved with Jimmy. The wealthy and spoiled Dandy Mott (Finn Wittrock), enabled by his doting mother Gloria (Frances Conroy), develops an unhealthy obsession with the freaks, particularly Bette and Dot. Perhaps the most dangerous of them all is a mysterious, deformed killer clown, known only as Twisty (John Carroll Lynch), who wreaks havoc on Jupiter and appears to be targeting freaks and townspeople alike.

Hotel (2015–16)[edit]

Set in 2015, the season follows the strange and dangerous happenings that seem to center around the retro Hotel Cortez in downtown Los Angeles, California, initially built as a secret torture chamber to fulfill the violent desires of founder James Patrick March (Evan Peters). Detective John Lowe (Wes Bentley) arrives at the hotel, based on intel from an anonymous tip, to investigate a grisly string of murders, each of which exemplify a sin in violation of one of the Ten Commandments. He has become estranged from his wife Alex (Chloe Sevigny), who has depression, and his daughter Scarlett (Shree Crooks), after the disappearance of their son Holden (Lennon Henry) five years earlier. The hotel is led by March’s fashionista widow Elizabeth Johnson (Lady Gaga), also known as the Countess—who was mutated into a vampire by her former lovers, actor Rudolph Valentino (Finn Wittrock) and his wife Natacha Rambova (Alexandra Daddario)—and her current lover Donovan (Matt Bomer). Throughout his investigation, John also becomes entangled with the spirits of a heroin junkie named Sally McKenna (Sarah Paulson), hotel maid Hazel Evers (Mare Winningham), and James Patrick March, who is looking for a protégé to continue the violent acts he started when he was alive. The hotel’s tireless staff includes the surly front desk manager Iris (Kathy Bates), Donovan’s mother, and her best friend, the transgender bartender Liz Taylor (Denis O’Hare), both of whom hesitantly cater to Elizabeth and her vampiric children, one out of a desire to remain close to her son and the other out of a sense of loyalty. Elizabeth’s relationship with Donovan becomes troubled with the arrival of attractive male model and cocaine addict Tristan Duffy (also played by Wittrock), New York fashion designer Will Drake (Cheyenne Jackson), and her scorned ex-lover Ramona Royale (Angela Bassett), all of whom become entangled in her violent life.

Roanoke (2016)[edit]

Set from 2014 to 2016, the season follows the supernatural events that occur in a renovated farmhouse in North Carolina, which is situated on the land where the Roanoke Colony moved after their infamous 1580s disappearance. In 2015, Shelby Miller (Lily Rabe), her husband Matt (André Holland), along with Matt’s sister Lee Harris (Adina Porter) recount their harrowing experience living in the farmhouse a year prior in a popular documentary series titled My Roanoke Nightmare, including their encounters with the violent and vengeful ghosts of the house’s previous residents and the Roanoke Colony, the cannibalistic Polk family who live nearby, and the seductive English witch, Scathach (Lady Gaga). The documentary becomes a huge success, featuring dramatic reenactments of the Millers’ story starring Audrey Tindall (Sarah Paulson) as Shelby, Dominic Banks (Cuba Gooding Jr.) as Matt, Monet Tumusiime (Angela Bassett) as Lee, Agnes Mary Winstead (Kathy Bates) as Thomasin White—also known as The Butcher, leader of the ghost colony, Audrey’s husband Rory Monahan (Evan Peters) as Edward Philipe Mott, the creator and first owner of the house, William van Henderson (Denis O’Hare) as Dr. Elias Cunningham, a professor who becomes entranced with the paranormal happenings of the area, and Dylan (Wes Bentley) as Ambrose White, Thomasin’s son, and accomplice. In 2016, the success of the documentary leads to a sequel titled Return to Roanoke: Three Days in Hell, spearheaded by the producer of the original series, Sidney Aaron James (Cheyenne Jackson), who invites the Millers, as well as many of the reenactment actors, to return to the farmhouse for three days during the blood moon, where all their actions will be captured by hidden cameras. Although the Millers are aware of the entities that reside in the house, all three agree to return, each with their own agenda. However, the production eventually descends into a chaotic, yet tragic disaster as the tensions between the reenactors and real-life counterparts quickly begin to rise while the violent entities begin to surface, leading them to fight for survival.

Cult (2017)[edit]

Set in 2016 and 2017, the fictional town of Brookfield Heights, Michigan, is left divided in the wake of Donald Trump’s election as president. Local restaurant owner Ally Mayfair-Richards (Sarah Paulson) is left utterly distraught, along with her wife Ivy (Alison Pill). Despite the help of her psychiatrist, Dr. Rudy Vincent (Cheyenne Jackson), Ally becomes increasingly unstable in the following weeks, as her long-repressed phobias begin to re-emerge, and they begin to affect her relationships with her wife and their son, Oz (Cooper Dodson). Across town, misogynistic alt-righter Kai Anderson (Evan Peters) rejoices at the election results, enticing him to pursue political power by running for city council, led by radical feminist Bebe Babbitt (Frances Conroy) and with the help of his reluctant, liberal sister Winter (Billie Lourd), who the Mayfair-Richards household hire as their nanny. As Ally attempts to re-adjust to regular life despite her growing anxiety and paranoia, she becomes terrorized by a group of masked assailants, donned in clown attire, who are only present when she is alone, leaving those around her to wonder if she was truly attacked, or if they were merely hallucinations. Ally’s new eccentric neighbors Harrison (Billy Eichner) and Meadow Wilton (Leslie Grossman) move in next door, while news reporter Beverly Hope (Adina Porter) descends upon every crime scene to report the murders. Also in the midst of the chaos is Jack Samuels (Colton Haynes), a detective who investigates the crimes and is initially doubtful about Ally’s claims, and Gary K. Longstreet (Chaz Bono), a supermarket owner who has an amputated arm and is a passionate Trump supporter. With Kai’s rise to power revealing sinister motives, Ally starts to draw connections between her alleged clown attackers and the many strange incidents occurring in Brookfield Heights. She begins to fear that everyone in town is out to get her, amplifying her growing distrust of those around her.

Apocalypse (2018)[edit]

Set in the near future, the Antichrist, Michael Langdon (Cody Fern), brings about the apocalypse by instigating nuclear warfare. The chosen survivors of the aftermath, heiress Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt (Leslie Grossman), her personal assistant Mallory (Billie Lourd), hairstylist Mr. Gallant (Evan Peters), his grandmother Evie (Joan Collins), talk-show host Dinah Stevens (Adina Porter), Stevens’ son Andre (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman), young adults Timothy Campbell (Kyle Allen) and Emily (Ash Santos), among others, take refuge in a fallout shelter named “Outpost 3”, run with an iron fist by Wilhemina Venable (Sarah Paulson) and Miriam Mead (Kathy Bates) along with The Fist (Erika Ervin), a brutish and tall female guard. Flashbacks to three years prior reveal that “Outpost 3” was an all-boys warlock school led by John Henry Moore (Cheyenne Jackson) that unknowingly harbored the Antichrist, in hopes that he would rise as the first ever male Supreme. The witches’s council of Cordelia Goode (Sarah Paulson), Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga), and the resurrected Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy) are summoned and quickly discover how dangerous Michael is to their coven when faced with his evident powers, as he resurrects deceased witches Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe), Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts), and Misty Day (Lily Rabe). The coven, with the aid of the warlocks, attempt to save humanity by discovering new witch Mallory’s intense powers, learning more about Michael’s mysterious origins, in particular from Michael’s grandmother Constance Langdon (Jessica Lange), and how to defeat him to prevent the apocalypse.

1984 (2019)[edit]

Set in the titular year of 1984, the season follows Brooke Thompson (Emma Roberts) as she travels to a remote, newly reopened summer camp, known as Camp Redwood, to work as a counselor following a terrifying encounter with serial killer Richard Ramirez, “The Night Stalker” (Zach Villa). Those traveling with Brooke include preppy Xavier Plympton (Cody Fern), athletic Chet Clancy (Gus Kenworthy), easy-going Ray Powell (DeRon Horton), and spunky Montana Duke (Billie Lourd). Upon arriving at the camp, they encounter its owner, the deeply religious Margaret Booth (Leslie Grossman), who was once a camper there, and who has her own experience surviving a killer. Other residents of Camp Redwood include its nurse Rita (Angelica Ross), activities director Trevor Kirchner (Matthew Morrison), and camp chef Bertie (Tara Karsian). Not long after the counselors settle into their first week, news breaks that deranged murderer Benjamin Richter (John Carroll Lynch), also known as Mr. Jingles, has escaped a local insane asylum and is presumed to be heading for the camp, where he has a violent history. However, as the season progresses, more secrets unveil about the counselors, as well as flashbacks detailing the history of the camp, including Richter’s abusive mother Lavinia (Lily Rabe).

Double Feature (2021)[edit]

In Part 1, titled Red Tide, struggling writer Harry Gardner (Finn Wittrock), his pregnant wife Doris (Lily Rabe), and their daughter Alma (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) move to Provincetown, an isolated beach town in Massachusetts, for the winter for Harry to work in peace without any disturbances. Once they are settled in, the town’s true residents begin to make themselves known. Harry suffers from writer’s block and later goes to a bar called the Muse one night, where he meets singer and songwriter Austin Sommers (Evan Peters) and erotic novelist Sarah Cunningham, known by the pseudonym Belle Noir (Frances Conroy), who assist him with his problem. A mysterious black pill is presented to Harry by Austin who claims it will help those with creativity and talent become increasingly advanced with their work, however, the pill also exacts a price in the form of horrifying side effects. Strange creatures referred to as “pale people” terrorize the stark and hollow town. Throughout the season, many disturbing events unfold are seen, alongside various characters. They include the unhygienic Mickey (Macaulay Culkin), Harry’s stern agent Ursula (Leslie Grossman), tattooist and body modifier Lark Feldman (Billie Lourd), an eccentric homeless woman called Tuberculosis Karen (Sarah Paulson), nosy rookie chief of police Chief Burleson (Adina Porter), a mysterious woman called the Chemist (Angelica Ross), and interior designer Holden Vaughn (Denis O’Hare).

In Part 2, titled Death Valley, Kendall Carr (Kaia Gerber), Cal Cambon (Nico Greetham), Troy Lord (Isaac Cole Powell) and Jamie Howard (Rachel Hilson), four college students who are on a camping trip are swept up in a horrifying and deadly extraterrestrial conspiracy that has been developing for decades. President Dwight D. Eisenhower (Neal McDonough) has given a dreadful task to reason with some unexpected and unwanted guests as his wife, Mamie Eisenhower (Sarah Paulson), has gone behind his back and makes a life-threatening decision.

NYC (2022)[edit]

In 1981 New York City, a series of murders targeting the gay community garners hatred for the apathetic NYPD. Closeted detective Patrick Read (Russell Tovey) and his partner, New York Native reporter Gino Barelli (Joe Mantello) for whom Read left his ex, Barbara (Leslie Grossman), begin investigating the murderous homocidal duo consisting of the elusive leather-clad “Big Daddy” and twisted Dr. Whitely (Jeff Hiller). Their differing opinions on how to approach the investigation, however, leads to a rough patch in their relationship. Read and Barelli are joined by Adam Carpenter (Charlie Carver), a young gay man whose friend has gone missing. Carpenter’s search leads him to a connection with photographer Theo Graves (Isaac Cole Powell), though this draws jealousy from Graves’ toxic partner Sam (Zachary Quinto). Meanwhile, Dr. Hannah Wells (Billie Lourd) investigates a new disease spreading from Fire Island while Cabaret singer Kathy Pizzaz (Patti LuPone) handles decreasing audiences at her local bathhouse venue.

Delicate[edit]

On April 10, 2023, Murphy announced season 12 would premiere in mid-2023. Confirmed cast members include Emma Roberts, Kim Kardashian,^[8] and Matt Czuchry. The season will be based on the upcoming book Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine with each episode being written by Halley Feiffer, a first for the series, who will also take over as showrunner from Murphy.^[9][10][11] On April 24, it was reported that Cara Delevingne joined the cast of the upcoming season after being spotted filming with Roberts.^[12] On April 28, 2023, it was reported that Annabelle Dexter-Jones and MJ Rodriguez has joined the cast of the season.^[13][14] On May 4, 2023, it was reported that filming for the season has shut down due to the WGA writers strike.^[15] On the same day, it was reported that production resumed and that the cast and crew were using a back entrance to enter the studio and avoid crossing the picket line.^[16]

Future seasons[edit]

On December 5, 2018, Murphy said the witches from Coven will return in a future season.^[17][18][19] On January 9, 2020, the series was renewed through season 13.^[20]

Production[edit]

Conception[edit]

Creators Murphy and Falchuk began working on American Horror Story before their Fox series Glee began production. Murphy wanted to do the opposite of what he had done previously and thus began his work on the series. He stated: “I went from Nip/Tuck to Glee, so it made sense that I wanted to do something challenging and dark. And I always had loved, as Brad had, the horror genre. So it just was a natural for me.”^[22] Falchuk was intrigued by the idea of putting a different angle on the horror genre, stating that their main goal in creating the series was to scare viewers. “You want people to be a little bit off balance afterwards,” he said.^[23]

In February 2011, FX officially announced that it had ordered a pilot for a possible series from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, with both Murphy and Falchuk writing and Murphy directing. Dante Di Loreto was announced as executive producer. Production on the series began in April 2011.^[24] In July 2011, FX officially announced the project had been picked up to become a full series.^[25]

From the beginning, Murphy and Falchuk planned that each season of the series would tell a different story.^[21] After the first-season finale aired, Murphy spoke of his plans to change the cast and location for the second season.^[26] He did say, however, that some actors who starred in the first season would be returning. “The people that are coming back will be playing completely different characters, creatures, monsters, etc. [The Harmons’] stories are done. People who are coming back will be playing entirely new characters,” he announced.^[21] In November 2012, FX chief executive, John Landgraf, described the unique format of the series stating: “[T]he notion of doing an anthological series of miniseries with a repertory cast—has proven groundbreaking, wildly successful and will prove to be trendsetting.”^[27]

At the 2013 PaleyFest, Falchuk compared the series to horror films: “It does demand a little bit of compassion at the end because you fall in love with these characters in a different way than you would in a movie,” he said. “If you want to kill everybody in a movie except one person, you can kind of get away with that, but if you’re looking to do a horror TV show, you have a different responsibility to the characters because the audience has a different affection for them.”^[28]

Murphy then explained the process of planning a series’ season takes about a year. “We come up with story first and then we come up with the characters,” he said. “It is a repertory company, so we’ll move people around and sometimes there won’t yet be a role for somebody. Like when we started [the second season], I really had no idea that Dylan [McDermott] would be the person to play Sarah’s son, but the deeper we got, I thought, that would work great.”^[28]

In an August 2015 article for Entertainment Weekly, Murphy revealed that the show is producing two seasons a year, the first being broadcast late in the year and the second early in the next year. He explained, “We’re doing something that we’ve never done before on the show where we’re doing two different groups of writers rooms. Some of our writers will be bouncing around but a whole different group coming in late August. The next thing we’re crafting up is very, very different than [Hotel]. Not smaller. But just not opulent. More rogue and more dark.”^[29]

Casting[edit]

Connie Britton was the first to be cast in the series, portraying female lead Vivien Harmon on Murder House.^[30] Denis O’Hare joined second as Larry Harvey.^[31] Jessica Lange soon followed as Constance, her first regular role on television.^[32] Dylan McDermott joined the cast soon after Lange as the male lead Ben Harmon.^[33] Taissa Farmiga and Evan Peters were the last actors to be added to the main cast, portraying Violet Harmon and Tate Langdon, respectively.^[34]

In March 2012, Murphy revealed that the second season had been planned around Jessica Lange, who portrays Sister Jude, a sadistic nun who runs the asylum.^[35] Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe and Zachary Quinto also return to join the main cast.^[36] Peters portrays Kit Walker, an inmate accused of murdering his wife.^[37] Paulson portrays Lana Winters, a lesbian reporter who gets committed to the asylum because of her sexuality and intent to snoop around the sanitarium.^[38] Rabe’s character is Sister Mary Eunice, clumsy second-in-charge to Sister Jude.^[39] Quinto portrays Dr. Thredson, a psychiatrist at the asylum.^[40][41] Lizzie Brocheré stars as Grace Bertrand, a character described originally as “a fierce, ferocious, extremely sexual, and dangerous wild-child sexpot”, but the role was later heavily revamped.^[42][43] James Cromwell co-stars as Dr. Arthur Arden, who proclaims to be in charge of the asylum and performs dark experiments on its patients.^[44][45][46] Joseph Fiennes starred as Monsignor Timothy Howard, a possible love interest for Sister Jude.^[46][47][48]

For the third season, series executive producers and co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk stated that, as with the second season, “many actors” would return in different roles, beginning with Jessica Lange.^[49] Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson were confirmed to return, portraying Kyle Spencer and Cordelia Goode, respectively. Murphy added that Lange would portray a “real glamour-cat lady”, later revealed to be named Fiona Goode.^[50] Taissa Farmiga, Violet in the first season, starred as Zoe Benson, a character that is involved in a prominent romance during the season.^[51] Lily Rabe co-starred as Misty Day.^[52] Recurring cast member Frances Conroy joined as a main cast member, playing the character of Myrtle Snow.^[51] Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates was confirmed to co-star. It was first reported that she would portray “a woman who, at the start, is Lange’s character’s best friend, but will become her worst enemy”, but this was altered.^[53] Murphy stated that Bates’ character will be “five times worse than [her] Misery character” and is also inspired by a “true event”. She portrayed Madame Delphine LaLaurie, an immortal racist.^[54] It was announced in May 2013 that Emma Roberts had been added to the cast.^[55] Roberts played Madison Montgomery, a “self-involved party girl”.^[56] In July 2013, season one alum Denis O’Hare also joined the cast in an unknown role,^[57] later revealed as Spalding.

In November 2013, Ryan Murphy confirmed that Jessica Lange would be returning for a fourth season, although in a reduced capacity. It was later revealed she would be playing freak show owner Elsa Mars.^[58] Kathy Bates returned in a main role, portraying bearded lady Ethel Darling.^[59] On March 29, 2014, Murphy announced that Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Frances Conroy, Emma Roberts, Denis O’Hare, and Angela Bassett would all return for the fourth season.^[60] Paulson portrayed conjoined sisters Bette and Dot Tattler; Peters portrayed “Lobster Boy” Jimmy Darling; Conroy played the well-off Gloria Mott; Bassett portrayed three-breasted hermaphrodite Desiree Dupree; and O’Hare played Stanley, a conman working with Roberts’ Maggie Esmerelda. At PaleyFest 2014, it was revealed that Michael Chiklis would be joining the cast as Dell Toledo, the father of Jimmy, ex-husband of Ethel, and current husband of Desiree.^[61] Finn Wittrock later joined the main cast as Gloria’s spoiled son, Dandy Mott.

For the series’ fifth cycle, singer-songwriter Lady Gaga was announced as the first and newest main cast member on February 25, 2015.^[62] After a special guest appearance on the previous season, Matt Bomer joined the fifth season’s cast along with series newcomer Cheyenne Jackson during PaleyFest 2015.^[63] Chloë Sevigny and Wes Bentley were promoted as main cast members, after they appear as recurring special guests in Asylum and Freak Show, respectively.^[64] Murphy later announced the returns of Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Angela Bassett.^[65] In June 2015, it was announced Denis O’Hare would also return for the fifth season.^[66] In August 2015, Murphy announced the character roles for the cast: Gaga’s Elizabeth Johnson also known as “the Countess”, a fashionista vampiress who owns the Hotel Cortez; Jackson’s Will Drake, a desperate fashion designer; O’Hare’s Liz Taylor, a transgender bartender who works at the hotel’s Blue Parrot Lounge bar; Sevigny’s Alex Lowe, a pediatrician who was the wife of Bentley’s John Lowe, a detective who investigates the murders inside the hotel; Bomer’s Donovan, the lover to the Countess whom often had conflict with his mother and hotel manager, Bates’ Iris; Bassett’s Ramona Royale, a former actress who was the former lover of Elizabeth; Paulson’s Sally, a drug addict who had a rivalry with Iris and forms a bond with John since his visit in the hotel.^[67] Peters co-starred as serial killer James Patrick March and the original hotelier of the Hotel Cortez.

In February 2016, Angela Bassett confirmed she would return to join the main cast of the sixth season during an interview with Larry King.^[68] Denis O’Hare announced that he would also appear in the season in a May 2016 interview.^[69] In June 2016, Cheyenne Jackson, Evan Peters, Wes Bentley, and Kathy Bates announced their returns for the sixth season.^[70][71][72] In August 2016, Sarah Paulson announced that she would return to the series in the sixth season and Ryan Murphy announced that Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. had joined the main cast.^[73][74] In September 2016, the full main cast was announced after the first episode with the inclusion of André Holland and returning series veteran Lily Rabe.^[75] On Halloween 2016, Murphy announced that Paulson’s Asylum character, Lana Winters would also appear in the series after the recent appearance of the actress’ first role Billie Dean Howard from Murder House in the final episode of the fifth season.^[76][77]

For the seventh season, Paulson and Peters were set to return to the series, as announced during the Winter 2017 TCA Press Tour.^[78] Billie Lourd, who made her breakout appearance with Murphy in 2015, was confirmed to join the main cast in April, while Jackson was the next series regular to return in the next month.^[79][80][81] In June, Alison Pill was announced to co-star in the season, portraying the partner of Paulson’s character.^[82]

In October 2017, Paulson announced that she would return for the series’ eighth cycle.^[83] The next year, Peters was announced to appear in the main cast while Bates returned to the series after Roanoke, leading the season with Paulson.^[84] Jackson confirmed he would return while Adina Porter was promoted to the series’ main cast after her first appearance in Murder House as well as Leslie Grossman since Cult.^[85] Lourd later returned to the main cast the next month.^[86] On June, Roberts announced that she would reprise her Coven character Madison Montgomery in the eighth season and will be part of the main cast.^[87] The next month, Australian actor Cody Fern was cast as the adult Michael Langdon, who was last seen at the first series’ final episode.^[88]

In February 2019, Ryan Murphy revealed via his Instagram that Emma Roberts would be returning to the show for its ninth season along with new cast member, Gus Kenworthy.^[89] In July 2019, Murphy, again through his Instagram, announced the addition of Pose cast member, Angelica Ross, to the cast of the ninth season. Later that month, Cody Fern, Leslie Grossman, Billie Lourd were confirmed to return to the series, with John Carroll Lynch being promoted to the main cast after his third appearance in Cult, also with newcomers Zach Villa and Matthew Morrison.^[90]

In January 2020, Paulson herself confirmed that she would return to the show for its tenth installment in a lead role, following her absence in 1984.^[91] On February 26, Ryan Murphy announced via Instagram the cast of season 10, which confirmed the return of Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Finn Wittrock, Adina Porter, Leslie Grossman, Billie Lourd, and Angelica Ross, as well as the addition of series newcomer Macaulay Culkin.^[92]

In August 2022, Paulson revealed that she doubts that she will return for any future seasons.^[93]

On April 6, 2023, it was reported that Matt Czuchry has joined the cast of the twelfth season after the cancellation of The Resident.^[10] On April 10, 2023, Ryan Murphy confirmed in an interview that Kim Kardashian would lead the twelfth season alongside Emma Roberts.^[8]On April 24, 2023, it was reported that Cara Delevingne has joined the cast of the twelfth season after being spotted filming scenes with Roberts.^[12] On April 28, 2023, it was reported that Annabelle Dexter-Jones and MJ Rodriguez has joined the cast of the season.^[13][14]

Filming[edit]

The pilot episode was shot on location in a house in Country Club Park, Los Angeles, California, which serves as the haunted house and crime scene in the series. Designed and built in 1908 by Alfred Rosenheim, the president of the American Institute of Architects’ Los Angeles chapter, the Tudor or Collegiate Gothic-style single family home was previously used as a convent.^[94][95] The first season was filmed on sets which are an exact replica of the house.^[96] Details such as Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows and hammered bronze light fixtures were recreated to preserve the look of the house.^[94]

Production and shooting for the second season began in late July 2012 for a scheduled premiere in mid October.^[97] The exteriors for the second season were filmed in Hidden Valley, Ventura County, California, a rural area outside Los Angeles, although the season took place in Massachusetts.^[98]

Principal photography for the third season began on July 23, 2013,^[99] in New Orleans, Louisiana.^[100][101] It was first reported that the season would be filmed in multiple locations, but filming primarily took place in New Orleans.^[102]

Principal photography for the fourth season began on July 15, 2014, in New Orleans, though the story takes place in Jupiter, Florida.

Principal photography for the fifth season began on July 14, 2015, in Los Angeles, California, where the story also takes place.^[103] Murphy revealed a six-story hotel set was being built on the Fox lot. A dummy set of the hotel was built at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con, showing an Art Deco-style building from the 1920s, inspired by the old Hollywood era.^[104]

Filming for the sixth season began on July 6, 2016, at Santa Clarita, California.^[105] Set constructions include a colonial settler home to speculate the disappearance of the Roanoke Colony.^[106]

Filming for the seventh season was originally planned to begin in Orange, California, in June 2017 before it was moved to May instead.^[107][108]

Filming for the eighth season began on June 16, 2018. It was filmed in multiple locations.^[109]

On July 11, 2019, Murphy confirmed that the ninth season had begun filming.^[110]

Season 10 was originally supposed to film in March 2020, but was delayed to the Fall due to COVID-19. On November 2, Sarah Paulson confirmed via Instagram livestream that filming is set to begin either November 9, 10, or 11. On December 2, Lily Rabe confirmed that filming had begun.^[111]

On May 4, 2023, it was reported that filming for the twelfth season has shut down due to the WGA writers strike.^[15]On the same day, it was reported that production resumed and that the cast and crew were using a back entrance to enter the studio and avoid crossing the picket line.^[16]

Title sequences[edit]

American Horror Story‘s title screens offer vague hints to important plot elements and events that compose each season. For Murder House, Murphy described the sequence as a mini-mystery and stated that: “By the time you see the ninth episode of this season, every image in that title sequence will be explained,” establishing the purpose of the title sequence for future seasons.^[112]

The opening title sequence was created by Kyle Cooper and his company Prologue. He also created the title sequence for the AMC series The Walking Dead and the 1995 film Seven. The theme music was composed by sound designer Cesar Davila-Irizarry and musician Charlie Clouser.^[113] The cinematography was done by Juan Ruiz Anchía and the editing by Gabriel J. Diaz.

For Murder House, the sequence is set in the Harmons’ basement and includes images of postmortem young children, fetuses in jars, skulls, a christening dress, a nurse’s uniform, and a figure holding a pair of bloody hedge clippers. A photo of alleged axe murderer Lizzie Borden is also shown. Texts in the sequence are white, superimposed on black background and have a film burning effect.

Asylum‘s opening sequence is done by the same creative team. “We are shooting a new title sequence with the same team that did last year’s,” series creator Ryan Murphy said. “The song may stay… not sure.”^[114] The music was kept, and the new title sequence was set around the Asylum, using shots of inmates raving and surgeons operating on patients with bandages obscuring their faces. Elements include a young girl walking backwards on her hands and feet up a staircase and a shot of the Virgin Mary’s smile changing from one of benevolence to one of spite. Texts in the sequence are yellow, superimposed on a black grainy background.

Coven‘s opening sequence keeps the same music, and this sequence is the first one to be filmed primarily outside and not in an enclosed location. Shots include figures wearing black robes and capirotes, a skeletal creature with wings and shots of dead goats, the Minotaur from the season also appears. For the first time, there are actual backgrounds that appear with the actor names instead of an all-black background, some of these images include witches hanging and Santa Muerte. Other elements include a black man with piercing eyes and a disturbing smile as well as voodoo dolls burning. The final shot continues after the figures in black capirotes seize one of their own who is later seen burning at a stake where young, dress-clad witches dance around.

Freak Show‘s opening sequence changed things up, the series’ theme music remains intact albeit with an added carnival-like soundscape. The sequence is composed of both CGI and stop-motion animation and features strange characters such as a skeletal chimera of a human being and an elephant riding a bicycle, a skeleton of what appears to be a single head but two bodies, a devilish-looking man, a boy in a wheelchair with deformed legs, a character with severe syndactyly of the hands and feet, a clown who can twist his head around, a woman with a third leg where her genitalia should be, and a demonic cymbal-banging monkey toy. There are also shots of side show attractions like the Human Blockhead, knife throwing and sword swallowing. The main recurring element features a balloon twister popping balloons with a knife. All text appeared to be made from rusty metal.

Hotel‘s opening sequence also was very different from previous seasons, taking more of a biblical approach. The font, while remaining the same as the first four seasons, glows in red against a hotel wallpaper. The Ten Commandments are also shown throughout the sequence. The intro returns to live-action like the first three seasons. Visuals include many people scrubbing blood all over the walls and the floor, strange things shown through peepholes, people being victims to the hotel, little kids running around the hotel, a woman screaming as she smears lipstick all over her face, as well as many different creatures.^[115]

Roanoke featured no title sequence or opening credits, instead opting for a simple title card from the first season, Murder House, while the series’ theme music plays over the end credits. At the end of the finale’s credits, the title of the season “American Horror Story: Roanoke” was revealed.

In the development of Cult, Murphy confirmed that the opening sequence would return. Cult‘s opening sequence features the series’ theme music played by a marching band. The sequence is live action. Visuals include: a gang of clowns rising from a casket, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton masks, a George Washington statue, a dead dog killed by toxic gas, a merry-go-round, bloody hands that cannot be washed, a beehive, toxic smoke released from a grenade, holes in several forms, a bloody US flag with the sound of a xylophone playing “The Star-Spangled Banner”, a blood-covered couple having sex, a magician pulling guts out of a hat and a handcuffed pinky promise. All text appeared to be made from rusty metal. The texts interact with the graphic behind them, sometimes also bloody. For the first time, the title is abbreviated as AHS instead of American Horror Story.

Apocalypse‘s opening sequence features the original theme music from the first three seasons. The sequence includes images of nuclear disaster and sketches of demons fusing together. Other visuals include burning candles, snakes, both human and goat skulls, a scorpion, a blooming flower, and photos of nuclear-testing documents. Visuals from the title sequences of both season one and season three are also included with slight alterations, including the skeletal winged creature in the forest (Coven), the nurse’s blouse (Murder House), a picture of a baby that has been set on fire (Murder House), and the goat skulls (Coven). All text appeared to be glowing in pale yellow and red.

1984‘s opening sequence is inspired by a fan-made concept that strongly impressed Ryan Murphy. Corey Vega, the creator of the fan-made title sequence, was invited to work with American Horror Story veteran title-sequence designer Kyle Cooper to create the official sequence.^[116] The sequence imitates old VHS video quality. For the first time, a new slasher-style font is used for the text with the exception of vowels “O” and “A” staying with the original series’ logo font. Visuals include: five Jazzercise instructors warming up before blood stains the screen, peaceful camping activities, bloody sharp objects (knives, cleavers, and an axe), a hidden killer in black, moonwalking, footage of the 1984 United States presidential election, cassette tapes, a smashed blood-filled wine glass, vehicles gearing up, and a campfire exploding. It ends with a self-destructed cassette. Names of the cast are superimposed on colorful neon graphics. The title is abbreviated as AHS instead of American Horror Story for the second time, after Cult. And for the second time, the last name mentioned is not given an “and” credit, also after Cult.

Double Feature‘s opening sequence features the original theme music from past seasons and the same font. Part One: Red Tide the opening sequence first shows chemicals bubbling in a scientific beacon then cuts to a flame being drawn and a lighthouse. The sequence continues to show graphic images of a knife slicing meat and being drained with blood, dead animals/aquatic life, insects, and a typewriter types out “Fade in”, “chapter 10”, “cut to”, and types letter by letter sped up “fade to black”. It follows with drug paraphernalia being cooked with a flame on a spoon and bubbling over. Black pills are being spilled onto a white background, images of teeth and x-rays of human bodies are being flashed on x-ray prints and tilted. In Part Two: Death Valley the opening sequence is completely black and white shows images of intestines, and tentacles. There is a UFO which seems to light up and hover above the ground and spins. A man of unknown origin in a black business suit is being lifted up by said UFO with a bright white light, the tentacles are manipulating time, a shadow of a patient which is in a grainy background on a hospital table raises up slowly while the scene turns counterclockwise. The sequence follows bloody hospital knives being dropped on a black glass surface and tentacles wrapping themselves around humans and out of their mouths. The sequence ends with alien fetal development being fed through a fallopian tube with tentacles wrapping around the fetus and out of its eyes, ears and mouth.

NYC‘s opening sequence retains the show’s original theme music, with added sound effects such as whips, cameras and chains. The opening shows various types of BDSM imagery; including cages, rope, whipping, ball-gags, leather masks etc. Throughout the titles we are shown cocktail umbrellas (referencing the season’s “Mai Thai Killer”) and photography equipment. There are also microscopic images of a virus multiplying and infecting people’s bodies; deers spooked by car headlights; blood dripping from statues and into cocktails; emaciated corpses dancing together; bloody severed hands and feet hung by chains; different colored bandanas; and a necklace with the inscription “Saint Christopher. Protect us. Protect me and lead me safely to my destiny.” Patti LuPone is given an “And” credit; something that has been absent from the main titles since Apocalypse.

The title sequence for season 1 to 8 as well as season 10 and 11 of the show use a variation of the Willow typeface that very closely resembles a style for which Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh was known.^[117] The only time the show’s signature font changed within its 11 seasons was in season 9, in which a “slasher” style font was used. However, the original font can still be seen, as it is used for “A”, “O” and “FX”.

Promotion[edit]

As part of the promotion for the series, FX launched a “House Call” campaign, in which viewers at home could sign up and come face-to-face with a character from the series.^[118] Prior to the series premiere, FX released several clues to shine light on the series. They were offered on the show’s official YouTube channel. Ten clues were released.^[119] In September 2011, FX launched a website which allows visitors to tour the Murder House throughout the decades and look for clues.^[120]

In August 2012, the first promo for the second season was released on the American Horror Story Facebook page entitled “Special Delivery”, in which a nun carries a couple of buckets filled with body parts through a field. As a church bell rings, the nun empties one bucket’s bloody contents, leaving the empty bucket behind, and resumes her trek.^[121] Over 20 subsequent teasers were released.^[122] Four photos were also released on EW.com.^[123] Two televised teasers, titled “Meet the Residents”, were released on August 31, 2012. They feature the patients and some staff (such as Dr. Thredson, played by Zachary Quinto, and Sister Mary Eunice, played by Lily Rabe) lying in twin beds and dealing with their individual issues as the heads of the asylum (Jessica Lange, Joseph Fiennes and James Cromwell) look on. The song “Que Sera, Sera”, mixed with the show’s theme music, plays.^[124] To promote Cult, a competition was set up where fans who donated to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles could get a chance to get a walk-on role in an episode, and lunch with Evan Peters.^[125]

Overall, premises and characters for each season are typically kept under wraps until soon before premiers and are alluded to with brief and vague teaser trailers.

In October 2020, the owners of the historic Alfred Rosenheim Mansion “The Murder House” hosted a virtual paranormal investigation. The house had been featured in several films, TV shows, and music videos including the first season of American Horror Story. A production crew set up 15 cameras throughout the home and featured Hollywood psychic Patti Negri, exorcist Bishop James Long, Michelle Belanger, and other notable guests.

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights[edit]

On August 16, 2016, FX announced a deal had been struck to feature an American Horror Story maze at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando for their Halloween Horror Nights events. The maze featured sets and themes from Murder House, Freak Show, and Hotel. Universal Parks & Resorts said of the experience, “Twisted scenes from Murder House will unleash the evil spirits that possess the Harmon estate, spiraling guests through decades of the tortured dead who previously resided there. In Freak Show, guests joined a troupe of biological misfits in a sinister sideshow where they were stalked by the murderous and deformed Twisty the Clown. Finally, guests succumbed to the warped desires of the Countess after checking into the haunted Hotel Cortez, conceived from the beginning as a torture chamber for its customers.”^[126] In 2017, the show returned as haunted attractions to both parks, with Universal Orlando having an attraction based on Asylum, Coven, and Roanoke, and Universal Studios Hollywood basing their attraction solely on Roanoke.

In December 2017, The Walt Disney Company announced it would purchase 21st Century Fox which included the 20th Century Fox film and TV assets. The deal was completely finalized on March 20, 2019, making 20th Century Fox officially part of The Walt Disney Studios. As Disney and Universal are bitter rivals in the theme park business (especially for their Central Florida properties), this would likely end the franchise’s presence in Halloween Horror Nights at Universal parks.^[127]

The Night Bites Bakery[edit]

On July 14, 2021, an American Horror Story themed bakery opened in New York’s Meatpacking District in Manhattan until July 24, 2021, to celebrate the release of spin-off American Horror Stories and the tenth season titled Double Feature. Guests had to be over the age of 18 to enter the bakery. Guests also had to make reservations for 30 minute visits. It featured sweet treats inspired by the series, as well as unique designs and characters based on past installments of American Horror Story and American Horror Stories. After placing an order, the Rubber Woman, introduced in the first episode of American Horror Stories, delivered the order through a secret window. It opened in Los Angeles from August 4, 2021, until August 14, 2021, in Beverly Grove.The bakery opened in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where the first part of the tenth season were filmed, at Pat’s Happy Park on September 1, 2021, until September 4, 2021.^{[128][129][130][131][132][133][134]}

Broadcast[edit]

The series premiered on October 5, 2011, and is broadcast on the cable television channel FX in the United States. In November 2011, it premiered internationally on the respective countries’ Fox Networks Group. The first season premiered on October 5, 2011, and concluded on December 21, 2011. The second season premiered on October 17, 2012, and concluded on January 23, 2013. The third season premiered on October 9, 2013, and concluded on January 29, 2014. The fourth season premiered on October 8, 2014, and concluded on January 21, 2015. The fifth season premiered on October 7, 2015, and concluded on January 13, 2016. The sixth season premiered on September 14, 2016, and concluded on November 16, 2016. The seventh season premiered on September 5, 2017, and concluded on November 14, 2017. The eighth season premiered on September 12, 2018, and concluded on November 14, 2018. The ninth season premiered on September 18, 2019, and concluded on November 13, 2019. Seasons 5 to 7 premiered on the same day and same time with the American broadcasts on FX in Canada, though the first season followed a slightly different schedule as that network launched on October 31, 2011. The series is aired in India on STAR World Premiere HD shortly after its U.S. airing. Along with it, it airs on FX India on standard definition.

In the United Kingdom seasons 1-9 were broadcast on Fox until it closed in July 2021, with season ten debuting on Disney+. In April 2022, the entire series moved from Netflix to Disney+.

Reception[edit]

Critical response[edit]

The first season, American Horror Story: Murder House, received generally positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 72% of 147 critics gave the first season a positive review. The site’s consensus stated: “Convoluted yet effective, American Horror Story is strange, gory, and twisted enough to keep viewers hooked.”^[135] The first season scored 62 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 30 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews.^[136] Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly awarded the pilot episode a B+, stating: “AHS is pretty much all scare, all the time: a whole lotta screams, sex, jolts, mashed faces, psychotic behavior, and dead babies.”^[154] Hank Stuever from The Washington Post said in his review that: “Overdoing things is one of Murphy’s trademark flaws, but this show has a captivating style and giddy gross-outs.”^[155] Not all reviews were favorable: Alan Sepinwall of HitFix gave the series a D−, saying: “It is so far over the top that the top is a microscopic speck in its rearview mirror, and so full of strange sounds, sights and characters that you likely won’t forget it—even though many of you will wish you could.”^[156] Sepinwall would later go on to call it one of the worst TV shows of 2011.^[157] The Los Angeles Times‘ Mary McNamara gave it a mixed review, stating that it “collapses into camp… upon more than one occasion” but also noting that it is “hard to look away.”^[158]

The second season, American Horror Story: Asylum, received critical acclaim from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 84% of 220 critics gave the season a positive review. The site’s consensus is: “American Horror Story: Asylum crosses boundaries to shock and scare with sexy subplots and some innovative takes on current social issues.”^[137] It scored 65 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 23 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews.^[138] James Poniewozik from Time stated: “AHS: Asylum feels like a more focused, if equally frenetic, screamfest. It’s also gorgeously realized, with a vision of its ’60s institution setting so detailed you can smell the stale air and incense.”^[159] Maureen Ryan of The Huffington Post said: “It’s to the credit of Asylum‘s writers, directors and cast that the emotional pain of the characters often feels as real as their uncertainty and terror.”^[160] Verne Gay from Newsday gave the season a C grade, stating it “has some good special effects, just not much of a story to hang them on.”^[161] Linda Stasi of the New York Post thought the season was “over the top,” adding: “I need to enter [an asylum] myself after two hours of this craziness.”^[162]

The third season, American Horror Story: Coven, received critical acclaim from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 85% of 221 critics gave the season a positive review. The site’s consensus reads: “A noteworthy ensemble cast combined with creepy storytelling and campy, outrageous thrills make American Horror Story: Coven a potently structured fright-fest.”^[139] It scored 71 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 24 reviews, the second-highest score for any season, after Roanoke, on that site.^[140] In their post-season reviews, The Michigan Daily gave Coven a B+, saying, “And while its conclusion, appropriately titled “The Seven Wonders”, never quite matched the high standard it set for itself throughout the season, Coven‘s reputation will nonetheless remain a solid one.”^[163] Not all reviews were positive, however, with criticism focused on both the story and character arcs in the second half of the season. The A.V. Club gave this season the low rating of a D+, with critic Emily VanDerWerff remarking: “It lurched drunkenly from idea to idea, never settling on one long enough to build anything of worth.”^[164]

The fourth season, American Horror Story: Freak Show, received mostly positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 77% of 202 critics gave the season a positive review. The site’s consensus is: “Though it may turn off new viewers unaccustomed to its unabashed weirdness, Freak Show still brings the thrills, thanks to its reliably stylish presentation and game cast.”^[141] This season was Jessica Lange’s final major performance on the show; however, it was not her last appearance. It scored 69 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 19 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews.^[142]

The fifth season, American Horror Story: Hotel, received more mixed reviews from critics, in comparison to its predecessors. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 64% of 214 critics gave the season a positive review. The site’s consensus is: “Favoring garish style over effective storytelling, the fifth American Horror Story strands a talented cast at Ryan Murphy’s Hotel.”^[143] Hotel scored a 60 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 24 reviews, indicating mixed or average reviews.^[144] Some praise the season for its increased amount of horror elements and experimentation, while many believe that Jessica Lange’s departure negatively impacted the show’s ratings and the overall character of the series moving forward. Dan Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter gave a positive review, writing, “Early on, Hotel hasn’t hooked me with its storytelling, but it’s always fun to see what the series does with its repertory acting company and with new additions. Throw in the normal grotesquerie and visual panache, and that should keep me going for a while, even if all of the humor appears to have been funneled into Scream Queens.”^[165][166] On the other hand, Matt Zoller Seitz of New York Magazine found the season “confusing, tedious, annoyingly precious, and often ostentatiously brutal”, but also praised it for being “darkly beautiful, deeply weird, and (sometimes) exhilarating.”^[167] Although Scott D. Pierce from The Salt Lake Tribune praised the production design and the cinematography, he said “the storytelling is derivative; the scares are non-existent; and it’s all about style without much substance.”^[168] Mike Hale from The New York Times complained that it “suffers from the absence of Jessica Lange”.^[169] IGN‘s Matt Fowler gave a rating of 5.9 out of 10, criticizing the season as “mediocre” and concluding “all weight and meaning is gone.”^[170]

The sixth season, American Horror Story: Roanoke, received mostly positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 74% of 160 critics gave the season a positive review. The site’s consensus is: “American Horror Story: My Roanoke Nightmare takes a surprising turn away from prior AHS formats, revisiting the deliberate pace of earlier seasons on a spookier, smaller scale, even if the true-crime format feels overdone.”^[145] It scored a 72 on Metacritic based on nine reviews, making it the highest-scored season on that site.^[146]

The seventh season, American Horror Story: Cult, received mostly positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 73% of 218 critics gave the season a positive review. The site’s consensus is: “American Horror Story: Cult intrigues with timely, over-the-top creepiness – and lots of clowns – despite being hampered by broad political generalizations and occasional holes in the narrative’s logic.”^[147] It scored a 66 on Metacritic based on 24 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews.^[148]

The eighth season, American Horror Story: Apocalypse, received positive reviews from critics, with some considering it as an improvement over the recent seasons. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 79% of 193 critics gave the season a positive review. The site’s consensus is: “Ryan Murphy and his murderers’ row of witchy performers literally save the world—and franchise—in Apocalypse, the series most ambitious crossover swing yet.”^[149] It scored a 63 on Metacritic based on six reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews.^[150]

The ninth season, American Horror Story: 1984, received critical acclaim. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 88% of 170 critics gave the season a positive review. The site’s consensus is: “A near-perfect blend of slasher tropes and American Horror Story‘s trademark twists, 1984 is a bloody good time.”^[151]

The tenth season, American Horror Story: Double Feature, received very positive reviews during the onset of its first part, Red Tide, with some critics praising it as a return to the series’ form. However, the finale of Red Tide received very negative reviews for its rushed, and abrupt ending, while Death Valley received mixed to positive reviews throughout, with criticism towards its storytelling, writing, and ending. Rotten Tomatoes reports an 80% approval rating, based on 61 reviews for the season, with an average rating of 9.00/10. The site’s consensus is: “Though its second tale is still a mystery, the first half of Double Feature proves a spine-tingling good time with terrific performances – especially from the spectacular Leslie Grossman and Frances Conroy.”^[152] Liz Shannon Miller of Collider stated Double Feature manages to be one of the best American Horror Story seasons ever created, writing, “For 10 seasons now, American Horror Story has represented the wildest excesses of the Ryan Murphy brand — incredible casts, deliberately outlandish premises and plots, and experiments in form which explode the ideas of what’s possible on television.”^[171] Riley Runnells of The Post praised the performances of the actors and complimented the writing, claiming, “The vibe of the show is almost more of a movie style and more professional-seeming than any other season so far. Not only are there incredible acting and technical moments, but the writing seems more polished and original than the more recent seasons of the show – especially the fresh take on a vampire plot.”^[172] Andy Swift of TVLine applauded the performances of the cast members and stated the season succeeds to be terrifying, saying, “Chilling, compelling and wonderfully acted, Double Feature already feels like a return to form for the long-running franchise.”^[173] Kayla Cobb of Decider said Double Feature succeeds to be frightening across its jumpscares and characters, while praising the performances of the actors, stating, “If you’re into American Horror Story for the horror, you’re going to have a blast. If not, then Double Feature has some killer performances from your favorites that you won’t want to miss.”^[174] Matt Fowler of IGN rated the season 7 out of 10, stating, “The first two episodes of the first half of American Horror Story: Double Feature start slow, but then amplify the intrigue with an interesting spin on vampires.”^[175] Ron Hogan of Den of Geek rated the season 3 out of 5 stars, saying, “There are some very clever transitions between scenes, and the episode has good flow without getting slowed down during exposition dumps. The effects are used as appropriate punchlines, and American Horror Story is never shy about blood and gore when necessary. It (the half-season, not the episode) just felt a little too rushed, with too many ideas and not quite enough development.”^[176]

The eleventh season, American Horror Story: NYC, received mostly positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 71% of seven critics gave the season a positive review.^[153]

Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk have been credited with creating a series that increases both the LGBT creators and storylines in the industry. Theresa L. Geller and Anna Marie Banker have stated that Murphy and Falchuk utilize “the formal structure of the serialized anthology…to present serial narratives made by and about ‘queers,’ openly subverting gender and sexual norms that define the majority of television.”^[177] In the journal Gender Forum, Robert Sevenich further acknowledges that “American Horror Story is a unique and challenging text that confronts issues of queer visibility, provides queer performers and creators a vehicle to contribute to cultural conversations, and gives audiences a lens to glean meaning.”^[178]

Ratings[edit]

The pilot episode of American Horror Story was watched by 3.2 million viewers and averaged a 1.6 rating in the 18–49 years adult demographic, the most sought after by advertisers.^[179] These were the best numbers FX had ever received for a series premiere.^[180] The episode was seen by 3.2 million total viewers in 59 countries.^[181] Ratings increased as the season progressed, with the season finale being watched by 3.22 million viewers and receiving a 1.7 ratings share in the 18–49 years adult demographic.^[182] The series premiere aired in November 2011 across Europe and Latin America on Fox International Channels, and ranked as first or second most watched telecast in its timeslot among all paid television in most metered markets.^[181] “Numbers so strong, it’s scary. American Horror Story has brought droves of new viewers to a killer global lineup”, said Hernan Lopez, the president of Fox International Channels.^[181]

The second season’s premiere gained a 2.2 18–49 ratings share and gathered 3.85 million viewers,^[183] marking the highest numbers for the series.^[184] By the season’s sixth episode, the numbers dropped to a series-low 0.9 18–49 ratings share and 1.89 million viewers;^[185] however, they rebounded to above two million viewers for the subsequent episodes,^[186][187] and reached 2.29 million viewers for the season’s finale.^[188] The premiere of the fifth season of the series became the second most-watched telecast in the network’s history, only behind the premiere episode of the previous season, which was watched by 6.13 million viewers.^[189] The show was subsequently renewed for another season; John Landgraf, the CEO of the network, commented on the show’s success by saying that American Horror Story, the network’s highest rated series, “has unquestionably joined the ranks of television’s landmark series.”^[190] In 2016, a study by The New York Times of the 50 TV shows with the most Facebook Likes found that “unlike a lot of shows about the supernatural”, American Horror Story was “more popular in cities, but also throughout parts of the Southwest”.^[191]

Accolades[edit]

American Horror Story has won over 100 awards out of its 359 award nominations. The franchise has garnered 28 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, with Jessica Lange winning for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie and for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, James Cromwell winning for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, and Kathy Bates winning for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. It received an additional 50 Creative Arts Emmy Award nominations, winning eleven times, including Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Movie, Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special, Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special, and Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or a Special.^[224] It has received nine Golden Globe Award nominations, with Lange winning for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film,^[225] and Lady Gaga winning for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film.^[226] The series has also received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, with Lange winning for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.^[227] Additional accolades include eighteen Critics’ Choice Television Awards nominations, with four wins,^[228] the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Miniseries,^[229] four Costume Designers Guild Awards nominations, winning three times,^[230] eight wins out of ten nominations at the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild,^[231] five People’s Choice Awards nominations, winning once,^[232] and eleven Satellite Awards nomination, with three wins.^[233] On April 9, 2019, it was announced by the Television Academy that American Horror Story: Apocalypse would not qualify for the Limited Series categories, and instead be moved to Drama.^[234] American Horror Story was named the most in-demand horror TV show in 2019 by Guinness World Records,^[235] based on global TV demand data supplied by Parrot Analytics.^[236]

Companion and spin-off series[edit]

American Crime Story[edit]

On October 7, 2014, it was announced that FX had ordered a 10-episode companion series^[237] titled American Crime Story, developed by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski.^[238] While each season of American Horror Story focuses on a new horror theme, each season of American Crime Story focuses on a new true crime story. The series features American Horror Story cast members Sarah Paulson, Connie Britton, Cuba Gooding Jr., Darren Criss, Finn Wittrock, Max Greenfield, Jon Jon Briones, Cody Fern and Billy Eichner. The first season premiered in February 2016, with the second season premiering in January 2018.^[239] A third season, titled Impeachment, focused on the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal, and aired in September 2021.^[240] A potential fourth season, tentatively titled Studio 54, focusing on the rise and fall of Studio 54 owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, is currently in development.^[241]

American Horror Stories[edit]

On May 11, 2020, Murphy revealed that a spin-off series named American Horror Stories was being developed; it would feature self-contained anthological episodes, instead of a season-long story arc as featured in American Horror Story. It was set to air on FX.^[242] On June 22, 2020, it was announced that American Horror Stories would stream on FX on Hulu instead.^[243] On August 4, 2020, it was announced that Sarah Paulson was set to be a director on the series.^[244] The first season featured actors who have appeared in American Horror Story.^[245] Matt Bomer, Gavin Creel, Sierra McCormick, Paris Jackson, Belissa Escobedo, Merrin Dungey, Selena Sloan, Ashley Martin Carter, Valerie Loo, Kaia Gerber, Aaron Tveit and Celia Finkelstein star in the first two-episode story.^[246]
Other American Horror Story alums that appear in the series include Naomi Grossman,
John Carroll Lynch, Charles Melton, Billie Lourd, Chad James Buchanan, Cody Fern, Dylan McDermott, Jamie Brewer, Denis O’Hare, Matt Lasky, Gabourey Sidibe, Max Greenfield, Austin Woods, Seth Gabel, Rebecca Dayan, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Spencer Neville and Teddy Sears along with newcomers Rhenzy Feliz, Madison Bailey, Ben J. Pierce, Leonardo Cecchi, Kyle Red Silverstein, Amy Grabow, Adrienne Barbeau, Kevin McHale, Nico Greetham, Dyllón Burnside, Taneka Johnson, Danny Trejo, Ronen Rubinstein, Virginia Gardner, Vanessa E. Williams, Michael B. Silver, Kimberley Drummond, Jake Choi, Misha Gonz-Cirkl, Tiffany Dupont, Blake Shields, Colin Tandberg, Mercedes Mason, Noah Cyrus, Adam Hagenbuch, John Brotherton, Nicolas Bechtel, Tom Lenk, Kristine Froseth, Houston Jax Towe, Abby Corrigan, Simone Recasner, Maryssa Menendez, Emily Morales-Cabrera, Caitlin Dulany, Joel Swetow, Lily Rohren, Vince Yap, Nancy Linehan Charles, Bella Thorne, Anthony De La Torre, Billie Bodega, Julia Schlaepfer, Addison Timlin, Ian Sharkey, Dominique Jackson, Quvenzhané Wallis, Raven Scott, Kyla Drew, Kyanna Simone, Shane Callahan, Ryan D. Madison, Tiffany Yvonne Cox, Judith Light, Britt Lower, Todd Waring, Cornelia Guest, Madison Iseman, Jeff Doucette, Sara Silva, Jessika Van, Chelsea M. Davis, Alicia Silverstone, Olivia Rouyre, Bobby Hogan, Heather Wynters and Jarrod Crawford.^{[247][248][249]} American Horror Stories premiered on July 15, 2021, and its first season consisted of seven episodes.^[250][251] A second season of eight episodes premiered on July 21, 2022. In April 2023, a third season was greenlit set to premiere in late 2023.^{[citation needed]}

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Американская история ужасов

Original title: American Horror Story

• TV Series
• 2011–
• 18+
• 1h

An anthology series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show circus, a haunted hotel, a possess… Read allAn anthology series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show circus, a haunted hotel, a possessed farmhouse, a cult, the apocalypse, a slasher summer camp, a bleak beach town and desert… Read allAn anthology series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show circus, a haunted hotel, a possessed farmhouse, a cult, the apocalypse, a slasher summer camp, a bleak beach town and desert valley, and NYC.

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Season 11 Doesn’t Seem to Belong with AHS

This season of American Horror Story seems so far almost like a side project for Ryan Murphy to further study the time period related to Dahmer. Not an American Horror Story type story at all. I did not tune into this series for this. It might be a valid and decent story, but, it belongs elsewhere. Very disappointed. Not sure if will watch further because I really did want to see the American Horror Story series. Not a social commentary on the 80’s AIDS epidemic and gay cultural struggles set upon the back drop of a serial killer who drugs and kills gay men. If it was under a different project and not by the same creator who just gave us Dahmer with Evan Peters (which is such a stellar show on its own) I would not be forced to compare this with Dahmer – & I might be more likely to have wanted watch this under the AHS umbrella I miss the old American Horror Story.

• akta_leende
• Oct 21, 2022

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American Horror Story is a horror-drama television show created and produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. It is an anthology, with each season taking place in a new setting for a self-contained story. However, there are several crossovers establishing connections. The series premiered on October 5, 2011. Originally broadcast on FX Networks, it is now available for streaming on FX on Hulu as well.

Production

The production of American Horror Story is the result of the collaboration between Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck and the desire to create something different from their previous TV shows such as Nip/Tuck and Glee.^[1]

American Horror Story has received very varied responses, verging from the enthusiastic to complete rejection from critics. Chuck Barney of the San Jose Mercury News said “Most TV shows, after all, quickly fade from memory. This one will haunt your dreams.” ^[2] Some critics, however, gave mixed reviews, such as Mary McNamara of The Los Angeles Times who criticised the heavy handed metaphors and gratuitous violence. ^[3]

Nevertheless, American Horror Story has achieved a cult following to such an extent that some fan artworks have been included in the promotion of later seasons. ^{[4] [5]} The success is such that American Horror Story spun an American Story franchise that has received widespread critical acclaim, winning several Emmy Awards. On October 7, 2014, it was announced that FX had ordered a 10-episode companion series titled American Crime Story, developed by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski.^[6]

While Crime Story is considered an unrelated companion series, on May 11, 2020, Murphy revealed that a spin-off series named American Horror Stories was being developed; unlike American Crime Story, this will take place in the same universe and even share certain settings and characters.^[7]

The first season scored a 62 out of 100 from the review site Metacritic from 30 reviews by critics. The pilot episode of its fourth installment, Freak Show, broke FX ratings records when it drew in roughly 12.64 million views.^[8]

Casting

One of the highlights of American Horror Story is the presence of a repertory cast who, from season to season, mainly cover new roles although actors such as Sarah Paulson in particular play the same character in crossover story arcs. The cast of AHS is a mix of renowned showbiz names such as Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett, Zachary Quinto, and Frances Conroy and new faces who have achieved fame thanks to the franchise such as Evan Peters or Taissa Farmiga.

Big names such as Joseph Fiennes, James Cromwell, Kathy Bates, Joan Collins and Lady Gaga also joined the cast with Bates thanking Murphy for her career comeback. ^[9] Many actors are faces already seen in other Murphy and Falchuk productions such as Leslie Grossman, Dylan McDermott, Cheyenne Jackson, Connie Britton, and Angelica Ross and they continue to do so in other series produced and created by Ryan Murphy.

Seasons

American Horror Story presents an anthology of stories for each new season, or installment.

Gallery

References

This article is about the American anthology franchise. For the 2011 album by Bearfoot, see American Story (album).

American Story^[1] is an American anthology media franchise consisting of several television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the cable network FX and FX on Hulu. Each series follows a different genre of fiction, with each individual season conceived as a self-contained miniseries, following a different set of characters and settings, and a story line with its own “beginning, middle, and end.” Some plot elements of each season and series are loosely inspired by true events. Many actors appear in more than one season and series, often playing a new character.

Actors who have appeared in two or more instalments of the franchise include: Sarah Paulson; Cuba Gooding Jr.; Connie Britton; Darren Criss; Finn Wittrock; Jon Jon Briones; Billy Eichner; Matt Bomer, who directed an episode of American Crime Story; Kaia Gerber; Naomi Grossman; Chad James Buchanan; John Carroll Lynch; Dylan McDermott; Charles Melton; Billie Lourd; Jamie Brewer; Naomi Campbell who appears in the form of archive audio in American Crime Story; Celia Finkelstein; Blake Shields; John Lacy; Nico Greetham; Teddy Sears; Judith Light; Rebecca Dayan; Matt Lasky; Cameron Cowperthwaite; Spencer Neville; Denis O’Hare and Gabourey Sidibe. Cody Fern and Max Greenfield have appeared in all three installments.

The American Story franchise has received widespread critical acclaim, winning several Emmy Awards.

Background[edit]

Creators Murphy and Falchuk began working on American Horror Story before their Fox series Glee began production. Murphy wanted to do the opposite of what he had done previously and thus began his work on the series. He stated: “I went from Nip/Tuck to Glee, so it made sense that I wanted to do something challenging and dark. And I always had loved, as Brad had, the horror genre. So it just was a natural for me.”^[3] Falchuk was intrigued by the idea of putting a different angle on the horror genre, stating that their main goal in creating the series was to scare viewers. “You want people to be a little bit off balance afterwards,” he said.^[4]

In February 2011, FX officially announced that it had ordered a pilot for a possible series from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, with both Murphy and Falchuk writing and Murphy directing. Dante Di Loreto was announced as executive producer. Production on the series began in April 2011.^[5] In July 2011, FX officially announced the project had been picked up to become a full series.^[6]

From the beginning, Murphy and Falchuk planned that each season of the series would tell a different story.^[2] After the first-season finale aired, Murphy spoke of his plans to change the cast and location for the second season.^[7] He did say, however, that some actors who starred in the first season would be returning. “The people that are coming back will be playing completely different characters, creatures, monsters, etc. [The Harmons’] stories are done. People who are coming back will be playing entirely new characters,” he announced.^[2] In November 2012, FX chief executive, John Landgraf, described the unique format of the series stating: “[T]he notion of doing an anthological series of miniseries with a repertory cast—has proven groundbreaking, wildly successful and will prove to be trendsetting.”^[8]

On October 7, 2014, it was announced that FX had ordered a 10-episode companion series^[9] titled American Crime Story, developed by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski.^[10] While each season of American Horror Story focuses on a new horror theme, each season of American Crime Story focuses on a new true crime story.^[11][12] On May 11, 2020, Murphy revealed that a spin-off series named American Horror Stories was being developed; it will feature self-contained anthological episodes, instead of a season-long story arc as featured in American Horror Story. It was set to air on FX.^[13]

On August 13, 2021, it was announced that FX had ordered a new spin-off series American Love Story. The first installment will depict the whirlwind courtship and marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.^[1] On the same day, it was announced that FX had ordered a new spin-off limited series American Sports Story. The first installment, based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc. from The Boston Globe and Wondery, will focus on the rise and fall of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez.^[1]

Television series[edit]

American Horror Story (2011–present)[edit]

In February 2011, FX officially announced that it had ordered a pilot for a possible series from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, with both Murphy and Falchuk writing and Murphy directing. Dante Di Loreto was announced as executive producer. Production on the series began in April 2011.^[19] In July 2011, FX officially announced the project had been picked up to become a full series.^[20]

Each season of American Horror Story focuses on a new horror theme. The series premiered on October 5, 2011, and is broadcast on the cable television channel FX in the United States. In November 2011, it premiered internationally on the respective countries’ Fox Networks Group.The first season, retroactively subtitled Murder House, takes place in Los Angeles, California in 2011.It premiered on October 5, 2011, and concluded on December 21, 2011. The second season, subtitled Asylum, takes place in Massachusetts in 1964 which premiered on October 17, 2012. The third season, subtitled Coven, takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2013 which premiered on October 9, 2013. The fourth season, subtitled Freak Show, takes place in Jupiter, Florida in 1952 which premiered on October 8, 2014. The fifth season, subtitled Hotel, takes place in Los Angeles, California in 2015 which premiered on October 7, 2015. The sixth season, subtitled Roanoke, takes place in North Carolina during 2014–2016 which premiered on September 14, 2016. The seventh season, subtitled Cult, takes place in the fictional suburb of Brookfield Heights, Michigan, during 2016–2017 which premiered on September 5, 2017. The eighth season, subtitled Apocalypse, features the return of the witches from Coven as they battle the Antichrist from Murder House in an attempt to prevent the apocalypse which premiered on September 12, 2018. The ninth season, subtitled 1984, takes place outside of Los Angeles during the 1980s which premiered on September 18, 2019. The tenth season, subtitled Double Feature, includes two parts, and the first one takes place in 2021, focusing on a family who moves to Provincetown, Massachusetts, where the strange inhabitants begin to make an impact on their lives. In the second part, a group of students on a camping trip finds themselves embroiled in a terrifying and deadly conspiracy that has been preparing for decades which premiered on August 25, 2021.The eleventh season, subtitled NYC, takes place in 1980s New York City, and focuses on a string of killings involving gay men, as well as the emergence of a new virus which premiered on October 19, 2022. In January 2020, FX renewed the series for an additional three seasons, including the eleventh season, bringing it to at least thirteen confirmed seasons.

American Crime Story (2016–present)[edit]

FX announced an order for a 10-episode companion series^[21] American Crime Story in October 2014, developed by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski.^[22] Substituting a new horror theme for each season, American Crime Story focuses on a new true crime story. The series features American Horror Story cast members Sarah Paulson, Connie Britton, Cuba Gooding Jr., Darren Criss, Finn Wittrock, Max Greenfield, Jon Jon Briones, Cody Fern, and Billy Eichner.

The first season The People v. O. J. Simpson premiered in February 2016. The second season The Assassination of Gianni Versace premiered in January 2018.^[11] The third season Impeachment premiered in September 2021.^[12] A potential fourth season, tentatively focusing on the rise and fall of Studio 54 owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, is currently in development.^[23]

American Horror Stories (2021–present)[edit]

On May 11, 2020, Murphy revealed that a spin-off series named American Horror Stories was being developed; it will feature self-contained anthological episodes, instead of a season-long story arc as featured in American Horror Story. On June 22, 2020, it was announced that American Horror Stories would stream on FX on Hulu.^[24] American Horror Stories premiered on July 15, 2021, and its first season consists of seven episodes.^[25] On August 13, 2021, the series was renewed for a second season,^[26] Which premiered on July 21, 2022, and consists of eight episodes.

Matt Bomer, Gavin Creel, Sierra McCormick, Paris Jackson, Belissa Escobedo, Merrin Dungey, Selena Sloan, Valerie Loo, Ashley Martin Carter, Kaia Gerber, Aaron Tveit and Celia Finkelstein starred in the first two episodes.^[27][28] Other American Horror Story alums who appeared in the first season include Naomi Grossman, John Carroll Lynch, Charles Melton, Billie Lourd, Chad James Buchanan, Cody Fern, Dylan McDermott and Jamie Brewer along with newcomers Rhenzy Feliz, Madison Bailey, Ben J. Pierce, Leonardo Cecchi, Kyle Red Silverstein, Amy Grabow, Adrienne Barbeau, Kevin McHale, Nico Greetham, Dyllón Burnside, Taneka Johnson, Danny Trejo, Ronen Rubinstein, Virginia Gardner, Vanessa E. Williams, Michael B. Silver, Kimberley Drummond, Jake Choi, Misha Gonz-Cirkl, Tiffany Dupont, Blake Shields, Colin Tandberg, Mercedes Mason, Noah Cyrus, Adam Hagenbuch, John Brotherton, Nicolas Bechtel and Tom Lenk.^[29][30]

Nico Greetham and Cody Fern returned for the second season. Denis O’Hare, Matt Lasky, Gabourey Sidibe, Max Greenfield, Austin Woods, Seth Gabel, Rebecca Dayan, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Spencer Neville and Teddy Sears, who appeared in previous seasons of American Horror Story, will also appear in the second season along with newcomers Kristine Froseth, Houston Jax Towe, Abby Corrigan, Simone Recasner, Maryssa Menendez, Emily Morales-Cabrera, Caitlin Dulany, Joel Swetow, Lily Rohren, Vince Yap, Nancy Linehan Charles, Bella Thorne, Anthony De La Torre, Billie Bodega, Addison Timlin, Julia Schlaepfer, Ian Sharkey, Dominique Jackson, Quvenzhané Wallis, Raven Scott, Kyla Drew, Kyanna Simone, Shane Callahan, Ryan D. Madison, Tiffany Yvonne Cox, Judith Light, Britt Lower, Todd Waring, Cornelia Guest, Madison Iseman, Jeff Doucette, Sara Silva, Jessika Van, Chelsea M. Davis, Alicia Silverstone, Olivia Rouyre, Bobby Hogan, Heather Wynters and Jarrod Crawford.^[31][32]

American Sports Story[edit]

On August 13, 2021, it was announced that FX had ordered a new spin-off limited series American Sports Story. The first installment, based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc. from The Boston Globe and Wondery, will focus on the rise and fall of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez.^[1] In January 2023, it was reported that the series was “heading toward production”.^[33] Principal photography is scheduled to begin on April 3, 2023, in Jersey City, New Jersey.^[34]

American Love Story[edit]

On August 13, 2021, it was announced that FX had ordered a new spin-off series American Love Story. The first installment will depict the whirlwind courtship and marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.^[1]

Reception[edit]

For more details on the reception of each series, see the “Reception” section on each series’ article.

Merchandise[edit]

Promotion[edit]

As part of the promotion for American Horror Story, FX launched a “House Call” campaign, in which viewers at home could sign up and come face-to-face with a character from the series.^[63] Prior to the series premiere, FX released several clues to shine light on the series. They were offered on the show’s official YouTube channel. Ten clues were released.^[64] In September 2011, FX launched a website which allows visitors to tour the Murder House throughout the decades and look for clues.^[65]

In August 2012, the first promo for the second season was released on the American Horror Story Facebook page entitled “Special Delivery”, in which a nun carries a couple of buckets filled with body parts through a field. As a church bell rings, the nun empties one bucket’s bloody contents, leaving the empty bucket behind, and resumes her trek.^[66] Over 20 subsequent teasers were released.^[67] Four photos were also released on EW.com.^[68] Two televised teasers, titled “Meet the Residents”, were released on August 31, 2012. They feature the patients and some staff (such as Dr. Thredson, played by Zachary Quinto, and Sister Mary Eunice, played by Lily Rabe) lying in twin beds and dealing with their individual issues as the heads of the asylum (Jessica Lange, Joseph Fiennes and James Cromwell) look on. The song “Que Sera, Sera”, mixed with the show’s theme music, plays.^[69] To promote Cult, a competition was set up where fans who donated to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles could get a chance to get a walk-on role in an episode, and lunch with Evan Peters.^[70]

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights[edit]

On August 16, 2016, FX announced a deal had been struck to feature an American Horror Story maze at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando for their Halloween Horror Nights events. The maze featured sets and themes from Murder House, Freak Show, and Hotel. Universal Parks & Resorts said of the experience, “Twisted scenes from Murder House will unleash the evil spirits that possess the Harmon estate, spiraling guests through decades of the tortured dead who previously resided there. In Freak Show, guests joined a troupe of biological misfits in a sinister sideshow where they were stalked by the murderous and deformed Twisty the Clown. Finally, guests succumbed to the warped desires of the Countess after checking into the haunted Hotel Cortez, conceived from the beginning as a torture chamber for its customers.”^[71] In 2017, the show returned as haunted attractions to both parks, with Universal Orlando having an attraction based on Asylum, Coven, and Roanoke, and Universal Studios Hollywood basing their attraction solely on Roanoke.

In December 2017, The Walt Disney Company announced it would purchase 21st Century Fox which included the 20th Century Fox film and TV assets. The deal was completely finalized on March 20, 2019, making 20th Century Fox officially part of The Walt Disney Studios. As Disney and Universal are bitter rivals in the theme park business (especially for their Central Florida properties), this would likely end the franchise’s presence in Halloween Horror Nights at Universal parks.^[72]

The Night Bites Bakery[edit]

On July 14, 2021 an American Horror Story themed bakery opened in New York’s Meatpacking District in Manhattan until July 24, 2021 to celebrate the release of spin-off American Horror Stories and the tenth season. Guests had to be over the age of 18 to enter the bakery. Guests also had to make reservations for 30 minute visits. It featured sweet treats inspired by the series, as well as unique designs and characters based on past installments of American Horror Story and American Horror Stories. After placing an order, the Rubber Woman, introduced in the first episode of American Horror Stories, delivered the order through a secret window. It opened in Los Angeles from August 4, 2021 until August 14, 2021 in Beverly Grove. The bakery opened in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where the first part of the tenth season were filmed, at Pat’s Happy Park on September 1, 2021 till September 4, 2021.^{[73][74][75][76][77][78][79]}

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]