Warning: spoilers for several episodes of American Horror Stories.
American horror stories expands the world of American horror story with a different story in each episode and although they all tell horror stories, some of them were more impactful and scary than others. In 2021, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk expanded the universe of American horror story with an aptly titled spinoff/companion TV series American horror stories. Unlike the main series where each season covers a different horror theme and plot, American horror stories tells a new story in each episode with a different cast.
American horror stories explored a little bit of everything over three seasons, covering urban legends like Bloody Mary and cursed movies, holiday-themed stories with a Christmas episode, creatures like savage cannibals, and even technology gone wrong with artificial intelligence and strange surveillance services. As with American horror storynot all episodes of American horror stories landed well and some were scarier, more impactful and better made than others, but every season is worth watching.
10
Fierce
American Horror Stories Season 1 Episode 6
For episode 6 of the first season of American horror storiesthe show went deep into the forest to explore one of the most popular urban legends about these areas: wild people and cannibals. Jay and Addy go camping with their three-year-old son Jacob, but while walking through the woods, Jacob suddenly disappears. Ten years later, Jacob and Addy, now divorced, receive a tip from a hunter about Jacob’s whereabouts in the forest, but end up making a horrific discovery, as the park is inhabited by wild cannibals.
“Feral” brings to life a viral urban legend and a very popular belief about what really lives in the forest, while also appealing to the fear of the unknown and the darkness of the forest. “Feral” also explores the fear of losing a child and not getting a specific answer about your destination. “Feral” not only puts a twist on the revelation of the savage cannibals, but also on the fate of Jacob, giving the episode a very dark and tragic ending, very much in keeping with the world of American horror story.
9
face lift
American Horror Stories Season 2 Episode 6
“Facelift” explores how far people are willing to go to achieve the beauty standards they believe would make their lives better, as well as how many people are afraid of aging. “Facelift” follows Virginia, a middle-aged woman obsessed with looking younger. After discovering a supposed secret to eternal youth and beauty, Virginia agrees to undergo very aggressive surgery on her face and hands, but everything takes a horrible turn when it comes time to reveal her new appearance.
Instead of opting for urban legends and fantasy monsters and creatures, “Facelift” addresses more real fears and social issues, such as fear of aging, peer pressure, acceptance (both self and societal acceptance) and cults. “Facelift” even remembers the classic The Twilight Zone episode “Eye of the Beholder”, but with a twistadding elements of folk horror with the revelation of a cult that matches recent horror hits like Hereditary. Although it presents some flaws in character development, “Facelift” stands out for its horror themes and references.
8
Drive
American Horror Stories Season 2 Episode 3
“Drive” mixed an urban legend with a twist. It’s the story of Marci, who goes to nightclubs to have casual sex with men as part of a new open marriage agreement with her husband, Chaz, who has warned her about partying in nightclubs due to news of locals disappearing from those places. . One night, Marci is chased by an unknown man in a jeep, with her best friend reminding her of the urban legend of the man who followed a woman in her car to warn her about another man hiding in the backseat.
“Drive” does not delve into open relationships and how they affect one of the parties involved, but it does address how far some are willing to go for love and to support their partners – with a touch of horror, of course. Although “Drive” gives Marci a reason to do what she does (which is the story’s big twist), it doesn’t make her actions any less horrific, and like other episodes on this list, this one also addresses real fears. , as well as casual sexual encounters and the dangers of going out alone at night in some places.
7
Aura
American Horror Stories Season 2 Episode 2
In “Aura”, American horror stories opted for a story that brings together the supernatural, technology and trauma. “Aura” focuses on Jaslyn, who went through a traumatic childhood experience in which a masked intruder came through her window, told her to be quiet, and killed her parents. Now married and running her own jewelry business, Jaslyn purchases Aura, a smart doorbell and security system. One night, an old man knocks on the door and asks to speak to her, demanding that she let him in, but the surveillance cameras reveal that no one is there.
It is through the Aura system that Jaslyn is finally able to face a repressed memory and trauma from her adolescence and let them go.
“Aura” puts a supernatural twist on technology, with the subtle but surprising twist that, at least this time, technology isn’t the enemy. Instead, it is through the Aura system that Jaslyn is finally able to face a repressed memory and trauma from her adolescence and let them go, but the Aura also shows her a dark, previously secret side of her husband, Bryce. “Aura” also benefits greatly from the performances of Gabourey Sidibe and Max Greenfield, both American horror story actors.
6
Best friend
American Horror Stories Season 3 Episode 1
American horror stories Season 3 started off strong with “Bestie.” When Shelby moves to a new home and school after her mother’s death, she struggles to make friends while being chased by a group of teenagers. One night, after watching her favorite show on YouTube, Shelby is contacted by a fellow fan under the handle “BFF4EVA”. It is revealed that this user is a deformed teenager who Shelby quickly bonds with, as they both lost their mothers and are irritated with their fathers, and she asks Shelly to call her “Best Friend”.
Soon, Bestie begins encouraging Shelby to pull a series of pranks and petty crimes under the guise of “confronting her fears” and boosting her confidence. “Bestie” can be seen as a cautionary tale about meeting people on the internet, but it’s also a story of loneliness and how it affects people differentlyalso depending a lot on their stories and contexts. Jessica Barden’s performance as Bestie is especially unsettling, and the story is paced just right to build tension and suspense, even as Shelby appears to finally be free of Bestie’s influence.
5
BAAL
American Horror Stories Season 1 Episode 5
Some American horror stories the episodes have as many plot twists as “BA’AL.” “BA’AL” is the story of Liv, who has been trying to get pregnant for two years, without success. One day, the receptionist at the fertility clinic gives her a fertility totem that she claims has helped her family for decades. The totem works and Liv has a baby, but 16 months later she begins to see the totem’s demon, Ba’al, haunting her son, and she is convinced that the demon wants to take him.
The twists in “BA’AL” are all justified and add more to the story, and the episode leaves no loose ends.
“BA’AL” takes a supernatural route with the introduction of the titular demon, while also covering real-life fears and issuessuch as maternity ward and gas lighting. Unlike others American horror stories episodes with twists, “BA’AL” are all justified and add more to the story, and the episode leaves no loose ends. Furthermore, “BA’AL” has a bittersweet and darkly optimistic ending, with Liv getting what she wanted and deserved, but with some dark and unexpected help.
4
Necro
American Horror Stories Season 2 Episode 7
American horror story is known for sometimes taking his stories too far with controversial themes, and following this line is American horror stories‘Season 2 episode “Necro”. The episode follows Sam, a mortician in California who carries a lot of unresolved trauma after witnessing her mother’s murder when she was a child and holding her mother’s corpse for three days. One day while working, she meets Charlie, the morgue’s new body removal technician.
Sam and Charlie quickly bond over similar traumas and perspectives on death, but Charlie goes too far in trying to help Sam open up to him. “Necro” explores the themes of death and trauma in what is ultimately a very twisted and dark love story. This particular episode doesn’t need any jumpsuits or supernatural entities to create tension and suspense, relying on its characters, dialogue, and concepts to build a story that comes to a satisfying and complete, but twisted, end.
3
Drive
American Horror Stories Season 1 Episode 3
Another episode that uses an urban legend to its advantage is “Drive In” from season 1. It’s the story of teenagers Kelley and her boyfriend Chad, who go with their friends to a drive-in screening of a movie called Rabbit Rabbit. The film was banned years ago and is considered a “cursed film”, because during a screening in 1986, the public went crazy and attacked each other, most of them being killed. The legend of Rabbit Rabbit turns out to be true, and Kelley and Chad find themselves in the middle of a massacre.
Many horror films have been labeled as “cursed” for various reasons, such as The Exorcist, The omenand Rosemary’s Babyso “Drive In” plays with these ideas with the touch of Rabbit Rabbit in fact, being a trigger for violence. The final twist in “Drive In” could easily make the episode fit into the world of Black Mirrorand the implications of the ending are what make “Drive In” one of the American horror stories best and scariest episodes.
2
Bloody Mary
American Horror Stories Season 2 Episode 5
When it comes to urban legends, the best American horror stories episode based on one is definitely “Bloody Mary”. The episode follows sisters Elise and Bianca, who, along with their friends Lena and Maggie, summon the legendary (but very real) Bloody Mary. This entity tells them that it will grant them their wishes, but only if they follow its very specific and unethical instructions – if they don’t, it will kill them. Elise races to find a way around Bloody Mary’s rules, but the girls’ stories take a horrible turn (of course).
“Bloody Mary” is the American horror stories episode that seems more like part of American horror story thanks to its supernatural theme, the way it builds tension and the twist that leads to a rather depressing and horrible fate for the survivors. “Bloody Mary” also gives its own history and lore to the urban legend title, mixing African folklore and historical chapters to construct an antagonist with understandable motives, but a very tragic backstory that makes his fate quite unfair, as well as that of his successor.
1
Dollhouse
American Horror Stories Season 2 Episode 1
“A Doll’s House” is one of the American horror stories‘most complete episodes. It is the story of Coby, a young girl kidnapped by doll maker Van Wirt to make her part of his personal collection of living dolls on his estate. Van Wirt subjects his “dolls” to various tests to see who would be the perfect mother for his son, Otis. The boy likes Coby, but just when she and the other dolls find a way out, Coby is horrified by the next step in Van Wirt’s twisted tests.
The final touch in “Dollhouse” is its surprise connection to American Horror Story: Coven at the end.
Fear of dolls is one of the most common fears, but “Dollhouse” gives it a twist: Instead of being afraid of dolls that could come to life, it’s about humans being turned into dolls. Furthermore, “Dollhouse” is quite claustrophobic and there is the suspense and horror of not knowing what Van Wirt will do with the dolls the next time he comes home. The final touch in “Dollhouse” is its surprise connection to American Horror Story: Coven at the end, answering a big question about one of the Conventicleof the most mysterious and disturbing characters.