We Ranked Every ‘American Horror Story’ Season From Scary To Shit-Ya-Dacks Terrifying
As season 8 of American Horror Story continues, creator Ryan Murphy increasingly attempts to connect the seasons into one thoroughly cooked universe.
So we thought what better time to look back at the show’s past seasons and see how they size up?
Here’s our ranking of all seven seasons from scary to shit-ya-dacks terrifying:
7. Cult
This is by far the worst season. It really sucks. It’s just a lot of clowns.
Cult’s obsession with politics over giving us some legit scary content made for a very frustrating season, which was barely even watchable. Also please return Evan Peters to his previous state of being hot, and not a deranged pro-Trump supporter.
6. Freak Show
The series’ fourth instalment was when the franchise began to lose its way. With Freak Show depending on circus freaks and needless gore to bring in the scares, the final product was a far less scary season than any other.
The creepy Dandy and Twisty the Clown storyline made the season more interesting but all in all, it was just unfocused and average.
5. Roanoke
This was the AHS’ most experimental season yet and for the most part, it didn’t pay off. It was a confusing premise to have actors playing the IRL characters, and switching in between the narratives.
Saying that, there were some truly terrifying ingredients involving cannibal rednecks, undead cults and the found footage stuff was a refreshing dynamic.
4. Hotel
The producers definitely attempted to over-achieve with this season. Pulling in different directions on a range of influences, ranging from Stanley Kubrick, Psycho, classic haunted house thrillers, vampires, and serial killers.
But it was stylistically flawless. While Lady Gaga was no Jessica Lange, the hotel as a base for evil was effective, as was the ick-factor of people crawling out beds and walls. Gah! No sleep.
3. Murder House
It’s the season that set the standard for the entire AHS universe. While it was slowly paced, it was perhaps the most fully-realised and polished horror anthologies of the six seasons.
In the show’s debut, Jessica Lange proved she is still a force to be reckoned with, and we were devo to see her go after season four. The first season also gave us beautiful human Evan Peters and we will be forever grateful for this.
2. Coven
This might be a controversial choice for second place, but there is no denying that Coven was thoroughly messed up. Set in modern New Orleans, the series pitted witches against voodoo sorcerers, engaging with themes of immortality and resurrection.
Coven also introduced series fave Angela Bassett into the AHS fold. Kathy Bates’ attempt at playing the insidious real-life figure Madame Marie Laveau and her house of horrors had me permanently shook.
1. Asylum
Should Asylum even be on this list? Tbh, the 1960s fright-fest belongs in a league of its own. Between the narratives of evil possession, alien abduction, religious persecution, physical and psychological torture and then the savage pursuits of Bloody Face.
It’s an absolutely terrifying season that still gives me disturbing flashbacks to this day. A star was born in Sarah Paulson’s portrayal as Lana Winters and Asylum lifted the entire series to a standard never seen before in horror television. Give it a rewatch, if you dare.
Header via FX.