If you thought vengeful ghosts, sadistic nuns, catty witches, and demonic clowns were bad, then you are not prepared for the horrific twists and turns that Ryan Murphy’s fifth season of American Horror Story is sure to deliver. The latest installment of the horror anthology series, subtitled “Hotel,” delightfully serves up some of the most shocking and gruesome images that have ever been beamed onto television screens. If one thing can be said for sure, it is that this season earns its M rating and viewer discretion is highly advised.
The ninety minute premiere that aired last night had such terrifying scenarios as a decaying, but not quite dead, body in a mattress, a mummified, violent monster that rapes its victims to death, a mysterious murderer who artfully arranges his escapades in a way that puts the antagonist of Se7en to shame, and last but not least a lustful, blood soaked vampire orgy. On their own, each one of these scenes fits right in with the creepy atmosphere and jaw dropping storylines that American Horror Story has brought to the table since its premiere in 2011, but jamming them all into one premiere lets viewers know that this may be one of the most ambitious seasons to date.
American Horror Story: Hotel stars Wes Bentley of The Hunger Games and American Beauty fame as the overworked Detective John Lowe. Detective Lowe may have the worst luck of all time, as he is trapped in a failing marriage, haunted by the disappearance of his son, and targeted by a severely disturbed individual who seems to think of murder as an art form. In his first appearance, Lowe examines a crime scene where an eyeless, tongue-less, and miraculously still alive man is nailed to a headboard. On top of him is a dead woman who has been impaled through the chest, and whoever committed this crime has glued the man inside the woman!
That is only one of several hair-raising scenes in this captivating premiere. American Horror Story veterans Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, and Matt Bomer all turn up to wreak havoc on unsuspecting hotel guests, however the most thrilling performance is turned in by Lady Gaga as a passionate and ethereal Countess who has an insatiable thirst for blood. With all of these gasp-inducing scares and hints at what is to come, long time viewers will hardly notice the lack of American Horror Story staple Jessica Lange.
American Horror Story: Hotel airs Wednesdays on FX at 10PM Eastern Time.
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