American Horror Stories, the spin-off anthology series from the highly popular, long-running (probably too long now) American Horror Story franchise, began in 2021. It is an extension of the AHS universe but with a twist: instead of a season-long storyline, each episode of American Horror Stories presents a self-contained horror tale, mixing horror-based themes with a variety of current and alumni AHS cast members. It returns once again this October with five episodes that will make up the rest of season three which began last year, paused due to the writers strike of 2023.
While AHS is known for tackling wide-ranging topics like haunted houses, witches, freak show circuses and cults, American Horror Stories focuses on bite-sized scares, which can vary from supernatural tales to slasher-inspired thrillers, often with elements of dark satire and psychological horror. The show’s aim for short, digestible yet impactful horror vignettes succeed by design, but that success rate varies in their execution. Like all of AHS to date the tone throughout is generally unsettling, just the way we like it, maintaining the signature eeriness that has become synonymous with the Ryan Murphy/Brad Falchuk brand. Let’s just say thanks to the episodes Aura and Daphne I won’t be investing in either a doorbell camera or an A.I assistant device anytime soon.
Despite this traditional formulaic approach, the intentions of American Horror Stories aren’t clear at the outset. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was more of the same of its parent show; the first episodes, "Rubber(wo)Man," revisits the infamous Murder House from the original season of AHS, a setting that has already been revisited in recent years, in a two-part affair. It feels like a new age teenage-driven truncated retelling, except the tropes feel forced and lazy. From then on, think of it more of like Creepshow or Tales From the Crypt with added acceptable nods to the AHS universe. This format allows for experimentation with different horror sub-genres, themes and styles in a condensed timeframe, and often brings a more welcome sense urgency to each story as it gradually frees itself from the chains of its parent.
As is often the case with the short story format, there can be as much to celebrate as there is to deride. Much like its predecessor, AHS intertwines commentary on topics such as fame, social media, and the price of beauty with gory, macabre storytelling with modern twists that speak to contemporary societal fears. Morally ambiguous characters are often the stars of these tales, as are the bleak or ambiguous endings, often leaving a sense of dread and unease. When it works, it works to perfection - as unsettling as Daphne’s concept is, its a fascinating psychological commentary of the effects of a pandemic that’s worth an immediate examination rewatch. Ba’al is a showcase that proves, by the series’ fourth episode, that AHS is worth sticking around for after all. On the flip side, the three (yes, three) Murder House-related episodes in season one are both disastrous and unnecessary. Old character cameos link back to the AHS foundations, but otherwise do little to expand on the house and the spectral curse within it. The charm and charisma has been cast aside as we’re merely witnessing the deconstruction of increasingly dislikeable, well, dickheads.
It was to be expected. All shows of this format - different writers, actors, and naturally, the stories - have their ups and downs. Tales from the Crypt and Creepshow are no different. And that’s part of the appeal; for every Lake or The Naughty List there is always an Aura or Dollhouse around the corner. Its the TV watcher’s equivalent of reading the script on paper, screwing it up and throwing into the bin; its done, and onto the next one. I must admit I’m one of those that will occasionally reach into the bin, unscrew the paper and revisit before throwing it away again.
Anthology shows of this ilk rarely last long in the twenty first century. The aforementioned Creepshow has reached four excellent seasons as of 2023, and this is a rare exception; the reboot of Amazing Stories over at Apple TV only lasted five episodes, and Jordan Peele’s reboot of The Twilight Zone only lasted two seasons. Furthermore there are less than ten shows of this format currently running, so they are becoming a rarer breed, and must be experienced and savoured while they last. And so as Halloween season comes around once again, the return of American Horror Stories should be celebrated once again also. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some twisted television to watch.
American Horror Stories is available on Disney Plus. The new episodes are released on October 15th.
