27 best horror shows to watch (and 14 shows you should skip)
By Mads Lennon
Horror shows: American Horror Story
- Seasons: 10
- Created by: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk
- Starring: Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Dylan McDermott, Taissa Farmiga, Emma Roberts, Leslie Grossman, Billie Lourd, Jessica Lange, and more (changes by season)
- Streaming: Hulu, Netflix and Prime Video
American Horror Story is the long-running horror anthology series on FX created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. Each season features a different cast, storyline and setting, although several cast members have remained on the show since the beginning, returning year after year to play someone different.
While AHS has garnered much acclaim over the years and countless Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy nominations, I’ve never been a big fan. The acting is the high point, but the plots and actual “horror” leave a lot to be desired. More often than not, the writers go for the gross-out moments or shocking scenes of sexual assault than they do something actually thought-provoking and exciting. Not to mention each season is generally rife with plot holes and a meandering, bloated storyline that finishes with a resounding “meh.”
Given that it has been on the air for over a decade with at least three more seasons in the works, the show obviously has a loyal fanbase. But I happen to think there are much better horror shows out there that deserve the acclaim this series gets. If you plan to watch the show, I recommend season 2, “Asylum,” one of the few seasons I enjoyed.
The advantage of AHS is you don’t have to sit and watch all ten seasons. You can pick and choose those that interest you since they are all self-contained stories (although there are some crossover characters and settings on occasion).
Verdict: SKIP (or just watch the seasons that interest you)