'American Horror Story 13' Review
Season 13.
Aired On: FX on Hulu.
Release Date: 09/24/26.
Genre: Drama. Horror. SciFi. Thriller.
The Verdict: A Maybe
The typical themes of darkness, the macabre, glamour, and feminine sovereignty are plentiful within the 13th season of Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story. New themes for this season include the number 13 and its mystical or occult leanings, plus the fun reveal that characters from past seasons of AHS may be making cameos.
We’re used to seeing the same actors in repeated seasons of AHS, but this time the characters themselves drive a Marvel Avengers-style reunion plot for this thirteenth season. In the first three episodes, we got old friends from both Murder House and Coven, plus Twisty the Clown from Freak Show. He fully creeps me out, so the less said, the better.
By the end of the third episode, I was eagerly looking forward to which additional past AHS characters we’d be treated to, but a “league of 13 leading ladies” has already been teased, and I can hardly wait to see it. I will admit, as a longtime aficionado of girl power, I’m here for the glam, glitz, and stellar female cast far more than I am for the chills and thrills. Jessica Lange is as seductive as ever in the first three episodes.
That said, it’s not only the ladies who shine in this cast. Fan favorite Evan Peters is back and already playing multiple characters - I’m rather partial to him in head-to-toe vinyl. This season promises an exceptional cast as always, with returning roles for Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman, Frances Conroy, Jamie Brewer, John Carroll Lynch, Mena Suvari, Mat Fraser and Jessica Lange.
There’s an overlaying plot here that seems vampiric - I’m pretty sure the grotesque old Mr. Nas is actually Nosferatu - but, honestly, it all seems a bit derivative and stale. We’ve seen the naive caregiver and silent, scary old patient trope before. I’m hoping the story will take off more in future episodes. By the end of the third episode, we also had a new pagan/Satanic holiday (13 days after Christmas) and a portal to hell, but I’m still not sure how it will all mesh together.
The costumes, sets, makeup, and cinematography are all sleek and stylized, as we’ve come to expect from American Horror Story. I’ve seen enough of season 13 to know that I’ll probably keep watching for the killer cast if nothing else. But also… 13 leading ladies, Evan Peters in a gimp suit, and a portal to hell? Dammit, I’m not going anywhere. Bring on the rest!
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