Helen Murdoch review the sixth episode of American Horror Story season 6…
After shaking up the traditional AHS format with the mockumentary style “My Roanoake Nightmare”, the big twist for season 6 has now been revealed. Below are SPOILERS for episode 6 so please don’t read further if you haven’t caught up on the latest episode.
*Spoilers*
The first 5 episodes of season 6 were a mixed bag that many viewers (including myself) weren’t sure what to make of it. Yes it was inventive and good to see something different, but so far it hasn’t been gripping and as horrifying as you’d expect from the minds of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. Now at episode 6 we have “the twist”. The format has been shaken up once again and the second half of this season will focus on a big brother style horror reality show where the actors from the re-enactment and the “real” people will be kept together in the old house in Roanoke over the period of the blood moon. To say that the show has gone full satire is an understatement and for the first time this season I’m genuinely intrigued as to where the show is heading.
Running the show is Sidney James (Cheyenne Jackson) a vile TV producer who ticks every slime ball box there is. Shot in documentary style and also using fixed cameras a la Paranormal Activity; there are fake scares littered throughout the house. Sidney does not believe in the Roanoke Nightmare and is basking in the greed of his hit show coming to life. As the episode progresses we learn that the real life Shelby and Matt have separated, Shelby had a one night stand with Dominic Banks (Cuba Gooding Jr) who played her husband in the re-enactment and there’s emotional baggage at every turn. Matt’s Sister Lee (Adina Porter) has returned along with her counterpart Monet Tumusiime (Angela Bassett who also expertly directed the episode). We also have Audrey Tindall (Paulson) who played Shelby and we now learn is a posh English waif type who’s married bad boy Rory Monahan (Evan Peters) who in turn played Edward Phillippe Mott – the original owner of the house. Kathy Bates is also introduced as an actress called Agnes Mary Winstead – she’s American once again and has gone slightly mad from playing The Butcher.
Writing the plot down it does seem quite convoluted but there is an elegance of pace and character introduction that’s been lacking throughout the season so far.
There are some great scares throughout this episode and we’re starting to get the truly creepy vibes that you can usually expect from American Horror Story. It’s stated halfway through the episode that there’s only one survivor of this second trip to the Roanoke property and it’s going to be great fun seeing who will get picked off next. Also if the real Butcher and her gang turn up on screen, who will be playing them?
Helen Murdoch
Originally published October 23, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.
