• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

American Horror Story Season 6 Episode 8 Review

November 6, 2016 by Kirsty Capes

Kirsty Capes reviews the eighth episode of American Horror Story season 6…

It seems as though episode 8 marks the beginning of the end for AHS 6. After some already harrowing scenes in episode 7, with the death of Matt at the hands of his wife Shelby and a crowbar, episode 8 ups the ante once again, with direction from Gwyneth Horder-Payton. The promise, mid-season, that only one will survive the gruelling three days in the Roanoke house is closer the being fulfilled with the deaths of more major characters in the most harrowing circumstances imaginable.

A noteworthy performance comes from Cuba Gooding Jr. this episode, as Dominic turns out to be more of a good guy than he would like to let on. He is a redemptive asset to the episode, which is otherwise filled with the most unbelievable gore. While episode 7 was extremely jumpy and, I thought, one of the most exciting episodes of the season, episode 8 sacrificed all moments of tension in favour of outright shock-factor content. Although almost every monster of Roanoke made an appearance in this episode – the colony, the pig-headed man, the ceiling-crawling girl, the nurses and the Polkes, there were really no moments of true fear, because they were all so out in the open. All suspense fell away in favour of sheer horror and some deaths that were difficult to watch, and almost gratuitous in their violence. We saw Lee have strips of flesh cut off of her by the Polkes, Audrey having her teeth pulled out, Shelby slitting her own throat and Dominic being battered to death by piggy man. Meanwhile, the cliffhanger of the Butcher’s colony waiting at the front door, having just put a cleaver through Kathy Bates’ head, at the end of episode 7, amounted to nothing as more pressing matters of unwatchable death scenes took centre stage. This is one of the problems of having a different director for each episode – they all want to focus on different things, meaning some plot details are left by the wayside in favour of others.

The whole episode was disjointed and more and more plot holes appeared along the way. I have a feeling there isn’t going to be enough air time to tie everything up. This episode was almost unwatchable in its attempts to disgust and horrify its audience. It wasn’t good horror writing, it was simply messy and unpleasant. I spent most of the time in this episode thinking about how unnecessarily unpleasant and repulsive it was and how better plot ideas and writing had clearly been sacrificed so we could watch Lee be eaten alive and Audrey slam a hammer into an old woman’s head repeatedly. I suppose repulsion is also a sign of a great horror show, but in my opinion this episode was all Saw and Hostel without any of the nuance or incredible characterisation that AHS is so famous for in the first place.

Kirsty Capes

Originally published November 6, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.

Filed Under: Kirsty Capes, Reviews, Television Tagged With: American Horror Story, American Horror Story: Roanoke

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Feel the Heat: Uncomfortably Hot and Sweaty Films

Essential Gothic Horror Movies To Scare You Senseless

10 Great Cult 80s Movies You Need To See

Ten Essential Films of the 1960s

Forgotten 90s Action Movies That Deserve a Second Chance

10 Great Modern Horror Classics You Have To See

Forgotten Horror Movie Sequels You Never Need to See

Overhated 2000s Horror Movies That Deserve Another Look

Max Headroom: The Story Behind the 80s A.I. Icon

Ten Great Comeback Performances

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

Top Stories:

7 Great 90s Thrillers From First-Time Directors

Movie Review – Osiris (2025)

The Blockbuster Comic Book Movie Problem: The Box Office Cliff Edge

10 Great Movies About Making Movies

Movie Review – The Toxic Avenger (2025)

The Essential Indiana Jones Rip Off Movies of the 1980s

10 Great Horror TV Shows You Need to Watch

Movie Review – Caught Stealing (2025)

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

The Essential Revisionist Westerns of the 21st Century

10 Great Forgotten Gems of the 1980s

Hot Days of Horror: The Best Summer Horror Movies

10 Movie Franchises That Need To End

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket