Room for one, please. FX’s “American Horror Story” checks into Hotel Cortez for the fifth season installment. The hotel of horrors has an old, run down interior, eerie dim-light hallways and rooms complete with fading screaming and laughter throughout the hallways. It is a show of horrifying occurrences, so forget the lovely vacation getaway in a five-star bed and breakfast.
This season of “American Horror Story” takes a step in the right direction with blood-spilling horror, “wait-for-it” moments and, as always in the horror show, a plot that carries into a new season. To think it’s only been the first episode makes the suspense even better, as we wonder what else creators Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy have up their sleeves.
With all the horror, “American Horror Story” has brought Lady Gaga into the series as the countess of the hotel. Gaga is perfect for this character, as she is known for her exotic and bizarre mannerisms. She uses her outlandish reputation to get really into her character, who is the spitting image of Gaga, without the weird outfits. Gaga also takes a nod at Freddy Krueger with her bladed fingernails, which make her character even more terrifying. They aren’t giant knives like Krueger’s glove in “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” but they are just as effective for slashing throats and stabbing victims.
With all the chaos that is imminent this season, Kathy Bates will be right in the middle of it as she returns as Iris, one of the hotel receptionists. Bates is known for her docile roles in films like “Titanic” and “The Blind Side,” but Bates is an antagonist this season of “American Horror Story,” leading hotel guest to their bloody deaths. It is different seeing Bates with a straight face and a nonchalant attitude when she is usually smiling and humorous.
If there are any questions about the disappearance of a child in season four, those questions will be answered as the mystery carries on in season five. It is revealed where he is, but whether the boy’s family will find him will be a mystery. If anyone thought there weren’t enough weird ways to die, think again as this season of “American Horror Story” has already set the bar for the episodes to come.
There have already been moments in which there is a vibe that something will happen and someone will die. There’s that feeling when the faint music can be heard just like in horror films. It is just a matter of time when it happens, and, when it does, you won’t want to sleep alone. “American Horror Story: Hotel” has started with a haunting premiere to talk about.
