American Horror Story

Summary

WhileAmerican Horror Storyseason 2,Asylum , is easy one of the morose seasons of the anthology boob tube series , several of its twisted storylines are in reality base on true stories . WhileAmerican Horror Storytells some of the most disturbing tales on television , the stories become all the more bone - chilling when chance on that each time of year thread from real - sprightliness people and events . AHSseason 2’sAsylumis still considered one of the show ’s best installing after over a X on air , partially because of howrealRyan Murphy ’s horror story feels .

AHSseason 2 tackles serial killers , aliens , a rundown psychiatric adroitness , demonic possession , evil Nazi doctors , among other topic , making it one ofAmerican Horror Story ’s more confusing season . Even still , Asylum ’s stories are smartly woven and most of them are tie up well enough by the end that viewing audience are left quenched , which ca n’t be said for every season , such asAmerican Horror Storyseason 10 ’s alien story , Death Valley . Though it study on a lot , American Horror Story : Asylumlooked to many aspects of on-key story that are rooted in the same darkness as the season itself .

Ryan Murphy ’s horror anthology has dominated the horror genre for over a decennary . AHS has had its ups and down , but which season takes the top touch ?

American Horror Story Season 12 Poster

Briarcliff Manor Was Based The Notorious Willowbrook State School

The Titular Asylum Had A Shocking Real-Life Inspiration

Briarcliff Manor , despite being a backdrop much of the fourth dimension inAsylum , is indeed one of , if not the main character ofAHSseason 2 , as a majority of what transpires is within its wall . It may seem like a really horrific place , but it blench in comparison toAmerican Horror Story ’s existent breathing in , the Willowbrook State School . Willowbrook was an institution for intellectually mar children in Staten Island , New York that operated from 1947 to 1987 . Within that 40 - year period , the happenings that hap were rightfully grim , even forRyan Murphy’sAmerican Horror Storystandards .

grant toThe Praeger Handbook of Special Educationby Alberto Bursztyn , by 1965 , the institution hold six thousand patients even though it could only well accommodate four thousand . This is a much gravid patient turn than inAmerican Horror Story : Asylum , meaning even more children were neglected in real - life than in the series . The children were leave behind to their own machine ; many were malnourished and cover in their own body matter . There were also signboard of forcible and sexual abuse on some of the fry at the hand of the faculty , a shape thatAHSseason 2 include for some of its sadistic staff .

American Horror Story may be an anthology series , but creator Ryan Murphy has reassert that every season can be connected : here ’s how .

A collage image featuring Zachary Quinto, Jessic Lange, and Lily Rabe in American Horror Story Asylum - image created by Tom Russell

The Location Briarcliff Manor Is Based On Also Ran Brutal Experiments

Willowbrook State School Was The Location Of Some Incredibly Unethical Research

If this does n’t already seem worse than what ’s render inAmerican Horror Story : Asylum ’s mortal time of year , the experiments that prompt it are all the more bone - chilling . In 1956 , a disturbing research study begin at Willowbrook , in which research worker intentionally infected patient role with hepatitis A to study the virus .

It was n’t until 1987 that Willowbrook eventually shut out down , which is like to how long it tookAmerican Horror Story ’s Briarcliff to go under .

The investigator behind the inhumane experiment claimed that there was already a gamy infection rate of hepatitis at the school before the work began , and attest that the intentionally - infect fry would have more than probably gotten it anyway . The experiment lasted for 14 years before being shut down . These experiment inspiredAsylum ’s Dr. James Arden ’s unethical tests at Briarcliff , though his dove into literally insensate procedures .

A collage of Jessica Lange and Evan Peters in different American Horror Story roles

American Horror Story is a Horror Anthology series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The franchise has seen stars like Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Denis O’Hare, Zachary Quinto, Evan Peters, and Dylan McDermott. Each season follows a new premise and spans an array of horror genres like witches, ghosts, serial killers, and more.

Much likeSarah Paulson’sAHSseason 2 characterdid with Briarcliff , Geraldo Rivera released his exposé about the institution in 1972 calledWillowbrook : The Last Great Disgrace . The substantial - life report showed the rightfully deplorable conditions the patients were living in and gained the attending of the nation . However , it was n’t until 1987 that Willowbrook finally shut down , which is interchangeable to how long it tookAmerican Horror Story ’s Briarcliff to go under .

Each season of American Horror Story takes piazza in different locations , and due to the event that take spot in them , some are scarier than others .

Lana Winters Is Based On Investigative Journalist Nellie Bly

The True Story Behind AHS: Asylum Is Deeper Than The Titular Location

Lana Winters is probably one of the greatest characters Sarah Paulson has ever meet on any season ofAmerican Horror Story . Much ofAHSseason 2 revolves around her eccentric , a reporter trying to get her heavy break by locomote to the asylum under false dissembling , only to be admitted against her own will . She push through everything that ’s drop at her , and audiences ca n’t serve but root for her along the way . peradventure the beneficial part aboutAmerican Horror Story ’s Lana Winters characteris that she ’s based on the very real Nellie Bly .

Much sooner than Sarah Paulson’sAHSseason 2 character , Bly was released only 10 day later , with her exposé about the incident putting her on the single-valued function as an fact-finding diary keeper .

The real - lifeAmerican Horror Storyinspiration was turn out Elizabeth Cochran Seaman , although most know her by her pen name , Nellie Bly . Though known for various telling writings , one , in particular , strike a chord withAmerican Horror Storycreators , called10 Days in a Madhouse . In 1887 , Bly took an cloak-and-dagger assignment for Joseph Pulitzer ’s newspaper , New York Worldto unearth and report on the poor condition at the Women ’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell ’s Island , or Roosevelt Island as it ’s known today .

The cast of American Horror Story Asylum in one room with many beds

To do so , Bly had to get involuntarily let in by pretending she was insane . She succeeded and was admit . Much sooner than Sarah Paulson’sAHSseason 2 fiber , Bly was released only 10 days later , with her exposé about the incident order her on the map as an investigative journalist .

American Horror Story tells a completely different story for each of its seasons and these are the best episodes from each installing .

Kit and Alma Are Based On Betty and Barney Hill

One Of The Most Fantastical Elements Of Asylum Still Had Roots In Reality

Some may thinkAmerican Horror Story : Asylum ’s noncitizen plotwas a spot too much or did n’t belong in the season , peculiarly with so much else choke on . While it ’s true that the season boast several storyline , aliens played a vital theatrical role due to the multitude who inspiredAmerican Horror Story ’s role Kit and Alma Walker . However , as flakey as the unknown inAmerican Horror Story : Asylumfelt , the on - screenAHSseason 2 couple is base on a real - lifetime one — Betty and Barney Hill .

The real people who exhort the outlander inAmerican Horror Story : Asylumwere drive back home to Portsmouth , New Hampshire at dark and find a unknown physical object fly across the sky , only to watch it descend and get tight to their fomite .

Betty and Barney Hill were also an interracial matrimonial couple who report seeing and being abducted by an alien ballistic capsule on September 19th , 1961.The real people who inspired the aliens inAmerican Horror Story : Asylumwere force back home to Portsmouth , New Hampshire at nighttime and witness a strange aim vanish across the sky , only to watch it descend and get tight to their vehicle .

A blended image of Pepper from Freak Show/Asylum, Myrtle Snow from Coven/Apocalypse, and the American Horror Story Murder House - created by Tom Russell

After some time being follow by the UFO that would inspireAmerican Horror Story ’s aliens , the Hills allege that they felt dazed and get in at their home at 5 a.m. , but were ineffectual to account for 2 hour . It was afterward that they began to remember what go on with the missing metre and reported that they were abducted by humanoid beings , with their taradiddle then becoming the ground for Kit and Alma’sAHSseason 2 plotlines .

American Horror Story has had many reference fare and go throughout its anthology , but these single - episode role player made a enceinte impact .

Dr. Arthur Arden Is Based On Josef Mengele

An Infamous Nazi Scientist Directly Influenced A Chilling American Horror Story: Asylum Character

Briafcliff ’s nonmigratory medico , Dr. Arthur Arden , AKA Hans Gruper , was n’t the most likeable case inAmerican Horror Story , mostly due to the fact that he was a sadistic Nazi war criminal who experimented on his patients . The content that did n’t die from Arden ’s brutal experiment became deformed , bloodthirsty creatures and were sent to live out in the Wood surroundingAHSseason 2 ’s Briarcliff .

American Horror Story ’s tangible - life inspiration for Dr. Arden lead several human experiments and had a peculiar interest in twins , subjecting them to several grisly procedures that many die out from .

regrettably , Asylum’sDr . Ardenis anotherAmerican Horror Storycharacter inspired by an as malign , real - living person : Josef Mengele . Mengele was one of the superintend SS medico at the Auschwitz concentration coterie , and was later on channelize to another , Gross - Rosen . American Horror Story ’s real - life divine guidance for Dr. Arden led several human experimentation and had a particular interest in twins , subjugate them to several gruesome procedures that many die from .

Big Daddy with a smiling Michael Langdon and a serious Sister Mary Eunice in American Horror Story

Dr. Oliver Thredson Was Based On Ed Gein

One Of America’s Most Notorious Serial Killers Was Behind Zachary Quinto’s Character

Zachary Quinto did a phenomenal business playing Dr. Oliver Thredson inAmerican Horror Story : Asylum , who would become one of the show ’s most notorious serial killers . American Horror Storyhas deal with powerful witches , ghost , crazy furore loss leader , and even the Antichrist , butAHSseason 2 ’s Thredsen is a atrocious character that holds his own against other antagonists of the serial , despite being human . It ’s unsurprising that a character so malefic asBloody Face was revolutionize by Ed Gein , the genuine - life serial killer .

While the valet who inspiredAmerican Horror Story ’s Thredson only confessed to murdering two woman , Gein had a habit of graverobbing .

While the humankind who inspiredAmerican Horror Story ’s Thredson only confessed to polish off two cleaning woman , Gein had a habit of graverobbing . It ’s estimated that he exhumed up to nine bodies from cemeteries ; he then " repurposed " them for various reasons . This included make lampshades , rap , undershirt , and mask out of human pelt , and other various items from the bone of his victims , such as lawn bowling and ashtray .

Sarah Paulsonb as Lana Winters in AHS: Asylum

American Horror Story ’s Dr. Thredson , AKA Bloody Face , was based on someone about as veridical and disturbing as it gets , butAHSseason 2 was n’t the only recreation of Gein ’s story . Gein also inspiredThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre ’s Leatherface and others throughout repulsion history .

American Horror Story has no shortage of complex , sympathetic , and intriguing character . At least one stands out above the rest in each season .

Other Real-Life Events That Inspired American Horror Story

Asylum Isn’t The Only Season Of American Horror Story To Draw From Real Life

Many fan ’s considerAmerican Horror Story : Asylumto be one of the stiff in the show , and the reason it ’s so chilling may be in part because it draw from real lifespan . However , Asylumisn’t the onlyAmerican Horror Storyseason to be influenced by true stories and existent - life figures . American Horror Story’sinspirations vary among real - life people , events , and locations that involve different generations and supernatural topic .

BeforeAHSseason 2 ’s creepy actual - life tale , American Horror Story ’s inspirations forMurder Houseincluded the Black Dahlia / Elizabeth Short murder case , the Lindbergh baby snatch , the notorious nurse slaying by Richard Speck , and the Columbine High School pot shot , the last of which was the ground for Tate ’s school massacre . AHSseason 3,Coven , then took inspiration from the tangible - life story Madame LaLaurie who brutally tortured enslaved multitude , the true report of the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau , the legend of Papa Legba , and the real Axeman murderer .

AHS : NYCwas one of the most urge on by real life so far , as it drew on the AIDs and HIV epidemic in New York in the 1980s , bringing a chilling chapter in history to the otherwise - supernaturally - oriented show .

Split image of Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson in AHS Apocalypse and Emma Roberts in AHS 1984

AHS season 4’sFreak Showwas then inspired by serial sea wolf John Wayne Gacy for Twisty the Clown , Grady Stiles Jr. for Jimmy Darling , the terrifying real - life Edward Mordrake , and The Mütter Museum forAmerican Horror Story ’s Morbidity Museum . American Horror Story ’s inspirations forHotelinclude H.H. Holmes forJames March , the real - living Cecil Hotelfor Hotel Cortez , and several real - life serial killers like Aileen Wuornos who fictionally appear in the season . AHSseason 6,Roanoke , is instigate by the actual - life mystery of the lost settlement of Roanoke from 1590 .

American Horror Story : Cultis inspired by cult loss leader like Charles Manson , David Koresh , and Jim Jones . It also had a plot directly based on the 2016 election results when Donald Trump gain against Hilary clniton , which serves as a accelerator for the relaxation of the time of year . American Horror Storyseason 10 ’s inspirations admit the real - life " Cape Cod Vampire " and President Dwight Eisenhower ’s rumored meeting with extraterrestrial being .

More lately , American Horror Storyseason 11,AHS : NYCwas one of the most inspired by real lifetime so far , as it drew on the AIDs and HIV epidemic in New York in the 1980s , bringing a chilling chapter in account to the otherwise - supernaturally - oriented show .

Kit and Alma talking in AHS Asylum

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Cast

American Horror Story is a Horror Anthology serial make by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk . The franchise has find out stars like Connie Britton , Jessica Lange , Denis O’Hare , Zachary Quinto , Evan Peters , and Dylan McDermott . Each season follows a newfangled assumption and traverse an regalia of horror genres like witches , ghosts , serial killers , and more .

Split image showing Derrick and Jenny in AHS

American Horror Story Asylum Arden

American Horror Story Asylum Oliver Thredson

Split image of Fiona, Kai and Cordelia in American Horror Story

A blended image features a real portrait of Delphine LaLaurie and Kathy Bates playing LaLaurie in AHS Coven

Headshot Of Denis O’Hare

Headshot Of Emma Roberts In The NY Premiere of Space Cadet

American Horror Story