Top 20 Most HORRIFIC American Horror Story Characters
#20: Fiona Goode
Top 10 Best Fiona Gallagher Moments on Shameless
“Coven” & “Apocalypse”
Don’t let her surname fool you. There’s little if any good in Fiona’s black heart. Her daughter Cordelia can tell you that much. For years, Fiona reigned as the Supreme of her coven. Even the most powerful witches aren’t immune to fatal illnesses, though. As the clock begins to tick on Fiona’s time at the top, she becomes more obsessed than ever with achieving immortality. While Fiona cares about her coven to an extent, her desires always outweigh the needs of her fellow witches. In her second Emmy-winning performance on this show, the invaluable Jessica Lange plays Fiona with the vain madness of Norma Desmond. Paying for a lifetime of narcissism and backstabbing, Fiona’s journey poetically ends with no power, no glamor, and no escape.
#18: The Piggy Man
Top 10 Most HORRIFIC American Horror Story Characters
“Roanoke”
While the Butcher had more of a presence throughout “Roanoke,” the Piggy Man still gives us nightmares every time we eat too much barbeque. Technically, there’s more than one Piggy Man in the “AHS” universe. The urban legend brought up in Season One’s “Murder House” derived from Kincaid Polk, who was inspired by the OG Piggy Man. “Roanoke” takes us back to the beginning when a sticky-fingered colony deserter paid the ultimate price. In addition to getting scalped, the man was given a pig’s head and tail before being roasted. Now haunting the Roanoke House as a ghost, Piggy Man is exactly what you’d expect… from the neck up. The fact that he has a slender body strangely makes his presence even creepier.
#19: Lana Winters
“Asylum” & “Roanoke”
Not all of the series’ best characters are serial killers or evil witches. Case-in-point: Lana Winters, “Asylum’s” ultimate survivor. A journalist who tried to uncover some of Briarcliff’s shady dealings, she was ultimately locked in the asylum as retribution, before being kidnapped by Bloody Face. Not one to be a victim, though, she manages to overcome an abundance of atrocities, including her obsessed killer and her insane son. Few characters in the show have gone through so much darkness and managed to hold onto their sense of morality, which makes Lana the show’s most fundamental final girl.
#17: Harry Gardner
10 Biggest Reveals fom Harry & Meghan's Netflix Docuseries
“Double Feature”
In a setup reminiscent of “The Shining,” Harry Gardner takes his wife and young child to a secluded dwelling to get some writing done. Where Jack Torrance turns the bottle, Harry turns to literal crazy pills. The drugs not only relieve Harry of his writer’s block, but they make him an even better writer than Tarantino. There are a few downsides, however. Namely, they give Harry a thirst for blood while also tearing his family apart. Harry may not chase his daughter down with an ax, but allowing her to follow the same path of addiction and murder is equally irresponsible. We’ve seen other characters experience the price of fame, although few have gone to such extreme lengths as Harry while still being somewhat sympathetic.
#16: Papa Legba
“Coven” & “Apocalypse”
Grounded in Haitian Vodou, Papa Legba has been portrayed in a wide variety of shows, movies, and other media. Lance Reddick has delivered what might be the definitive portrayal on “AHS.” Distinguished by his top hat, skull makeup, and eyes that glow red like the fires of hell, this crossroads demon traverses the realms of life and death. Reddick’s performance strikes the ideal balance between being creepy and cool. Whenever someone enters negotiations with Papa Legba, you know that they’re making a deal with a devil. Papa Legba is so slick and classy, though, that one’s judgment might be clouded, especially if they summon him for selfish reasons. For Papa Legba, collecting souls isn’t personal. It’s just business… and admittedly pretty fun too.
#15: Benjamin Richter AKA Mr. Jingles
“1984”
Initially built up as this season’s big bag, Mr. Jingles is right out of a retro slasher film. The man behind the hood turns out to be more empathetic than expected, however. Benjamin Richter was a friendly soul until he was framed for a massacre and sent to an asylum. Although Richter was wrongfully accused, he eventually deteriorates into the vile killer that the world views him as. With thick glasses, a filthy face, and a leather jacket that blends into the night, he’s the epitome of every stranger you don’t want to encounter at camp. Whenever you hear his keys jingle, death lurks around the corner. Unlike Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers, Richter does manage to turn his life around, but bloodshed still follows.
#14: Kai Anderson
Top 10 Female American Horror Story Characters
“Cult”
We’d like to tell ourselves that Kai Anderson is purely grounded in dark satire and a monster like this couldn’t exist in real life. With each passing year, though, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that people like Kai do run amuck, making Evan Peters’ performance all the more horrifying. Kai initially keeps his toxic nature limited to the internet, sending far-right extremists over the edge. After Election Night 2016, the charismatic Kai is motivated to take trolling and manipulation to the next level. Kai lacks the supernatural powers most “AHS” villains possess, adding to the real-world terror that the character embodies. Most people would be creeped out if Kai came knocking on their door, but they also might underestimate exactly what he’s capable of.
#13: Marie Laveau
10 Best Tips from Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
“Coven”
The series’ third season brought the horror to New Orleans, where a fictionalized version of this real-life voodoo priestess served as one of the season’s antagonists. The leader of New Orleans’ premiere voodoo coven, she does not hesitate to take revenge on those who cross her, particularly the woman responsible for her lover’s death. Her commitment to her craft knows no bounds, as her evil is exemplified by her yearly infant sacrifice to retain her immortality. A one-woman wrecking ball, she becomes enemies with nearly every character this season, and manages to manipulate, curse, or otherwise maim just about every witch in Louisiana.
#12: Sister Mary Eunice
5 Times Young Sheldon's Missy Was the Best Sister to Sheldon & 5 Times It Was Penny
“Asylum” & “Freak Show”
To begin with, the sweet and innocent Mary Eunice didn’t fit in with the “AHS” crowd, but then something got into her: the devil. The devil used his new vessel as a way to exacerbate the evil goings-on at Briarcliff, manipulating Dr. Arden, the Monsignor, and various patients to cause chaos. Lily Rabe also played the innocent Misty the following season, but the duality of this character’s evil and purity is what made this character a shoo-in for this list. In fact, she was so popular, she even returned for an episode in “Freak Show.”
#11: Madame Delphine LaLaurie
“Coven” & “Apocalypse”
“American Horror Story” has created some of its most terrifying characters from real-life psychopaths. This infamous New Orleans socialite and serial killer is known for her horrendous mistreatment of slaves, which, in the show’s universe, caused her to be cursed with immortality. Delphine LaLaurie has a hard time adjusting to the 21st century, which causes both comedic moments as well as some interesting insights on racism. Kathy Bates gives her most evil performance since “Misery,” and rightfully won a Primetime Emmy for it. This is probably among TV’s greatest head-only performances.
#10: Margaret Booth
“1984”
In “Scream 4,” Emma Roberts played a murderer determined to become the “final girl.” Whether intentional or not, Season 9 of “AHS” flips things around. Roberts plays heroine Brooke while Leslie Grossman plays a madwoman hellbent on achieving final girl status. We’d say that Margaret is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Even before revealing her true colors, though, there was always something off about the uptight camp director. Nevertheless, her role in the Camp Redwood massacre and Benji Richter’s framing caught us all off guard. After getting her first taste of fame and bloodlust, Margaret heads down a path paved in deceit, greed, and sin, despite claiming to be devoutly religious. Grossman has a ball in what might be her best “ASH” performance yet.
#9: Constance Langdon
“Murder House” & “Apocalypse”
Jessica Lange’s first performance in the series still remains one of the show’s best. Constance is the nosy next-door neighbor of the murder house with a dark past tied to it. As an ex-resident, she’s aware of the ghosts in the house, two of which are her children, and she’ll do whatever it takes to get her way. Her children also made fantastic characters, with Adelaide as one of the standouts, but Constance’s ruthlessly cold, yet somehow warmly inviting nature made sure that the audience was never sure whose side she was on, though it was apparent the whole time: she was on a side of her own.
#8: Michael Langdon
Top 10 Worst Things Michael Scott Has Done
“Murder House” & “Apocalypse”
When audiences learned that “AHS” would be an anthology series, it looked like we’d never see the little Antichrist blossom into a grown hellspawn. To our delight, the story picked up in Season 8, appropriately subtitled “Apocalypse.” Michael Langdon is now an adult male, aging faster than the average person due to his demonic heritage. Although he can appear confident and collected, Michael’s also something of a lost soul. Losing every parental figure he’s ever had and going ignored by his father, Michael’s satanic uprising could be seen as a cry out for attention. At the literal End of Days, though, Michael is simply a bad seed. The role marked actor Cody Fern’s “AHS” debut, hitting the scene like a bat out of hell.
#7: James Patrick March
Another Top 10 James Corden Carpool Karaoke Performances
“Hotel” & “Apocalypse”
James Patrick March appears more poised and polished than the villains that Evan Peters unusual plays. Behind the fancy suits and neatly trimmed mustache, however, there’s a demented soul… assuming he even has a soul. Something similar can be said about the Hotel Cortez, which appears fancy on the surface, but was built to hoard the bodies of March’s victims. While not a household name, March doesn’t feel out of place at a dinner party with the Zodiac Killer and Jeffrey Dahmer. Speaking of real-world serial killers, March shares several parallels with H. H. Holmes, a hotel owner who committed numerous murders. March also possesses echoes of Vincent Price and Howard Hughes, blurring the lines between charming, eccentric, and intimidating.
#6: Elizabeth Johnson (AKA The Countess)
The Shocking True Story of The Dropout/Elizabeth Holmes
“Hotel”
When Jessica Lange left the series after the fourth season, a gap was left that could only be filled with another superstar: Lady Gaga. Her Golden Globe-winning performance as The Countess sees her become a victim of a disease that grants immortality, but requires the victim to drink human blood. She finds her way into the dark glamour of the Hotel Cortez and manipulates her way to the top, becoming a woman of power and many enemies. Though a vicious killer, she’s not without her soft spots, particularly for her deformed son and hotel bartender Liz Taylor. Only Gaga herself could have pulled off such a stylish character, and surprise us all along the way.
#5: Dandy Mott
“Freak Show”
This immature, spoiled, young rich man is much more psychotic than he seems. After idolizing Twisty, a clown serial killer, he continues his tradition of murder once he dies. With protection and money from his mother, he goes on a killing rampage fuelled by his obsession with conjoined twins Bette and Dot. He’s surprisingly charismatic, which makes him all the more dangerous for Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Few of the show’s villains have hit such a balance of being likeable and deplorable, and Finn Wittrock’s highly capable performance made him a viable asset to the series.
#4: Dr. Oliver Thredson (AKA Bloody Face)
Top 10 American Horror Story Villains
“Asylum”
When psychiatrist Dr. Thredson appeared to be the only character this season with any sense, it was apparent that something was up. Of course, he turned out to be the most insane of them all, as he was Bloody Face, a serial killer with extreme mommy issues. After becoming the evil foil to our heroine, Lana Winters, the two begin a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse that continues even long after his death. As one of the series’ most shocking villain reveals, Zachary Quinto perfectly balanced the monstrosity of the serial killer with the kind vulnerability of the psychiatrist.
#3: Sister Jude
Top 10 Best Sister, Sister Moments
“Asylum”
Jessica Lange was truly given the chance to shine when she took on the lead role in the series’ second outing. As Sister Jude, she begins the season ruling Briarcliff with an iron fist and cruelly punishing patients, though she begins to mentally spiral once her grim past comes back to haunt her and she slowly loses control. An anti-heroine in the truest sense, she at first appears to be the main villain before seeing the horrors of being an inmate and turning herself around. Complex characters like this are why we love “American Horror Story”.
#2: Tate Langdon
“Murder House”
At first, Tate simply seems like a disturbed young man, though the truth soon turns out to be much more sinister. He’s arguably the main villain of the series’ first iteration, as he is both directly and indirectly responsible for a number of character deaths. In life, he burned his stepfather alive before committing a massive school shooting in one of the series’ most disturbing scenes. Evan Peters’ layered performance even makes you almost feel sorry for the crazed kid, but the slow reveal of the true extent of his madness is one of the most compelling storylines in the show.
#1: Twisty the Clown
“Freak Show” & “Cult”
Twisty might not be the evilest character ever to grace “AHS,” as he was once a kindly circus clown who only wanted to make children smile. Yet, we can’t think of a more horrific image in this series than the ghastly grin that Twisty uses to cover his deformed face. In an era of horror overrun with creepy clowns, it’s not easy coming up with an original design. Twisty immediately emerged as an iconic addition to this franchise, though. As bizarre as Twisty’s appearance is, he isn’t completely detached from reality. John Wayne Gacy also dressed up as a clown, after all. Given his tragic backstory, we can’t help but feel some sympathy for Twisty. That doesn’t mean his face won’t haunt us for eternity.
