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Billie Lourd to Return in ‘American Horror Story’ Season Eight

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Billie Lourd fans were certainly disappointed when her first Ryan Murphy horror series, Scream Queens, was prematurely cancelled after just two seasons… but it looks like she’s found a permanent home on Murphy’s other big horror franchise! After a lead role in last season’s American Horror Story: Cult, Lourd will indeed be returning for Season Eight.

Deadline reports that Lourd has been cast in the upcoming season alongside co-stars such as Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Kathy Bates, and Joan Collins. Details on Lourd’s new character have not yet been revealed, and all we know about any of the upcoming parts is that Collins will play the grandmother of Peter’s character. read more

Joan Collins Joining Cast of ‘American Horror Story’ for Season 8

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According to a post by Deadline, American Horror Story head honcho Ryan Murphy has brought Dame Joan Collins on board for the upcoming eighth season of the mammoth show. Another big name being dangled (but not confirmed) is that of legendary actress Anjelica Huston. Collins (and maybe Huston) joins a cast that already includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and the always-incredible Kathy Bates.

While there has been no confirmation of what the theme will be for this season, there is speculation that we may need to prepare for life in a post-nuclear war Arizona in American Horror Story: Radioactive! Again, that is just rumor at this point but it’s always fun to discuss. read more

Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Kathy Bates Return for ‘American Horror Story’ Season 8

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Coming from Variety, series Creator and Executive Producer Ryan Murphy has revealed regular cast members Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Kathy Bates are set to return for season eight of American Horror Story.

Bates was unavailable for AHS season seven, titled Cult, during production on the Netflix series Disjointed, which she was the lead character in. As that series has not been renewed, Bates’ schedule was freed up to work on the coming season of AHS.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Murphy said, “Kathy [Bates] and Sarah Paulson have a lot of great stuff to get to do. So, with Evan Peters, the three of them are the leads this year.” read more

‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’: The Horror News Network Mid-Season Review

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Halfway through its intense and diverse season, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story manages to out-“American horror” American Horror Story and claim the prize as one of the most engaging shows on television. Between its expert storytelling, its incredible actors, and its flawless delivery of social commentary, the series manages to exceed expectations each and every night.

The title, The Assassination of Gianni Versace, can be misleading at first glace. In Season One, we knew The People v. O.J. Simpson would primarily focus on the Simpson trial… and that’s exactly what we got. Assassination tells a much more complex story. Based on Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History by Maureen Orth, the season spends significantly more time on Darren Criss’ serial killer Cunanan and his other victims than the time it dwells on the inner-workings of the Versace clan. That isn’t to say that Edgar Ramirez, Penelope Cruz, and Ricky Martin aren’t completely magnetic on screen- because they’re incredible- but the structure of the storytelling allows for breathing room as the viewer takes in the scope of Cunanan’s actions. read more

‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ Episode 1 Review

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The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story continues the series’ track record of being Ryan Murphy’s best show on television. Two years ago, The People v. O.J. Simpson was a surprise hit for a variety of reasons. It featured excellent actors in amazing roles and the season maintained its thrilling momentum, even while exploring the minute details of the Simpson case. The show was engaging and thoughtfully delivered throughout. My thesis at the time was that the show’s secret weapon was that it was based on a book by Jeffrey Toobin, and that’s what forced Murphy and company to keep the production on its tracks from start to finish. A common complaint about American Horror Story is that every season tends to go off the rails after a few episodes. Because American Crime Story has been based on thoroughly-researched texts about real-life events, there aren’t as many opportunities to embellish or stray into territory which might lose an audience. read more

Details for ‘American Horror Story’ Season 8 Revealed

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When speaking to television critics at the semi-annual press tour on Friday night, Ryan Murphy discussed a few details about the eighth season of the Emmy Award winning American Horror Story.  As with previous seasons, plot and casting specifics of AHS are kept tightly under wraps. However, Murphy did clarify that the upcoming installment will not be the highly-anticipated crossover between “Murder House” and “Coven,“ which appears to be reserved for season nine at this point.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the AHS creator did reveal that season eight will be set in the future. “All I’ll say about it is I want to go to the future – still topical, but the future, which I’ve never done.” As of this moment, series regular and fan favorite, Sarah Paulson is the only cast member confirmed for the upcoming season. read more

Buy / Wait / Rent: October 2017 Blu-Ray Releases

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We sift through the new release heap so you don’t have to!

Welcome to Horror News Network’s Buy / Wait / Rent, a monthly article devoted to the most highly-anticipated horror releases on blu-ray. Here you will find the best home video releases of each month, along with our opinion on whether each film is a must-own on the first day of release, something you should wait to buy until it goes on sale, or something you’re better off renting for a one-time watch. And now, on to the notable new releases of October 2017! read more

‘American Horror Story: Cult’ Episodes 2 & 3: The Horror News Network Review

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Nick Banks, HNN’s resident AHS reviewer and commentator, had such a reaction to the pilot episode of Cult that he’s taking a breather under doctor’s orders. You can read the review that sent him over the edge by clicking this link. While he’s resting up, I’ve agreed to share my thoughts of Episodes Two and Three of the season.

I must admit that I’m having a similar reaction to American Horror Story: Cult. After watching the first three episodes, I am developing Ally Mayfair-Richards’ unusual phobia of holes… I find all of the plot holes in the script to be utterly terrifying! read more

Sarah Paulson Screams and Hides from Clowns on ‘Ellen’

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Sarah Paulson- an actress known for screaming and hiding from clowns every week on American Horror Story: Cult- appeared on Ellen this morning to scream and hide from clowns.

Ellen, a hostess known for playfully pranking her guests from time to time, took things to the next level this morning by terrifying poor Sarah not one, not two, but three separate times! It all started before the show with a dressing room closet prank. Things escalated on stage during showtime when a costumed man with a Halloween-ey outfit snuck up on her and grabbed her shoulder while shouting unexpectedly. Paulson’s screams in real life are just as blood-curdling as her terrified performances; and by the second scare one has to wonder if she’s really into being freaked out over and over again for the amusement of Ellen’s audience. But Ellen didn’t stop there. A clown jumped out of a big box, which caused Sarah to take shelter under the show’s prop coffee table. read more

‘American Horror Story: Cult’: The Horror News Network Review

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Last season, after watching the last few episodes of American Horror Story: Roanoke, I vowed that I was done with the series after too many instances of incoherent story-telling, on-the-fly shifts in focus, and over-the-top performances.  What could bring me back to this consistently infuriating mess?

More than anything, American Horror Story has always had problems with pacing and the aforementioned abrupt shifts in focus, narrative, and style. How could I even get through one episode after the terror-inducing choices made by Ryan Murphy last season?  Well, I took some advice from fellow HNN staffer John Evans.  He suggested that I took a segment-by-segment approach to this review (akin to ingesting Miralax in small gulps) so I could make it to the end of the episode and track my reactions.   Here are the fruits of my labors, divided into small, bite-sized, stream-of-consciousness segments: read more