Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie is hauntingly beautiful and a must-see if you love horror (Review)

As a seasoned gamer of horror and suspense series, I can confidently say that Grotesquerie has set the bar high for its genre. It’s like Ryan Murphy decided to take his AHS franchise, crank it up to 11, and throw in a healthy dose of true crime for good measure. The first two episodes are a chilling rollercoaster ride that leaves you questioning your sanity and wanting more.

Grotesquerie is a more intense, sophisticated version of shows like American Horror Story. It makes AHS seem like a tame prelude to the real chilling experience that follows. The quality, flow, and concentration of the story in Grotesquerie are all exceptional. And let me clarify, I’m a big fan of Ryan Murphy’s AHS. In fact, I eagerly watch every season, even though I know it probably won’t be excellent. That’s how dedicated I am to the series. However, if we’re being honest, AHS hasn’t been great for quite a few seasons now. Instead, it’s more of a mixed bag, with more misses than hits.

The scares (most of them unnecessary jump scares) featured in American Horror Story are silly and just for the shock factor. But the graphic images and disturbing scenes we see in the first two episodes of Grotesquerie don’t feel that way. They have a purpose and are presented to audiences differently than on AHS. But okay, let’s stop comparing the two. I believe I have made my point! Now let’s dive into the series premiere.

heads up: if you haven’t watched the first two episodes of the series Grotesquerie yet, be warned that this review contains significant spoilers. Consider streaming them on Hulu prior to reading further.

Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie is hauntingly beautiful and a must-see if you love horror (Review)

What is boiling in the pot?

In the opening installment of “Grotesquerie”, we plunge straight into the action, introducing the initial grisly, ominous murder that will become a recurring theme. The viewers are introduced to Detective Lois Tryon, portrayed by Niecy Nash-Betts. It becomes apparent within moments that Lois struggles with alcohol and is in over her depth regarding the current case at hand.

The murder scene is both shocking and heartbreaking. A family of five was mercilessly murdered. The dad is chopped up, mom and two kids are tied up, but where’s the baby? Detective Lois is sharing the details of the crime scene with Sister Megan (Micaela Diamond), a young nun who works for The Catholic Guardian and is reporting on this story. Lois insinuates that inside the boiling pot was the baby as she tells Sister Megan to “think about the worst thing you can never unsee boiling in a pot.” This sends chills down your spine. Sister Megan gulps as she continues to take notes.

While jotting down my own observations during this episode, I find myself pondering an intriguing question: Why does Detective Lois seem to reveal so much about the case to Sister Megan? Could it be that I’m reading too much into things because of my exposure to numerous true crime shows? Or is this detail significant and we’ll uncover the answer as the story unfolds? Only time will reveal the truth!

Lois adds that an odd substance was found at the crime scene earlier, which has since been taken to the lab for analysis. Remarkably, this same fluid appears at a later location where two men have been gruesomely dismantled and arranged on a wall as if on display. Yet, remarkably, there’s no trace of blood – it seems to have been completely drained. Could someone get Dexter Morgan, please?

Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie is hauntingly beautiful and a must-see if you love horror (Review)

A nun and detective walk into a murder scene…

Instead of merely recounting the gruesome details of the initial case to Sister Megan, Lois permits her to observe and jot down events in the second crime scene as well. Lois trusts that Sister Megan’s guidance will be valuable since these cases seem reminiscent of violent stories found in the Bible.

Sister Megan stands out distinctly among the nuns we’ve encountered so far, hinting at a certain mystery surrounding her. It seems there are personal secrets hidden behind the veil of Grotesquerie‘s portrayal of Sister Megan.

The debut also introduces Merritt (Raven Goodwin), Lois’ daughter. Later, we learn that Lois’ husband, Marshall (Courtney B. Vance) isCourtney in a coma, and has been for some time. And there’s a lot to unpack here. Marshall and Lois were not a perfect, happy couple. He wasn’t faithful to Lois, and she wasn’t very present in their relationship. But one thing is clear, she does still have a lot of love for her husband. During a visit, Lois asks Marshall to come back to her because she needs him.

In the hospital, Lois engages in conversation with Nurse Redd (Lesley Manville), who appears to harbor some animosity towards Lois’ husband, the detective. She implicitly criticizes Lois for allegedly neglecting her marital duties, which is beyond her professional role and seems deliberate. It’s unclear what personal grievances Nurse Redd holds against Lois or why she resorts to intimidating comments to provoke her.

Don’t forget to catch episode 3 of Grotesquerie next Wednesday, October 2nd, only on FX. Or, you can watch it the next day on Hulu!

2024-09-26 19:28