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November 17, 2016

The 15 Grisliest Deaths in American Horror Story

By Brian Moylan

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Photo: FX

For decades, horror movies have dreamt up more and more outlandish ways to kill their poor victims. (Remember how Scream finished off Rose McGowan with an automatic garage door?) The stakes are even higher for American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy: Not only does he compete with Hollywood, he also has to find a way to top himself every year. Each season devises new, ever more creative ways to kill characters off, whether it’s giving birth to a demon baby, having sex with cursed vagina, or being sodomized by a demon with a razor dildo. The only thing that’s harder than enduring these 15 show-stopping horrors? Imagining what AHS might do next.

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1 / 15 Photos
Chad Warwick (Zachary Quinto) is drowned by the Rubber Man in an apple-bobbing bucket. Chad Warwick (Zachary Quinto) is drowned by the Rubber Man in an apple-bobbing bucket.

Chad Warwick (Zachary Quinto) is drowned by the Rubber Man in an apple-bobbing bucket.

Photo: FX
Tate Langdon (Evan Peters) is executed by SWAT team after killing 15 students in a school shooting. Tate Langdon (Evan Peters) is executed by SWAT team after killing 15 students in a school shooting.

Tate Langdon (Evan Peters) is executed by SWAT team after killing 15 students in a school shooting.

Photo: FX
Vivien Harmon (Connie Britton) dies while giving birth to a demon baby. Vivien Harmon (Connie Britton) dies while giving birth to a demon baby.

Vivien Harmon (Connie Britton) dies while giving birth to a demon baby.

Photo: FX
After having both her legs amputated, her skin mutilated, and being injected with unknown pathogens, Shelly (Chloe Sevigny) is choked to death with a rosary by Monsignor Howard (Joseph Fiennes). After having both her legs amputated, her skin mutilated, and being injected with unknown pathogens, Shelly (Chloe Sevigny) is choked to death with a rosary by Monsignor Howard (Joseph Fiennes).

After having both her legs amputated, her skin mutilated, and being injected with unknown pathogens, Shelly (Chloe Sevigny) is choked to death with a ...

After having both her legs amputated, her skin mutilated, and being injected with unknown pathogens, Shelly (Chloe Sevigny) is choked to death with a rosary by Monsignor Howard (Joseph Fiennes).

Photo: FX
Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga) takes revenge on the only surviving frat boy who gang raped Madison (Emma Roberts) by having sex with him, a.k.a. killing him with her cursed witch vagina. Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga) takes revenge on the only surviving frat boy who gang raped Madison (Emma Roberts) by having sex with him, a.k.a. killing him with her cursed witch vagina.

Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga) takes revenge on the only surviving frat boy who gang raped Madison (Emma Roberts) by having sex with him, a.k.a. killing ...

Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga) takes revenge on the only surviving frat boy who gang raped Madison (Emma Roberts) by having sex with him, a.k.a. killing him with her cursed witch vagina.

Photo: FX
Kyle Spencer (Even Peters) is dismembered during a telekinetic bus crash. Kyle Spencer (Even Peters) is dismembered during a telekinetic bus crash.

Kyle Spencer (Even Peters) is dismembered during a telekinetic bus crash.

Photo: FX
Misty Day (Lily Rabe) gets trapped in her own personal hell, where she must dissect live frogs for eternity. Misty Day (Lily Rabe) gets trapped in her own personal hell, where she must dissect live frogs for eternity.

Misty Day (Lily Rabe) gets trapped in her own personal hell, where she must dissect live frogs for eternity.

Fashion-loving Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy) is burned at the stake as she shouts, "Balenciaga!" (This one foreshadows a number of characters being burned alive in Roanoke.) Fashion-loving Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy) is burned at the stake as she shouts, "Balenciaga!" (This one foreshadows a number of characters being burned alive in Roanoke.)

Fashion-loving Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy) is burned at the stake as she shouts, "Balenciaga!" (This one foreshadows a number of characters...

Fashion-loving Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy) is burned at the stake as she shouts, "Balenciaga!" (This one foreshadows a number of characters being burned alive in Roanoke.)

Photo: FX
Twisty the Clown (John Carrol Lynch) bludgeons two picnickers with juggling clubs and stabs them to death with shears. Twisty the Clown (John Carrol Lynch) bludgeons two picnickers with juggling clubs and stabs them to death with shears.

Twisty the Clown (John Carrol Lynch) bludgeons two picnickers with juggling clubs and stabs them to death with shears.

Photo: FX
Ma Petite (Jyoti Amge) is smothered by a deadly hug. Ma Petite (Jyoti Amge) is smothered by a deadly hug.

Ma Petite (Jyoti Amge) is smothered by a deadly hug.

Photo: FX
Maggie Esmerelda (Emma Roberts) is literally sawed in half by an insane magician. (Yes, the magician is played by Neil Patrick Harris.) Maggie Esmerelda (Emma Roberts) is literally sawed in half by an insane magician. (Yes, the magician is played by Neil Patrick Harris.)

Maggie Esmerelda (Emma Roberts) is literally sawed in half by an insane magician. (Yes, the magician is played by Neil Patrick Harris.)

Photo: FX
After having his tongue and eyes plucked out, this unnamed man was force-fed erectile dysfunction drugs and his erect penis was super-glued inside his dead mistress, who was impaled and nailed to the headboard. After having his tongue and eyes plucked out, this unnamed man was force-fed erectile dysfunction drugs and his erect penis was super-glued inside his dead mistress, who was impaled and nailed to the headboard.

After having his tongue and eyes plucked out, this unnamed man was force-fed erectile dysfunction drugs and his erect penis was super-glued inside his...

After having his tongue and eyes plucked out, this unnamed man was force-fed erectile dysfunction drugs and his erect penis was super-glued inside his dead mistress, who was impaled and nailed to the headboard.

Photo: FX
A heroin addict named Gabriel (Max Greenfield) is raped to death with the Addiction Demon's razor dildo (This is actually the show's second death by sodomy, following the man who was killed with a fire poker in Murder House.) A heroin addict named Gabriel (Max Greenfield) is raped to death with the Addiction Demon's razor dildo (This is actually the show's second death by sodomy, following the man who was killed with a fire poker in Murder House.)

A heroin addict named Gabriel (Max Greenfield) is raped to death with the Addiction Demon's razor dildo (This is actually the show's second death by s...

A heroin addict named Gabriel (Max Greenfield) is raped to death with the Addiction Demon's razor dildo (This is actually the show's second death by sodomy, following the man who was killed with a fire poker in Murder House.)

Photo: FX
A bunch of kids catch a virulent strain of vampire rabies because their parents wouldn’t vaccinate them. After this poor teacher and a school administrator are killed, the kids drink their blood. A bunch of kids catch a virulent strain of vampire rabies because their parents wouldn’t vaccinate them. After this poor teacher and a school administrator are killed, the kids drink their blood.

A bunch of kids catch a virulent strain of vampire rabies because their parents wouldn’t vaccinate them. After this poor teacher and a school administ...

A bunch of kids catch a virulent strain of vampire rabies because their parents wouldn’t vaccinate them. After this poor teacher and a school administrator are killed, the kids drink their blood.

Photo: FX
A homicidal nurse is punished by The Butcher (Kathy Bates) for murdering the elderly. She's not exactly drawn and quartered, but her arms are torn from her body. That seems grisly enough, doesn't it? A homicidal nurse is punished by The Butcher (Kathy Bates) for murdering the elderly. She's not exactly drawn and quartered, but her arms are torn from her body. That seems grisly enough, doesn't it?

A homicidal nurse is punished by The Butcher (Kathy Bates) for murdering the elderly. She's not exactly drawn and quartered, but her arms are torn fro...

A homicidal nurse is punished by The Butcher (Kathy Bates) for murdering the elderly. She's not exactly drawn and quartered, but her arms are torn from her body. That seems grisly enough, doesn't it?

Photo: FX
1 / 15

Tags:

  • american horror story

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