American Horror Story: Double Feature
Two stories, one season: by the sea and by the sand.
The tenth season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled Double Feature, is composed of two stories: Red Tide and Death Valley. The first story follows a family in Provincetown, Massachusetts, who encounter the town's mysterious true inhabitants, while the second involves a group of camping students caught in a conspiracy with extraterrestrials. Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for FX, the season was broadcast from August 25 to October 20, 2021, after production delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quick Facts
- Season number
- 10
- Showrunner
- Ryan Murphy
- First aired
- 25 August 2021
- Last aired
- 20 October 2021
Facts from the source article.
Production
The series was renewed for a 10th season on August 3, 2018, with an original air date of 2020. On May 26, 2020, it was announced that production was pushed back to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Series co-creator Ryan Murphy stated in an interview with TheWrap that the delay could potentially change the season's theme, as his initial idea required filming during warmer months. The following month, Murphy unveiled a promotional poster on Instagram showing a wide-open mouth with razor-sharp teeth and a hand tattooing "AHS 10" on the tongue. The tenth season received an estimated $48 million in tax credits under the California Film Association's "Program 2.0" initiative. On March 19, 2021, Murphy revealed the season's title as Double Feature, encompassing two different stories: "one by the sea, one by the sand." He later referred to it as "two seasons for the fans airing in one calendar year." On June 24, 2021, FX released a promotional poster depicting a female humanoid creature kissing an alien with a black pill on her tongue. A promotional video on July 6, 2021, showed footage of characters portrayed by Sarah Paulson, Leslie Grossman, Lily Rabe, Finn Wittrock, Frances Conroy, and Evan Peters. The first official teaser on July 27, 2021, confirmed the two parts as Red Tide and Death Valley, with Red Tide spanning the first six episodes and Death Valley the last four. The official trailer for Red Tide was released on August 13, 2021.
Release
American Horror Story: Double Feature kicked off on FX with a double bill of its first two episodes, "Cape Fear" and "Pale," on August 25, 2021. After that, new episodes dropped weekly on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, wrapping up the season on October 27, 2021. The ten-episode run split into two parts: Red Tide, which began on August 25, and Death Valley, which followed on September 29, a week after Red Tide ended. Canadian viewers caught the premiere at the same time on FX. Streaming options included Hulu the day after each FX broadcast, while international audiences could watch on Disney+. JustWatch, drawing data from over 20 million users globally, ranked American Horror Story as the fifth most-streamed TV series in the U.S. between August 30 and September 5. Parrot Analytics, tracking consumer engagement across research, streaming, downloads, and social media, noted a demand bump in the United Kingdom after the tenth season started: it went from 22.4 times the average in August to 23.2 times in September. Domestically, the series claimed the top spot as the most in-demand horror show from October 1 to 25, beating out Chucky in second place and Hannibal in third. For the entire 2021 calendar year, Parrot Analytics confirmed it was the most in-demand horror series.
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the season holds an 80% approval rating based on 61 reviews, with an average rating of 9.00/10. The critical consensus states: "Though its second tale is still a mystery, the first half of Double Feature proves a spine-tingling good time with terrific performances." Liz Shannon Miller of Collider praised the season for its concise and inventive storytelling, particularly complimenting the Death Valley segment as the most enjoyable part. She highlighted the effectiveness of the split-season format and the fast pacing, describing the alien conspiracy storyline as a fun and imaginative take on familiar themes. Riley Runnells of The Post described Double Feature as one of the strongest seasons in the anthology, noting strong performances from Finn Wittrock, Lily Rabe, Evan Peters, and Frances Conroy, and praising Sarah Paulson's portrayal of Tuberculosis Karen as raw and unglamorous. Andy Swift of TVLine called the season a "return to form," appreciating its chilling atmosphere and strong performances, particularly Paulson's role, and commended the premiere's fast-paced plot and unique approach to horror.
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