American Horror Story: Hotel

Lore & Background

The season was confirmed in October 2014, with the subtitle Hotel announced in February 2015. Co-creator Ryan Murphy stated that Hotel is thematically darker than previous installments, inspired by old hotel horror films and actual hotels in downtown Los Angeles with sinister reputations, including the Cecil Hotel, where the death of 21-year-old Canadian student Elisa Lam occurred. Murphy watched a surveillance video of Lam in the hotel, displaying erratic behavior hours before her supposed death, which influenced the writing. The season marks a return to filming in Los Angeles, where the first two seasons were shot. Production designer Mark Worthington built a two-story lobby set on a soundstage, along with a working elevator and stairway, over seven weeks. The exterior was inspired by the James Oviatt Building in Downtown Los Angeles, while interior decorations were modeled from the Cicada restaurant inside the Oviatt.

Reader's Guide

American Horror Story: Hotel garnered eight Emmy Award nominations, including two acting nominations for Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates. However, it was the first time a season of American Horror Story was not nominated for Outstanding Limited Series. Lady Gaga won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Mini-Series or Television Film, while Hotel received a nomination for Best Mini-Series or Television Film. The ensemble cast includes Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Wes Bentley, Matt Bomer, Chloë Sevigny, Denis O'Hare, Cheyenne Jackson, Angela Bassett, and Lady Gaga, with all returning from previous seasons except Jackson and Gaga. Breaking from the anthological format, the season is connected to Murder House and Coven. The season features two tormentors: The Ten Commandments Killer, inspired by biblical teachings, and The Addiction Demon, who wields a drill bit dildo. The Halloween episode, 'Devil's Night', includes a dinner with serial killers such as Aileen Wuornos and John Wayne Gacy.

Did You Know?

• The season was initially reported to consist of 13 episodes but actually aired 12 episodes.
• Lady Gaga won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Mini-Series or Television Film for her role.
• The Hotel Cortez is loosely based on the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles, marked by deaths and tragedies.
• This is the first season of American Horror Story not to feature cast mainstays Jessica Lange and Frances Conroy.