If there’s one thing Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk –the creative duo behind the American Horror Story series– know how to do, it’s craft diverse and complex storylines for each season. Not to mention, these storylines also scare the living daylights out of anyone who watches it.
However, it’s not just the plots that instil fear in fans, it’s also the series’ creepy characters. From Season One to Season Nine, they’ve constantly added new characters who are pure nightmare fuel. It’s amazing how each season seems to top the one before with new, twisted characters. Let’s take a look back through them all and determine which roles are the creepiest.
Kai Anderson
Although, on the surface, Kai Anderson of Season Seven’s Cult seemed like a regular guy, that’s what makes him all the more horrifying. Kai is a sociopath and master manipulator, which is what helps him truly excel as the leader of the cult.
Another part of what makes Kai so threatening is his skewed social viewpoint and complete lack of empathy and remorse for his actions. He just goes to prove that you don’t need fangs and a taste for blood to be a true monster.
Dandy Mott
Anyone who’s able to befriend Twisty the Clown has to be on the list of creepiest AHS characters. Rather than being terrified by the masked murderer, Dandy Mott of Freak Show becomes Twisty’s protégé. However, even without Twisty as his best friend, Dandy is still someone you wouldn’t want to be chummy with. After all, he did kill his own mother.
As with Kai, Dandy proves that, sometimes, the most frightening horror of all lies in what we non-supernatural horrible beasts do to each other.
The Addiction Demon
If there’s one AHS creature that really makes an entrance, it’s the Addiction Demon from Hotel. This horrifying character was supposedly conjured up by Sally and other nefarious guests of Hotel Cortez. The Addiction Demon, characterized by having no facial features and waxy skin, makes multiple appearances throughout the fifth season of AHS—each more terrifying than the last.
It’s always good for a horror series to have a signature monster or two, and the Addiction Demon served that role well.
Delphine LaLaurie
Sometimes, the creepiest characters are those based on real people. That’s the case for Delphine LaLaurie, who was first introduced in Coven. LaLaurie is based on a real-life high-society Creole socialite in 1830s New Orleans. Not only was she known for her wealth, but also for the fact that she was a serial killer who murdered and committed gruesome acts on captives in her household.
Portrayed by Kathy Bates in the show, the actress ups the creepiness by doing other questionable things like smearing a bloody concoction all over her face. If you’ve seen Bates as Annie Wilkes in the adaption of Stephen King’s Misery, it’ll come as no surprise that she pulls off the role of LaLaurie so well.
Michael Langdon
Michael Langdon is the offspring of Vivien Harmon and Tate Langdon; however, he’s better known as the catalyst of the End of Days. Although those two titles might be enough to have viewers shaking, what’s most off-putting about this character is his angelic, almost attractive features and calm demeanor, but don’t be fooled by that.
He poses extraordinary powers and was able to convince the warlocks that he could be the legendary Alpha Warlock. Once again, deceptive appearances mask the true monster beneath, an effective trope in psychological horror.
Bloody Face/Dr. Thredson
American Horror Story is undoubtedly full of scary-looking characters, but how about a serial killer who uses the skin of his victims as a mask? Bloody Face was first introduced in American Horror Story: Asylum in the season’s premiere episode.
Although his mask is enough to terrify anyone who watches the show, the creepiest part about Bloody Face is the person behind the mask. As a patient, you’re supposed to trust a therapist like Dr. Thredson, but this trustworthy character was also a sadistic killer.
Papa Legba
If you’re looking to make a deal with the devil, Papa Legba might be the next best thing. Papa Legba appears in American Horror Story: Coven and is the Gatekeeper of the Spirit World. He has a hobby of collecting souls and making deals with those who need to be taught a lesson.
Much like the other characters on this list, Papa Legba’s power isn’t the only scary thing about him—his red eyes and skull-like face also make him terrifying to look at.
Arthur Arden
It’s not hard to guess why Dr. Arthur Arden makes the list of creepiest characters from AHS. After all, his character is loosely based on the infamous “Angel of Death,” Dr. Josef Mengele. Throughout his time at Briarcliff, Arden conducted experiments on patients in an attempt to create an immortal human race.
The idea of cruel acts perpetrated by those we should be able to trust is a common motif on the show, and Arden is another prime example.
Rubber Man
First appearing in Season One, it can be argued that Rubber Man set the bar for creepy AHS characters. Although Rubber Man is portrayed by a very real Tate Langdon, viewers don’t discover this until episode eight.
Until then, he is an elusive and spooky figure that is constantly seen lurking around the murder house. Another unique and iconic AHS character.
Twisty
Whether you do or don’t have a fear of clowns, Twisty definitely kept you up at night. Falchuk and Murphy hit it out of the park with this character.
Not only did the clown commit horrifying acts, he was also just terrifying to look at. If the prosthetic mask with a permanent smile wasn’t enough to freak fans out, his disfigured face beneath the mask definitely did it. Look out, Pennywise, you’ve got some competition here.
