American Horror Story has the power to make just about anything bone-chillingly scary. In the past, the show has given viewers nightmares about everything from clowns to pigs to summer camp. In the latest season Delicate, the source of terror is motherhood. AHS veteran Emma Roberts stars as Anna Victoria Alcott, an actress whose performance on a hit TV show has landed her in consideration for several major awards. As she campaigns for the Globes and Oscars, guided by no-nonsense PR agent Siobhan Corbyn (Kim Kardashian), she must also navigate a difficult IVF pregnancy. When she experiences some ghastly complications, she begins to fear that someone – possibly a supernatural entity – is out to sabotage her, but her husband Dex (Matt Czuchry) is doubtful.
If you tuned into Delicate each week like I did, chances are you’re also looking for equally horrifying content to fill your schedule. Never fear – we have plenty of recommendations for you AHS aficionados. Here are five thriller films that exist in conversation with Delicate, discussing themes such as pregnancy, fame, and the occult. Check them out (or revisit them!) while you’re waiting for Season 13 to roll around. Warning: Spoilers for American Horror Story: Delicate ahead.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
We’d be remiss to talk about Delicate without mentioning Rosemary’s Baby. This season is heavily inspired by Roman Polanski’s 1968 classic – lead actress Mia Farrow is even portrayed as a character in Episode 8. Based on the novel of the same name by Ira Levin, the film tells the story of a woman who unknowingly becomes pregnant with a demon’s offspring (sound familiar?). As the symptoms of her pregnancy grow more unusual, her suspiciously aloof husband refuses to acknowledge her concerns. Although the film deals with the literal devil, the true horror lies in the subtle, but insidious gaslighting that Rosemary endures.
Perfect Blue (1997)
If you’re intrigued by Delicate’s portrayal of the toll the entertainment industry can take on actresses, try out Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue. This striking animated thriller follows Mima, a young woman who abandons her career as a J-pop idol to star on a TV show – and draws the ire of an obsessed fan in the process. Just as in Delicate, the lines between reality and imagination blur as Mima tries to outwit her stalker, all while realizing that her allies in the film world might not have her best interests in mind after all.
All About Eve (1950)
In Delicate, Tavi Gevinson’s character Cora is so infatuated with Anna that she aspires to take over her life, sabotaging her career and her relationship in the process. A similar plot can be found in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s All About Eve, one of the most famous films to tackle parasocial relationships between fans and stars. Margo Channing is a Broadway actress. Eve Harrington is her greatest admirer. When Eve meets Margo at the stage door, it seems her kindness is genuine – but she’s secretly weaving a web of deception.
Starry Eyes (2014)
American Horror Story: Delicate invokes the tropes of human sacrifice and devil worship to illustrate the manipulation and exploitation in the entertainment industry. Starry Eyes, a 2014 indie horror directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmeyer, employs the same allegory. As opposed to Delicate’s Anna, who’s already a big shot when we meet her, Sarah is a struggling actress waiting on her big break. She finally catches a director’s attention when a stressful audition causes her to rip her hair out. He begins to court her for the lead role in his film – but it slowly becomes clear that she’ll need to suffer more if she wants to win his favor.
The Love Witch (2016)
If the coven aspect of Delicate appeals to you, you’ll love The Love Witch. You’d never guess that this film was released in 2016 – everything from the costumes to the sets to the color palette is expertly curated by filmmaker Anna Biller to capture the spirit of the 1960s. Elaine, our protagonist, is a beautiful sorceress who uses her powers to seduce suitor after suitor, looking for true love but never finding it. Whenever a man fails to impress her, she murders him. As in American Horror Story: Delicate, Elaine and her fellow witches believe that their lifestyle is the only way to true freedom – although viewers might see their situation differently.
News
Team Reba McEntire: ‘The Voice’ Season 26 photos, bios, artist rankings
Reba McEntire, the undisputed Queen of Country, officially joined “The Voice” as a coach during its 24th installment, and she won her first championship in Season 25 for Asher HaVon. She is a three-time Grammy winner who previously had a history…
‘The Voice’ recap: Reba McEntire and Michael Bublé get emotional over underdog singer, Gwen Stefani uses her Coach Replay power
“You could help me as much as I could even help you,” Bublé told one of the contestants. The competition got fiercer on The Voice as Week 3 of Blind Auditions kicked off, with three four-chair turns and another Coach Replay moment that saw…
Watch Reba McEntire Share ‘One Of The Funniest’ Memories About Her Son
Reba McEntire shared a sweet story about her son, Shelby Blackstock, when she shared a heartfelt message during the 2024 American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special on Sunday evening (October 6). The beloved country legend reflected on some of her most cherished AMAs…
Happy’s Place Is Better Than A Reba Revival Because Of One Divisive Character
Happy’s Place will be Reba McEntire’s return to network TV comedy, and even before its premiere, it’s already better than a Reba revival because of one character. The Queen of Country Music re-teams with producer Kevin Abbott for her next sitcom,…
Reba McEntire’s unwelcoming side comes to light on ‘The Voice:’ ‘I run things here’
Reba McEntire confronts fellow coach Michael Bublé on ‘The Voice’. Reba McEntire, actress and country singer who dubbed the Queen of Country, issued a funny yet spooky warning to Michael Bublé. On the latest episode of The Voice on Tuesday, October 8, McEntire…
Why Reba McEntire Was Shocked By Singer’s Blind Audition On ‘The Voice’
Reba McEntire turned her chair at the last second for a singer on The Voice, only to discover that the contestant wasn’t the person any of the coaches expected. Kevin James Graham, 33, from Boston, Massachusetts, delivered a rendition of “Stay With…
End of content
No more pages to load