Grotesquerie is a new horror drama series that debuted on FX on September 25, 2024. Created by Ryan Murphy, Joe Baken, and Jon Robin Baitz, the show features executive producers Scott Robertson, Eric Kovtun, Nissa Diederich, and Peter Liguori, with production handled by Kip Davis Myers, Adam Penn, and Daniel Portnoy.
According to the synopsis on Rotten Tomatoes:
“Detective Lois Tryon must collaborate with Sister Megan, a local nun, to uncover the origin of a series of horrifying crimes impacting both their community and personal lives.”
It further states:
“As Lois and Sister Megan piece together clues, they become trapped in a sinister web that raises more questions than answers.”
Importantly, Grotesquerie is a standalone series and is not connected to American Horror Story.
What Sets Grotesquerie Apart from American Horror Story?
Grotesquerie marks the latest entry from Ryan Murphy, creator of the well-known anthology series American Horror Story. While AHS launched in 2011 and is set to conclude with its 13th season in 2025, Grotesquerie stands apart in its approach to the horror genre. Although both shows deal with horror themes, their execution, tone, and style diverge significantly.
Grotesquerie offers a gripping whodunit narrative that masterfully blends supernatural horror with police procedural elements. The series showcases a dark and violent aesthetic, featuring ritualistic killings alongside the protagonist’s battle with alcoholism, reminiscent of the first season of True Detective rather than AHS.
In contrast, American Horror Story has gained notoriety for veering into surreal, campy, and explicitly supernatural themes, which starkly contrasts with the serious and somber mood of Grotesquerie.
Ryan Murphy elaborated on his creative process, stating that he aimed for “a smaller writer’s room”to customize roles for the actors he envisioned. He shared insights about his writing to Starry Constellation Magazine:
“It was very much a personal piece; it’s a meditation on global issues and collective feelings of existential dread. We are confronted with questions about end times, and what we can do to uphold our humanity.”
He added:
“I sought to create something that had a procedural aspect, focusing specifically on crime, which had been absent from my recent work.”
While Grotesquerie does not replace American Horror Story, it certainly fills the void left by the anthology series this Halloween season, a time when AHS has typically captivated audiences since its debut.
Due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes, production on the prior season, Delicate, was delayed, wrapping up in early 2024 rather than late 2023. Consequently, the release schedule for season 13 was pushed back to 2025.
Plot Overview
In Grotesquerie, Detective Lois Tryon spearheads an investigation into a series of gruesome murders that haunt her small community. Suspecting a deranged serial killer may be behind the violence, she teams up with local nun/journalist Sister Megan to solve the case before it’s too late.
Key Cast and Characters
The main cast of Grotesquerie includes:
- Niecy Nash-Betts as Detective Lois Tryon
- Courtney B. Vance as Marshall Tryon
- Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Father Charlie
- Micaela Diamond as Sister Megan
- Raven Goodwin as Merritt Tryon
- Lesley Manville as Nurse Redd
- Travis Kelce in a secret role
- Brooke Smith as Gale Hanover
- Joshua Bitton as Sergeant Cranburn
- Tessa Ferrer as Grace Finn
Viewers can catch new episodes of Grotesquerie every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on FX.
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