20 Easter Eggs You Didn't Notice In American Horror Story
18. Freaks Are All Over Show Stoppers
Freak Show, the fourth season of American Horror Story, doesn't provide the most sensitive or accurate portrayal of its variously disabled carnie ensemble. It has that in common with the classic movie Freaks, the main influence on that particular season, which caused no shortage of controversy upon its release in 1932. The idea of old-fashioned freak shows have a historical precedent and occur a lot in popular culture, but Freaks is where American Horror Story got a lot of its grist for the mil of the fourth season. Elsa even mentions it directly towards the beginning of the episode Show Stoppers, during a meal clearly modelled on a sequence from the film. Eve recounts the plot, including the tragic ending, to Stanley in that same opening. The episode ends exactly the way that Eve describes it, too, as Maggie Esmerelda's con-artist crony ends up mutilated his legs, arms, and tongue all cut off which is the same as the fate for the two meddling outsiders at the end of Freaks.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
