If You Like American Horror Story, There’s One Movie You Definitely Need to Watch Next.
American Horror Story is already something of a cult classic. The impact of each season may vary, and the tone of horror may fluctuate, but we’ve become accustomed to its frantic style and dedication to craft. With its anthology approach and ever-changing cast (including Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson), American Horror Story has given us a variety of twisting stories that will keep you up at night. If you’ve binge-watched all seasons (and similar series offering similar thrills), it’s time to dive into a multi-part horror series on the same wavelength—starting with arguably the first (and still one of the best) horror anthologies: Dead of Night .
The best movie to watch if you are a fan of the American Horror Story series.
Without 1945’s Dead of Night , there might not have been American Horror Story. This hugely influential film is considered one of the first (if not the first ) widely distributed horror anthology films, and over 80 years later, it’s still considered one of the best. Watching it is an exercise in identifying all the ways subsequent horror anthologies, including American Horror Story, have borrowed liberally from it. If you enjoy the anthology aspect of American Horror Story—how each season (or half-season) is a standalone story with its own tone, visual style, and narrative—then you should check it out.
The plot centers on architect Walter Craig (Mervyn Johns), who travels to a secluded cottage for a potential renovation project. Upon arrival, he finds himself one of several guests, all of whom have appeared in the dreams of their host, Elliot Foley (Roland Culver). Craig experiences seemingly psychic visions that prompt the guests to tell stories of supernatural events they’ve experienced, all presented as seemingly isolated episodes. The most famous of these is the story of a ventriloquist whose dummy, Hugo, seems to have a will of its own, but all the stories are well-crafted and effectively frightening.
What truly sets Dead of Night apart—and makes it perfect for American Horror Story fans—is how the guest stories and the main plotline merge into a truly unsettling whole. The film conveys a sense of dream logic and primal terror that’s surprisingly powerful and modern for a film of its time, and American Horror Story fans will see clear connections to the series, starting here and ending with Jessica Lange running a mental institution in the episode ” The Name Game ” (among many other insane moments from the series). If you’re looking for a feature-length film that will fill the same pleasure centers in your brain as American Horror Story , this is the one to start with. Watch Dead of Night on Kanopy , Plex , or Fawesome , or rent it on Prime Video .
More movies for fans of American Horror Story
Horror is addictive, and the only cure for the ending of a horror movie is… more horror movies. Here are a few more that any fan of American Horror Story will enjoy.
The Shining (1980)
One of the most obvious sources of inspiration (especially for the fifth season, “Hotel”) is The Shining , one of the greatest modern horror films. The combination of Stanley Kubrick’s cold perfection, Jack Nicholson’s unhinged presence (and Shelley Duvall’s criminally understated desperation), and Stephen King’s wild imagination (despite his reservations about Kubrick’s interpretation) leads to a slow-burning madness as a deranged alcoholic (Nicholson’s Jack Torrance) descends into madness while working as the winter caretaker of a vast, haunted mountain hotel. Every scene in the film heightens the sense of suspense and dread, culminating in one of the most famous final shots in cinema history. Watch The Shining on Prime Video .
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
American Horror Story’s 12th season, “Tender,” enthusiastically retreads Rosemary’s Baby , and the 1968 film could easily be an entire season of the show itself. The tone, visuals, and plot are perfectly aligned—it’s easy to imagine most of the American Horror Story cast as creepy, devil-worshipping neighbors who manipulate a young woman (Mia Farrow) into conceiving a child under undeniably sinister circumstances . Besides being the perfect companion film to the series, it’s also a classic that every horror fan should watch (despite its heavy allusions to spousal sexual abuse and director Roman Polanski’s sordid legacy). Rosemary’s Baby is available to stream on Kanopy or rent on Prime Video .
Crippled Nerve (1968)
If you remember the strange whistling melody associated with serial killer Tate Langdon in the first season, “Murder House,” then you’ve heard this film’s theme song (you also heard it in “Kill Bill: Volume 1 “). While not overtly violent, “Twisted Nerve” is a great example of the mounting tension as a mentally unstable man with a split personality, Martin (Hywel Bennett), stalks and attempts to win the affections of a young woman named Susan (Hayley Mills). While the film has aged well in many ways (especially its outrageous treatment of Down syndrome), it still works as a thriller. Watch “Twisted Nerve” on Plex .
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
From the moment Bloody Face appears in the second season of American Horror Story , the connection to Tobe Hooper’s 1974 film is fairly obvious—but echoes of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre are felt throughout American Horror Story (as well as most horror films since). Supposedly based on the true crimes of Ed Gein, the film follows five teenagers on a road trip who accidentally end up in a house, where a man in a leather mask—the legendary Leatherface—brutally murders most of them using a hammer and, of course, a chainsaw. The film’s gritty, dark style is a far cry from Ryan Murphy’s more restrained and subtle approach, but it’s a powerful shot of pure terror that will appeal to fans of the series (if they haven’t already). You can watch The Texas Chain Saw Massacre online on Pluto or Tubi , or rent it on Prime Video .
Witchcraft (1996)
If “Coven” was your favorite season of American Horror Story , then this is the movie for you. Four outcast girls—played by Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True—discover they can harness supernatural powers and strive to use this power to punish their enemies and improve their lives. However, their spells backfire, and Balk’s character quickly goes mad with power as the girls begin to feud with each other. The movie is dark, but anyone who experienced high school will 100% understand why everything goes so awry—and American Horror Story fans will find this tale of teenage angst, rebellion, and occult horrors deeply compelling. Watch “The Craft” on Plex or rent it on Prime Video .