Unlike other seasons with different settings, season 5 stands out because of how deeply unsettling the Hotel Cortez feels. There’s an unshakable evil energy in the hotel that would make anyone dread even walking past it, not to mention spending the night.
Just like the scariest movie locations, the hotel provides a perfect trap for unsuspecting guests. From the moment they check in, it becomes clear that they have made a grave mistake. The first episode, titled “Checking In,” introduces viewers to vampires Donovan (Matt Bomer) and Countess Elizabeth (Lady Gaga).
In the darkness of the hotel, evil has its home (Photo: American Horror Story Season 5/20th Century Fox Television)The Hotel’s Dark Secrets Unravel
Who lures a couple into intimacy before killing them and drinking their blood? At the same time, another major character, Detective Lowe (Wes Bentley), arrives at the hotel to investigate a murder case.
In a shocking twist that could rival the best moments in any suspense movie, it’s revealed that Countess Elizabeth had kidnapped Lowe’s son Holden (Lennon Henry), and the child has been living in the hotel under her care as one of her vampire children.
Rather than using a typical Dracula-style story, season 5 approaches the vampire theme stylishly and freshly. Nobody would expect a vampire couple raising children inside a haunted hotel, and that’s exactly what makes the story feel unpredictable and unique.
As the story develops, Countess Elizabeth stands out as the season’s key villain. Her obsession with power drives her to seduce Tristan Duffy (Finn Wittrock), turning him into a vampire. Meanwhile, Donovan—still hurt over their past—vows to bring her pain.
One more part that stands out in this season is how it connects to previous seasons like Murder House. In episode 6 titled “Room 33,” there’s a flashback that links Countess Elizabeth with Dr. Charles Montgomery (Matt Ross) inside the haunted house from season 1.
The season also connects with Coven when Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe) makes an appearance in the “Battle Royale” episode, only for James March (Evan Peters) to kill her.
How Does American Horror Story Season 5 End?
A Bittersweet Conclusion with Dark Comedy
Things take a chaotic turn in the final episode, “Be Our Guest,” which brings the season to a close with a mix of horror, sadness, and some unexpected humour.
Liz Taylor (Denis O’Hare) takes control of Hotel Cortez and constantly finds herself dealing with the ghosts of Will Drake (Cheyenne Jackson) and Sally McKenna (Sarah Paulson), who keep killing guests. In a strange but funny moment, Sally discovers the joys of social media after using a mobile phone, and soon gets addicted to it.
Although the season has its fair share of grim scenes, these moments of humour create a bit of relief from all the violence and darkness. Liz receives a cancer diagnosis and pleads with the hotel’s spirits to help her die faster.
Eventually, Countess Elizabeth ends Liz’s life, adding to the weight of the tragic story, especially since Liz was still haunted by the memory of Tristan’s death. This ending is filled with sorrow and doesn’t offer any happy resolution.
The final stretch of the season also features Billie Dean Howard (Sarah Paulson), a psychic who previously showed up in Murder House and Apocalypse. She attends a dinner party with the Hotel Cortez ghosts, but they warn her to stop speaking publicly about what happens in the hotel.
Lady Gaga, who is also set to appear in Joker: Folie à Deux, proves her acting range once again with her performance as the dangerous and alluring vampire who controls the hotel.
The last scene of season 5 shows Countess Elizabeth eyeing a new man at the hotel bar, making it clear that her cycle of seduction, bloodshed, and transformation will not end any time soon. This unforgettable movie experience is currently streaming on Amazon Prime for all subscribers.
