Summary
Ryan Murphy may have started his TV career with teenage-focused shows likePopularandGlee, but in the past few years, he has cemented himself in thehorrorspace with beloved series such asAmerican Horror Story. While fans are waiting forAmerican Horror Storiesseason 4, which will premiere on Huluween in mid-October 2024, Murphy has another new show on the air:Grotesquerie.
While Murphy often has several TV shows airing at the same time, he doesn’t always talk about his projects before they make it to fans' TV screens.Grostequeriehas an intriguing and mysterious title since it’s not a word that people hear all the time. What is the new Ryan Murphy series about and what should fans know about it?
What Is Grotesquerie About?
While there is a new Canadian TV drama calledMurder in a Small Town,which gets right to the heart of what the story is about, Ryan Murphy’sGrotesquerieis alsoabout a serial killer hunting people in a small town. This series, however, stands out because it has a religious aspect. LikeMike Flanagan’s brilliant and genuinely scary Netflix horror seriesMidnight Mass,Grotesquerieis about a town with strong religious beliefs. The series features a priest named Father Charlie, a nun named Sister Megan, and Detective Lois Tryon, who is trying to find the killer.
While there are countless series about killers turning a small town upside down, this is a classic setting for a reason, and it always works.Grotesquerieis different since when Ryan Murphy approached it, he wanted the series to be about modern fears. He toldThe Wrapa bit more about the tone ofGrotesquerieand said:
“I loved writing about something that I was feeling, which is ‘Why is the world on fire? Is nobody going to restore order?' It does feel like the serial killer in ‘Grotesquerie’ is a metaphor for all of the anxieties that we feel.”
While Murphy’s other scary TV shows can get dark and bloody, many would say thatGrotesquerieis much gorier, which adds to the creepiness factor. Compared toa villain like Twisty the Clown, the serial killer in Murphy’s new series is more mysterious, which also makes this a more terrifying story.
Who Stars In Grotesquerie?
Grotesqueriefeatures a talented cast including Nicey Nash-Betts, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Lesley Manville, Raven Goodwin, Micaela Diamond, and Courtney B. Vance. Travis Kelce also appears as a character named Ed Lachlan. While some might be surprised to hear that an athlete has a role in this series, Nash praised Kelce’s performance in the show. She toldUSA Today, “I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised by him in this.”
Several of theGrotesqueriecast members have had long TV careers. Nash-Betts starred onGetting On,Murphy’s great horror comedyScream Queens,Claws, andNever Have I Ever. Manville has had many credits includingThe Crown, and Diamond is a singer beloved for her turn inParadewho also starred in a few episodes of the quirky TV dramaElsbeth.
In an interview withThe Wrap,Nicholas Alexander Chavez, who also stars in Murphy’sMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, talked about playing Father Charlieand said he’s a complicated character. This is true of many people in Murphy’s projects, includingSibhoan Corban (Kim Kardashian) inAmerican Horror Storyseason 12. Chavez said:
“He’s a very conflicted character. The way he sees himself and the way he sees the world around him, it often doesn’t line up with what he says he believes. He’s willing to take big risks to get what he wants.”
Max Winkler directed a few episodes ofGrotesquerie,and he has been behind the camera on many of Murphy’s shows. These includeAmerican Horror Story,American Horror Stories, andMonster: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
Where To Watch Grotesquerie
There are 10 episodes ofGrotesquerieand the show is airing on FX and streaming on Disney+. The first two episodes premiered on September 25th, 2024, followed by episodes three and four on October 2nd, 2024. Episodes five and six will air on October 9th, episode seven will air on October 16th, and episodes eight and nine will air on October 23rd. Then,the season 1 finale ofGrostequeriewill air on October 30th.
While horror fans canstream seasons 1 to 3 ofAmerican Horror Storiesbefore diving into the new season, they can also check outGrosterquerieand see if they can guess who the killer is before the season 1 finale.
