Movie review: American Horror Story : Hotel (Season 5)

Season 5 of American Horror Story, titled Hotel, focuses on a downtown LA hotel named Hotel Cortez, recently purchased by the wealthy Will Drake. What Drake doesn't realize at the time is that the 90-year-old hotel is plagued by spirits.

Kathy Bates (Iris), Sarah Paulson (Sally), Evan Peters (March), Wes Bentley (John), Matt Bomer (Donovan), Chloe Sevigny (Dr. Lowe), Denis O'Hare (Liz), Cheyenne Jackson (Drake), Angela Bassett (Ramona), Lady Gaga (Countess).

Season 5 of American Horror Story definitely does not disappoint. This season the Hotel Cortez in downtown LA is the focus as it is purchase by wealthy designer Will Drake. Along with the hotel, Drake acquires the resident ghosts and demons including hotel designer March and his love interest, The Countess. The season follows along as the ghosts relive their past failures, and attempt to lure fresh blood in the front door.

Acting as excellent this season with Lady Gaga being amazing with both delivery and her apparent willingness to go the distance. Peters and Bates once again demonstrate the depth of their skills, as does Paulson in an appropriately fitting creepy role. O'Hare gave a wonderful performance throughout, as did Bassett and the remainder of the cast.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were good as expected from this series. Though much of the season takes place in the same hotel, variety and detail is good. Effects and action scenes were well done with some good gore and more excellent detail. Dialogue was enjoyable as always with nice depth. Sound and soundtrack were solid.

American Horror Story continues to be an enjoyable franchise and Season 5 continues the tradition nicely despite the absence of Lang and Conroy. The seasonal stories, while bringing back cast members in new roles, are fairly unique, detailed, and quite disturbing. Franchise fans should enjoy this season.

With plenty of violence, gore, disturbing images, nudity, foul language, and adult situations this should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 1.29.17
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Drama, Sci-Fi Horror, Serial Killers

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel