The 1984 Plot Point That Still Frustrates American Horror Story Fans
It's a guarantee that at least one character in any horror movie will make such a frustrating decision that viewers will shout at the screen. Being dumbfounded by victims' choices is particularly easy with slashers, which typically follow a group of attractive incompetent teenagers trying to escape a killer. The Golden Age of slashers leaned into the horror of innocent places like schools, hospitals, and, most notably, summer camps to scare audiences.
Inspired by summer camp slashers like "Friday the 13th" and "The Burning," "American Horror Story: 1984" follows many of the genre's tropes with its signature twists. The show's 9th season featured a cast of fresh faces, a campy tone, and lots of blood splatter.
Despite its high critical reception, "1984" didn't escape the show's infamous ability to overlook mistakes that would've changed the outcome of the series had they been addressed.
So, which plot point frustrated some "American Horror Story: 1984" fans?
Off the record...
On the show's subreddit, u/spicycheese2 pointed out that psychologist Donna Chambers (Angelica Ross) never shut her tape recorder off while interviewing alleged serial killer Mr. Jingles (John Carroll Lynch). "It included the part where she talked to him (about) escaping and CLEARLY told him how," they wrote, wondering if the facility's doctors listened to the tape because "that would pretty much prevent the whole massacre."
However, u/Crymeabrooks said, "They very clearly make a point of showing her stopping the recording," and another user noted the loud clicking noise minutes into the interview that encourages Jingles to break his 14-year vow of silence.
"They didn't even listen to it," said u/sethtylerrr. "That's how sloppy the 80's was, things always got out of hand because someone wasn't paying attention."
Despite the frustrating plot point being a misunderstanding, it's fair to wonder why the guards didn't question why Chambers cut the recording short or why they weren't listening in on it. As Chambers pointed out during the scene, there was an ongoing "uptick in spree or serial killings." Research today explains why serial killers could operate undetected during that era, partly due to a lack of preparedness by officials (via BBC News).
As u/CLO_MODE said, "Sometimes the show doesn't make that much sense" — and that's something fans must be willing to overlook now and then.