AHS Clowns Around With Trump

FX has just released the first trailer for the next season of Ameri-can Horror Story, which SoHo will screen 8.30 Wednesdays from September 13 — more than a week after its September 2 debut in the US.

AHS: Cult will explore the 2016 presidential election through the eyes of a cult with a cast headed by regulars Sarah Paulson (Ally) and Evan Peters (Kai) and a storyline that links to previous seasons.

“Past seasons of American Horror Story have centred on a murder house, a coven of witches and a mental asylum for the criminally insane, but the latest will have the most horrifying setting yet: the 2016 US presidential election,” quipped The Independent.

Few details have been disclosed about the season-seven storyline but the new credits feature rubber mask representation of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and the trailer shows Paulson’s character, Ally, screaming on election night when she realises who’s won.

Continues The Independent: “We then see Ally with her therapist (Cheyenne Jackson), as she explains that her traumas have since reemerged – a synopsis released by FOX Netherlands (via Reddit) suggests they originally connect back to 9/11 – and that her fear of clowns has become particularly acute.

“Cue the return of Freak Show‘s Twisty, albeit in comic form, and some mischievous doings by Kai and his associate Winter (Billie Lourd), who seem intent on pushing Ally over the edge.”

Film School Rejects has an intriguing take on what this could mean.

“Regardless of the theory, this new season looks thrilling and terrifying and is timed perfectly considering another clown themed horror event is being released the same week as the premiere (Stephen King’s It).

“Within the next two weeks leading up to the premiere, more information will be released about the new season, giving viewers an even closer look at the new world of the Cult.”

Meanwhile, Deadline Hollywood reports Ryan Murphy has confirmed Lena Dunham will play Valerie Solanas, the woman who attempted to assassinate Andy Warhol.

For more insights, see The Hollywood Reporter and Variety’s coverage.