American Horror Story began its new season this week. FX began the series with two back-to-back episodes. The new season takes us to a gritty 1980s NYC. It absorbs you into the world of cruising spots, the LGBTQ community, and the arrival of a deer-born disease that begins infecting gay men. No doubt an obvious allegory for AIDS. The series also focuses on a serial killer who is targeting the homosexual community. This character isn’t made up though and isn’t based on Jeffrey Dahmer.
Richard Rogers known as The Last Call Killer who was also a surgical nurse at Mount Sanai Medical Center, frequented select piano bars and areas that had a gay clientele. Rodgers would drug his victim’s drinks and then dismember them. He would then leave their dismembered remains in trash bags in various areas of NYC.
Just like American Horror Story: NYC reflects, the police did not care about the gay community and were of no help assisting in investigating the individual preying on them.
Rogers was active from the 1970s to the 1990s. He was eventually caught and imprisoned for the murder of two individuals in 1992 and 1993. He is suspected of murdering a lot more people over many years. However, the lack of interest by the police and the lack of DNA-based evidence allowed him free reign for much of his life.
American Horror Story: NYC is on its second episode which means it is likely to begin encompassing a lot more of NYC during the 1980s. The focus of the deer-born virus and the copy of The Last Call Killer is sure to expand over the rest of the season.
Creator, Ryan Murphy is known for mixing fictional horror with true-life American horror. The allegory of AIDS and a killer who is allowed to pray on gay men without consequence is a terrifying start.
You can catch American Horror Story on Wednesdays at 10 pm. The following day you can catch up on Hulu Next Day.
