Chapter 3

"Chapter 3" of American Horror Story: Roanoke delves deeper into the dark and intricate mythology surrounding the haunted Roanoke house, expanding the narrative layers through a continued use of the show's signature docu-drama format. Directed by Jennifer Lynch, the episode is a blend of atmospheric horror, psychological tension, and dark mystery, taking the audience further into the many horrors-both supernatural and human-that plague the characters. The story progresses from the immediate threats to Shelby and Matt Miller to reveal the disturbing histories of the house and its previous inhabitants, contextualizing the supernatural terror within the larger backdrop of ancestral curses, human cruelty, and occult malevolence.

The episode opens with a grim scene establishing the brutal reality of the house's past, introducing viewers more explicitly to its legacy of torture, sacrifice, and devil worship. This historical linking extends the horror beyond mere hauntings to a generational nightmare, making the terror feel inevitable and cyclical. A key moment is Kathy Bates's formidable portrayal of Thomasin White, the butcher matriarch whose dominion over the haunted land is underscored by her chilling willingness to "take a bite out of a beating heart," a moment of primal horror that lingers vividly. Bates embodies this antagonistic force with a terrifying mix of control and madness, reinforcing her character's symbolic power as a ghostly matriarch and a force of supernatural vengeance.

The episode's narrative structure remains complex, interweaving present-day survival struggles of the survivors Shelby, Matt, and Lee with flashbacks revealing the grim history of the house and the surrounding area. Particularly striking is the use of "found footage" recordings of Dr. Elias Cunningham, played by Denis O'Hare, who unearths more clues about the house's past horrors but ultimately falls victim to the malevolent forces. This layered storytelling enhances the mystery, providing texture and depth to the unfolding nightmare. The inclusion of Leslie Jordan's Cricket Marlowe adds a bizarre, occasionally humorous touch, but also serves as a conduit for exposition and spiritual inquiry, further embedding the narrative in occult themes.

Jennifer Lynch's direction is notable for its skilful balance of stark, unsettling imagery and tight pacing. The episode employs a palette of dark, muted tones and shadow-heavy cinematography, which beautifully capture the claustrophobic dread suffusing the corners of the house and the surrounding woods. Some sequences, however, ventured too deeply into darkness visually, prompting viewer complaints about obscured action that, while enhancing mood, risked undercutting narrative clarity. The deft editing weaves scenes of paranoia and terror, blending interviews, reenactments, and found footage harmoniously, maintaining a rhythm that sustains tension without overwhelming the viewer. The sound design carries an eerie minimalism, with sudden silences and sinister ambient sounds heightening fear.

The performances remain a highlight, with Sarah Paulson's Shelby painfully navigating the trauma and madness that consume her, delivering authenticity to her character's fracturing psyche. Cuba Gooding Jr.'s Matt portrays conflict and confusion as his grip on reality loosens. Angela Bassett's Lee continues to embody steely resilience mixed with maternal despair, her scenes charged with dramatic intensity. Kathy Bates commands attention, her character's unapologetic cruelty and supernatural menace providing a dark anchor for the season's mythos. Conversely, some critics noted moments when the ensemble's characters made decisions that seemed motivated more by plot convenience than psychological realism, a familiar weakness within horror genres that occasionally disrupts immersion.

Thematically, "Chapter 3" deeply explores the intersection of power, revenge, and the supernatural, framed within a distinctly American gothic tradition. The legacy of the Roanoke colony-a missing historical puzzle-fuels the ghosts' wrath, blending actual folklore and fictionalized horror to evoke a strong sense of unresolved justice and punishment from beyond the grave. The episode effectively portrays the house not just as a physical space but as a locus of ancient, malevolent forces that manipulate and torment the living. The depiction of ritualistic violence, primal revenge, and haunted memories reflects broader cultural anxieties about history's inescapable shadows and the trauma passed down through generations.

The meta-narrative device-the show-within-a-show format-continues to interrogate the nature of storytelling, memory, and audience complicity. This self-reflexivity raises questions about the commodification of trauma and the voyeuristic tendencies of horror consumption, making viewers conscious of their role in witnessing and consuming pain as spectacle. The mixture of testimonial interviews with dramatized reenactments blurs the line between reality and performance, emphasizing that violence and horror are both historical facts and mediated stories, shaped by perspective, memory, and narrative framing.

In cultural and cinematographic terms, the episode aligns firmly with contemporary horror trends that favor psychological dread and layered mythology over simplistic scare tactics. Its employment of found footage elements and folk horror motifs connects it intertextually with classics such as The Blair Witch Project and The Wicker Man, while simultaneously asserting a distinct style reflective of Murphy and Falchuk's characteristic narrative complexity and fascination with Americana. The episode's aesthetic and thematic echoes of previous American Horror Story seasons, such as the haunted house narrative arc from "Murder House," anchor it within the show's evolving canon while pushing genre boundaries through its structure and meta-commentary.

While "Chapter 3" delivers significant advances in the storyline and atmosphere, some have viewed it as overly didactic in moments, with exposition that sometimes disrupts rather than enhances the narrative flow. The increase in visceral gore and shock moments, although effective in jolting the viewer, risks overshadowing the subtler psychological terror that distinguishes the best parts of the series. Nevertheless, the episode's ability to maintain suspense and deepen emotional stakes affirms its success as a middle act, setting up complex conflicts and mysteries with ample room to develop.

"Chapter 3" of American Horror Story: Roanoke is a powerful episode that richly expands the series' dark mythology through compelling performances, adept directing, and a tightly woven narrative that balances horror with psychological complexity. Its strengths lie in its atmospheric cinematography, narrative layering, and culturally resonant themes of trauma, vengeance, and spectral history. By pushing deeper into unexplored horrors and maintaining its innovative storytelling format, this episode challenges the viewer to engage with horror not just as spectacle but as a reflection of enduring human fears and cultural memory.

Season 6 of American Horror Story is still going strong. It may or may not relate to a previous season, we are asking ourselves many questions, that seem like they will lead to satisfying scary answers, and the show is certainly making up for the last lackluster season. The best way I can describe chapter 3 of American Horror Story: My Roanoke Nightmare is a mixture of The Blair Witch Project meets Amityville, and to me that is a well-blended mix of scares, fun, and thrills.

Chapter 3 really digs into the whole horrifying history of Roanoke. Everything from torture, human sacrifice, a possible Devil worshipping colony, Kathy Bates kickin' a$$, and taking a bite out of a beating heart! Also, in this episode our lead characters talk about how they are done with all this sh*t and they want answers. They try to seek answers and meet someone who is willing to help. However, no one is done with all this sh*t until Kathy Bates says so. Kathy Bates really does know how to play a crazy b*tch! And I mean that in the most respectful way possible.

So far, I have loved every second of this season. On the other hand, I do have one small complaint. The director, Jennifer Lynch has striking visuals, and has directed very well. However, some of the dark scenes in the woods are too dark. Meaning it was hard to see visually everything going on. I know that adds to the tone of the show, but many of the scenes in the woods come off just a little jumbled.

So these are my final B*tchin' Buddha thoughts on Chapter 3 of American Horror Story: My Roanoke Nightmare. The series is still going strong and really is raising a lot of eyebrows, questions, and story details. The story is revealing itself slowly and with drama. It is packed with a ton of power, back-story, and tension. I believe American Horror Story: My Roanoke Nightmare Chapter 3 earns a…

8 out of 10!

This review is brought to you by Boogie Buddha, and remember don't just get down, but get Boogie. Thank you all for reading and or viewing, and I hope you all have an amazing day as always. :)

Lee, Shelby and Matt organize a search party with the police and volunteers to search for Flora. They find heads of dolls, head of pig along their way and reach a dilapidated farmhouse. In the barn, they find two dirty boys that have been left behind by the Polks and only know how to speak the word "Croatoan". A couple of days later, Lee loses the hope of finding Flora alive, based on her previous experience. Mason comes to the house to fight Lee, and he believes she has hidden Flora. During the night, Matt is awakened by the police and goes with Shelby and Lee to the spot where Mason was found murdered and charred. In the morning, Matt sees Mason first, and Lee a few minutes, leaving the house, and later only Lee returning. Out of the blue, a man called Cricket Marlowe from New Orleans arrives in the house, claims that he is a medium and that Flora is alive, hidden by Priscilla. They prepare a séance but, instead of Priscilla, The Butcher appears saying that The Millers are trespassers. When she leaves, Crocket tells her story to them.

"Chapter 3" is the third episode of the "American Horror Story" with the story of The Butcher. A new character, Cricket Marlowe, is introduced in the show expecting to rescue Flora from the ghosts. Shelby betrays Lee that is arrested by the police, which is an illogical procedure since the woman has experience the weird behavior of the evil ghosts. The boring narrative as if it was a documentary continues and is tremendously annoying. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Chapter 3"