11/9

There's more work on the writing, but it's still like a crappy M. Night Shyamalan movie (except for the Last Airbender). The problems are the lack of supernatural, the predictability of the plot and the performing of Evan Peters as a Charles Manson-Wannabe.

I think people are missing the point here.

This season of AHS is parodying all that is wrong with today's society - everything on the defective social spectrum - from extremely, easily triggered SJWs all the way to apathetic, ill-informed morons who may join a rally but know very little regarding the subject on which they are protesting. This and all the delicate snowflakes & castrated cucks in between.

THAT is the true horror, not the gore, the blood & guts or scary homicidal clowns.

The fourth episode of American Horror Story: Cult, titled "11/9" and directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton, marks a pivotal moment in the season, providing vital backstory and deepening the psychological and sociopolitical themes that have driven the narrative so far. The title itself is a deliberate reversal of 9/11, referring to the date of the 2016 presidential election victory of Donald Trump, anchoring the episode's thematic focus on fear, rage, and the social upheaval ignited by that day. Far from merely continuing the horror progression, "11/9" shifts the perspective to expose the ideology and rise of Kai Anderson (Evan Peters), whose manipulative charisma and sociopathic tendencies emerge in full force. This episode abandons much of the more surreal or stylistically exaggerated elements of preceding episodes in favor of a darker, more grounded tone infused with gruesome violence, political manipulation, and cult indoctrination.

The narrative unfolds through a combination of present-time events and revealing flashbacks, illuminating common motives among Kai's followers and disclosing their painful backstories and reasons for surrendering to his cause. This structural choice broadens the storyline, giving depth to previously shadowy characters such as Harrison Wilton (Billy Eichner), whose desperation and personal failures make him vulnerable to Kai's manipulative promises of empowerment. One harrowing sequence depicts Harrison's brutal murder of a man named Vinny, carried out under Kai's influence-a powerful scene that lays bare the cold-blooded nature of the cult's expansion. The gruesome imagery of dismemberment and the subsequent cover-up stands out for its stark brutality and moral ambiguity, effectively confronting the audience with the real costs of fanaticism.

Kai's recruitment tactics are front and center, revealing him as a Machiavellian figure who cleverly exploits the fears, frustrations, and prejudices of a divided society. A scene of intense psychological manipulation involves Kai persuading Gary (Anthony Michael Hall), who is bound and tortured in Kai's basement, to sacrifice a part of himself-literally sawing through his own wrist-to prove his loyalty. This chilling moment exemplifies the cult's demand for submission and the grotesque measures used to bind members through shared suffering and symbolic violence. The episode's unflinching portrayal of such acts is disturbing yet integral to its critique of extremism and political fanaticism.

Parallel to Kai's ominous rise, the episode continues to focus on the fractured domestic life of Ally (Sarah Paulson) and Ivy (Alison Pill). Ally's relationship with Ivy grows increasingly strained as paranoia heightens and trust erodes, culminating in a chilling revelation that Ivy is complicit in the cult's activities. This betrayal cuts deeply into the series' exploration of personal versus political betrayal and how ideological divisions can infiltrate intimate relationships. The script handles this with a slow-building tension that pays off in a dark, dramatic climax, underscoring the personal costs of living in a climate of fear and hate.

Director Horder-Payton's approach in "11/9" is meticulous and disciplined, evidencing a clear tonal shift towards grim realism. The cinematography employs muted color schemes, shadows, and close framing to accentuate feelings of claustrophobia and impending dread. The editing pace slows compared to earlier episodes, allowing the disturbing imagery and character interactions to resonate longer with the viewer. This change effectively reinforces the seriousness of the narrative developments and deepens the psychological impact.

The performances are among the episode's strongest assets. Evan Peters commands the screen as Kai, delivering a performance that is simultaneously charismatic, menacing, and disturbingly persuasive. His embodiment of a manipulative cult leader is chilling, underscoring the dangers of unchecked power cloaked in populist rhetoric. Billy Eichner's portrayal of Harrison captures the tragic fall of a man broken by external pressures and internal rage, while Sarah Paulson's Ally remains a complex figure of fear, strength, and vulnerability. Alison Pill's Ivy reveals new shades of duplicity, adding to the narrative tension with subtle but impactful acting.

Thematically, "11/9" delves into the nature of fanaticism, the psychology of cult dynamics, and the destructive power of rage channeled into violence. It exposes how personal grievances and societal divisions become fuel for extremist ideologies, a commentary strongly rooted in the political climate surrounding the 2016 election. The episode's exploration of physical and symbolic sacrifices made by cult members highlights the grotesque extremes of loyalty demanded by such groups. Moreover, the episode throws light on the role of media manipulation and the performative aspects of political power, dovetailing with the series' broader critique of contemporary American culture.

In a larger cultural context, "11/9" engages with horror traditions of domestic terror and psychological thriller but elevates these with a distinctively political lens. The episode's title and content echo national traumas and reflect anxieties about democratic breakdowns and the spread of social contagion. The motif of blood sacrifice as political submission parallels historical and cinematic depictions of cults, totalitarian movements, and the seductive nature of authoritarianism. Within American Horror Story's canon, this episode stands out for its focused narrative clarity against the series' customary eclectic blending of horror genres.

"11/9" is a significant turning point in American Horror Story: Cult that marries psychological horror with searing political allegory. Its careful direction, strong performances, and unrelenting exploration of cult psychology deepen the series' impact, challenging viewers to confront uncomfortable realities about fear, power, and loyalty. While the episode's graphic violence and bleak tone may alienate some, they contribute meaningfully to the season's ambitions as a mirror to contemporary societal fractures. "11/9" is an episode that not only enhances the season's narrative cohesiveness but provokes reflection on the enduring dangers of extremism cloaked in populist fervor.

Those other reviews have got to be paid for. This episode was so bad it's not even funny.

Why the hell would that Trump supporter saw his whole hand off? He could just saw the thumb off and slip his hand through OR he could just wait until the end of the election and keep his hand. He literally sawed his hand off for a vote that ultimately won't count for sh*t.

The reporter can't act to save her fricking life. And that "f@ck her right in the pussy" b0llocks was sooo cringeworthy. Please keep dead memes out of TV shows, ESPECIALLY when you're already shoving some trashy leftist Liberal propaganda down our throats. And I'm not American so I'm neutral in that regard but it gets to the point where it's just ridiculous.

Let me ask you this: if you walked into a room and saw someone you knew sawing someone's head off, you'd be surprised, right? You wouldn't just calmly say "who's that?"

Terrible writing, terrible acting. I'm DONE watching this atrocious excuse of a TV show.

While covering the elections, Beverly Rope is replaced by her shallow colleague Serena Belinda. After the elections, Kai goes to the academy where Harrison works and selects him to be his personal trainer. Kai poisons Harrison against his boss and owner of the academy, Vinny, who likes to humiliate him asking Harrison to work as janitor since he is gay. When Harrison arrives home, he learns from Meadow that the bank foreclosed their mortgage, and they will be evicted in three days. On the next day, Vinny threatens to fire Harrison and Kai increases his tension, culminating in Harrison killing Vinny on the bench press. Kai helps Harrison to cover up the murder, sending messages to Vinny's friends saying that he needs to travel. Then he helps to dismember his body in the bathtub. When his body is found without head and hands in a landfill, Beverly covers the finding. Soon she recalls when she was interned in a psychiatric clinic since she had been attacked while broadcasting by teenagers "say grab her by her vagina". Beverly surprises Bob and Serena near to have sex in the studio and is reprehended by Bob. Soon she slashes his tires, and Kai offers her to drink coffee with him. He tells her that he intends to rule the world and tries to make Beverly to be his follower the same way he did with Harrison. Soon Serena is attacked by Kai, Harrison and Meadow dressed like clowns on a pet adoption event and then Kai tells Beverly that he did for her.

"!1/9" is another boring episode of the Seventh Season of the "American Horror Story". When will the producers learn that fans of horror are not interested in American politics. At least this episode spends a few minutes only with annoying Ally. Kai is a sick and ambitious man, looking for power through violence. On the other hand, the gay Harrison is a weak man and now worships and follows Kai. Unfortunately, "American Horror Story" is in downfall since the Fifth Season. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "11/9"