8 Most Sinister 'American Horror Story' Villains, Ranked From Chills to Full-Body Terror

The 12th season of American Horror Story, subtitled "Delicate," ended in 2024. The horror anthology series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk does not end there – Season 13 has already been announced.

In anticipation of the new chapter, we decided to revisit the most terrifying and cruel AHS villains.

8. Tate Langdon – Season 1 "Murder House"

Tate Langdon has one of the most controversial and tragic stories in the show. In life, he committed a school shooting, killing several teenagers.

As a ghost in modern times, he did not remember much of what he did. He sincerely loved the new resident, Violet, and tried to help her avoid becoming a victim of the hellish house.

He committed his atrocities in a creepy latex suit, which earned him the nickname Rubber Man. The sinister, demonic essence of the Murder House twisted Tate's mind, as was confirmed in Season 8, "Apocalypse," which focused on his son, Michael.

7. Twisty – Season 4 "Freak Show"

Twisty is a clumsy man who catches up with his victims terribly quickly – they don't even have time to come to their senses. He wears a terrifying mask that resembles a smile, but underneath it, he has a bloody mess instead of a mouth.

There is a sad story behind Twisty's creepy appearance. He used to be a kind clown who wanted to amuse children. Two performers from a traveling freak show envied his popularity and, out of spite, spread a rumor that he was abusing children.

Twisty lost his job and the meaning of his life, so he tried to shoot himself, but he only shot off his jaw.

6. Agnes Mary Winstead – Season 6 "Roanoke"

The first half of Season 6 featured a documentary about a haunted house with actors and interviews with people who survived the ordeal. In the second half, the film crew gathered the actors and participants of the events in the house. The party ended in a massacre.

Supernatural events were caused by the ghosts of the Roanoke colonists who disappeared many years ago.

These ghosts were led by the bloodthirsty Thomasin, nicknamed the Butcher. In the documentary, Thomasin was portrayed by actress Agnes Mary Winstead. She became obsessed with the role and even attacked people. This led her to be treated in a mental hospital.

After filming, Agnes did not want to say goodbye to the Butcher because it meant losing the love of the audience.

5. Delphine LaLaurie – Season 3 "Coven"

Delphine LaLaurie was obsessed with her appearance. She made masks from the blood of slaves in hopes of rejuvenating herself. One day, the voodoo queen Marie Laveau gave LaLaurie a potion of immortality. Afterwards, the woman was buried alive.

In modern times, Supreme Witch Fiona Goode dug up LaLaurie to learn the secret of eternal life. LaLaurie had to adjust to the new world, but centuries in a coffin and memories of a dark past did not change her – and in the 21st century, she remained a ruthless maniac.

4. Fiona Goode – Season 3 "Coven"

Fiona Goode, the Supreme Witch, is a cunning and cruel woman who is ready to spill blood for the sake of power. She felt that her strength was leaving her body because it was time for a new Supreme to emerge.

In a desperate attempt to preserve her youth and power, she committed many controversial acts – even killing Madison. Fiona is a rare villain whom you both hate for her cruelty and sympathize with because she clung to any chance to return to her former glorious life.

3. Sister Mary Eunice – Season 2 "Asylum"

At the heart of Season 2 is the heartbreaking story of Mary Eunice. She was a kind and innocent nun who was possessed by the devil.

She scared away Briarcliff's religious patients, brutally killed people, and wove devilish intrigues. She teased and manipulated Dr. Arden, seduced the devout Timothy Howard, and terrorized Sister Jude, reminding her of her sad past.

2. Arthur Arden – Season 2 "Asylum"

Dr. Arthur Arden, the head doctor at Briarcliff, brutally abused his powers. He used mentally ill patients as subjects in inhumane experiments.

He maimed and tortured his subjects, taking away their limbs and turning them into monsters. The creepy creatures roaming the forest near Briarcliff were victims of Dr. Arden's experiments.

The scenes of Shelley being mutilated by Arden are among the most frightening and disgusting in AHS. The doctor, obsessed with research, turned out to be a Nazi war criminal, which explained his cruelty.

1. Dr. Oliver Thredson – Season 2 "Asylum"

One of the mysteries of Season 2 was the identity of Bloody Face, a maniac nicknamed for his bloody crimes. He was a serial killer obsessed with women's skin who wore a scary leather mask. Kit Walker was the main suspect in the case and was sent to a mental hospital.

However, the killer turned out to be Dr. Oliver Thredson, a seemingly kind and sympathetic psychiatrist. Dr. Thredson is the most convincing wolf-in-sheep's-clothing villain in AHS.

Before his exposure, Dr. Thredson seemed like a decent fighter for justice, so his transformation into a psychopath was truly shocking.