Pregnancy, Cults, and Hallucinations: American Horror Story Season 12 Episode 3 Review

This season of American Horror Story takes viewers on a perplexing, hallucinatory ride in its third episode, “When the Bough Breaks,” skirting the boundaries between psychological horror and supernatural terror.

The story features reality TV star Kim Kardashian, yet anchors itself in Anna Alcott’s (Emma Roberts) seemingly cursed journey of a traumatic pregnancy.

Credit: FX

Following a heartbreaking suspected miscarriage and terrifying experience with an imposter nurse in episode 2, Anna undergoes a series of eerie events that blur the lines between reality and illusion. The episode pivots on Anna’s psyche, as she encounters the enigmatic Ms. Preecher and engages in a psychological tug-of-war with bizarre phenomena, shadowy figures, and mysterious social media entities.

Desperately trying to traverse the complexities of her haunted pregnancy, Anna stumbles into both metaphoric and literal darkness, encountering grim images, notably with the creepy Ms. Preecher and terrifying masked cultists. Anna’s experiences are shrouded in ambiguity, including an ominous operation conducted by the cultists.

Credit: FX

As Anna grapples with understanding the events, her personal relationships with Dex and Kamal become intertwined with her experiences of terror and uncertainty. The trust in her inner circle erodes, as the strange and hallucinatory occurrences intensify, with her husband Dex being particularly dismissive of her experiences and fears. Meanwhile, figures such as Nicolette and Siobhan float in and out of Anna’s storyline, contributing to the mysterious and unsettling environment.

Credit: FX

Drawing from classic horror themes, this episode injects a modern twist into Rosemary’s Baby-esque fears of pregnancy and nefarious, otherworldly interventions. The alleged cultists and potential demonic implications surface amid Anna’s ghastly dream-like sequences and menacing run-ins, suggesting a dark and malevolent presence circling her unborn child.

However, as reality mingles with horror and delusion, Anna’s true predicament remains an enigma. Her seeming miscarriage is called into question by Ms. Preecher’s revelation that her baby is not dead, juxtaposed with moments of horror such as finding a decomposing animal and the ominous sight of blood emanating from her own mouth. The episode uses these intense and fearful elements to perplexingly fuse possible supernatural occurrences with psychological deterioration, leaving viewers to ponder the validity and origin of Anna’s torment.

Credit: FX

Through the lens of Anna’s fraying sanity and surreal experiences, the episode implores viewers to decipher the layers of psychological and supernatural horror embedded in her journey.

Anna is caught in a whirlwind of dreadful experiences, demonic cults, and unsettling encounters, constructing a disturbing narrative that yet retains an essence of mystery and unanswered questions, as the audience peels back the layers of this terrifying tale.