‘American Horror Story: 1984’ Season 9, Episode 5 ‘Red Dawn’ Review: Welcome to Killapalooza!

Camp Redwood is a breeding ground for death and evil—that’s one thing that tonight’s episode of American Horror Story:1984 made perfectly clear.

We had our fair share of shocking twists in the first four episodes of season 9. Now, “Red Dawn” teases a brand new narrative that picks up from the horrors of the camp. Throughout the episode, several bloodbaths ensue (like there’s anything other than that), clearing the survivors out one by one. It’s almost as if Camp Redwood is a woodland getaway for killer wannabes and those with homicidal tendencies—let’s call this gathering “killapalooza” to make things more colorful.

“Red Dawn” follows the survivors’ final stand against the fucked-upness of the camp. Revealed as the true killer last week, Margaret Booth (Leslie Grossman) tries to recreate the “Mr. Jingles killing spree” as she picks out her new counselors to satisfy her urge for more blood. At the same time, Richard/The Night Stalker (Zach Villa) seems to be the supernatural force behind all the odd things happening within the camp. Satan, again, might be at play here. As the morning comes, the body count adds up and the camp claims more lives for its sinister workings.

Snuggle up near the campfire and prepare yourself for the onslaught of spoilers for tonight’s episode of American Horror Story.

No Redemption for Fake Nurse Rita

Fake Nurse Rita/Donna Chambers (Angelica Ross) is in some deep shit tonight. So we all know that she’s fascinated with serial killers—hence her decision to release Mr. Jingles (John Carroll Lynch) from the asylum—and the workings of their minds. But this interest started when she accidentally found her dad (Tim Russ) performing a secret murder ritual. Donna’s dad reveals that he’s always had the urge to kill and that there’s nothing his daughter can do as a psychologist to help him (dude then proceeds to stab himself in the neck!).

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Fast forward to the horrific night at Camp Redwood, where Donna stands face to face with a reincarnated Richard. He then explains that darkness and evil are within her (with Donna’s dad reappearing to confirm what Richard believes). But Donna doesn’t want to accept that she’s the spawn of evil. Throughout the night, she tries to find that small shard of redemption by coming clean with what she did to Mr. Jingles. A furious Xavier (Cody Fern) chases her with an ax, because how can you ever forgive the person who let loose a mind-conditioned “killer” to destroy your hopes and dreams of being an actor right?

Donna outruns Xavier but is confronted by Mr. Jingles, telling her the truth about Margaret. When Donna begs for him to kill her and end the darkness within, Mr. Jingles refuses and leaves her to deal with her guilt.

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Ghost Sex and Revenge Plots

At this point, we only have four survivors (save for Donna)—Brooke (Emma Roberts), Chet (Gus Kenworth), Montana (Billie Lourd)—left with Margaret. The night drones on, so they hole up in a cabin to think about their next move. Margaret leaves with Gus to seek help from two campers near the lake (total bullshit, by the way) while Montana is left with Brooke. And since Montana saw Richard die, she decides to carry out her revenge against Brooke herself. But her plan is thwarted when Brooke sees Ray (DeRon Horton) wandering around the camp looking confused. Now, keep in mind that the real Ray was decapitated by Mr. Jingles, so this Ray that Brooke is seeing is a trapped ghost (just like Jonas).

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Here’s where it all gets wonky. Brooke and Ray decided to hole up in the mess hall. When the two air out their hopes and dreams, Brooke gets the urge to kiss Ray. And since they’re not sure if they’re going to live through the night, the two have sex. The biggest shock comes after when Brooke tries to get a drink in the kitchen. Upon opening the fridge, she freaks out as she sees Ray’s severed head inside. What a way to kill the sexual mood, huh?

Brooke runs back to Montana, who’s only waiting for another chance to kill her. As Brooke tells her about Ray, Montana swoops in for the kill. The girls duke it out throughout the night as they engage in a tiring game of cat and mouse.

A New, Bloody Dawn

Meanwhile, Margaret gets to act on her urges tonight. After bringing Chet to the lake and schooling him about confessing his sins to God, Margaret kills him by drowning. On her way back to the cabin, Mr. Jingles spots her and strangles her. Just when we thought that Margaret’s done for, Xavier comes to the rescue by going all Green Arrow on Mr. Jingles. He shoots him with multiple arrows, killing the poor big man instantly. But the tables turn as Margaret kills Xavier next, stabbing him from sternum to stomach.

And in a dark twist of fate, Richard appears with his Satan-imbued powers to bring Mr. Jingles back to life.

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Finally, dawn breaks and Montana and Brooke’s bitch match comes to a head. A bus full of kid campers arrives at the camp just as Brooke gains the upper hand and stabs Montana repeatedly—much to the kids’ horror. The police and medics arrive, with Brooke wrongfully arrested for the killings. Margaret, in a final act of innocence, stabs her leg and pretends to be one of Brooke’s “victims.”

With all our survivors gone, Camp Redwood once again sits in foreboding silence—or so we thought. Upon realizing that he’s now a ghost, Ray tries to escape by being whisked away in an ambulance. But the camp won’t let him go beyond the gate, so he’s stuck here forever (with Jonas as the welcoming party). Montana’s ghost also joins the two and shoots a police officer to make a statement. “You guys are doing this purgatory thing all wrong,” Montana says. “We can be gods here.” Hold up, what about Xavier, Trevor, and all the others who have died in the camp? Are their ghosts also stuck in Redwood with these three losers or does the camp have some sort of favoritism here?

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Meanwhile, Richard and Mr. Jingles (now killer best buds) drive off in a stolen cop car to Los Angeles.

‘American Horror Story: 1984 — Red Dawn’ Overall Verdict

With all the twists and turns that American Horror Story: 1984 had for this season, “Red Dawn” stands as its most confusing episode to date. The shock value took a back seat tonight and was replaced with an overwhelming dose of “lolwut.” But in it lies the Ryan Murphy-trademarked genius—now that we’re off of Camp Redwood, a new narrative is set up. After wreaking havoc in the woods, will the slasher action finally move to the city now that Mr. Jingles and the Night Stalker are the best of friends? It seems to be the show’s current waypoint. Written by Dan Dworkin and directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton, “Red Dawn” is the perfect follow-up to a shock-charged first half of AHS: 1984.

American Horror Story: 1984 continues Wednesday, October 23rd, with the show’s 100th episode at 10/9c on FX.