The world of American Horror Story is no stranger to supernatural themes and unsettling moments, but for the cast and crew of the 2016 season, Roanoke, the line between fiction and reality seemed to blur in unsettling ways.
The show, known for its chilling narratives and over-the-top scares, took a sharp turn into the realm of real-life paranormal occurrences during production.
Despite its scripted horrors, the cast experienced unexplained events that left them shaken, from mysterious noises to feelings of being watched in the middle of the night.
While many are familiar with the thrilling scares the show offers on-screen, the true horror for some actors was what happened behind the scenes.
Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, and others revealed that they couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being haunted on the set. As the crew filmed in a remote location with a long and storied history, the eerie atmosphere was felt by all.
Let’s explore the strange events that surrounded the filming of American Horror Story: Roanoke and delve into the chilling question: did the show’s supernatural elements bleed over into reality?
The Haunting Location of Roanoke
Much like the show’s premise, the filming location for American Horror Story: Roanoke added an extra layer of creepiness to the production. The season took place in an isolated farmhouse deep in the woods, far away from the lights and bustle of city life.
This remote location, meant to evoke the eerie, ghostly ambiance of a haunted house, also seemed to bring out strange occurrences that could not easily be explained.
The set itself was purposefully designed to look old and weathered—perfect for the story about a haunted house in the woods where gruesome events unfold. But as soon as the cameras stopped rolling, actors and crew reported feeling unnerved by the very surroundings.
The seclusion of the set became more oppressive as time went on, and with every new production day, the atmosphere seemed to grow heavier.
It wasn’t just the set design that was off-putting; the remote location was surrounded by dense woods and miles of isolation, contributing to an already uneasy environment.
In horror movies, the woods are often portrayed as places of danger and the unknown, but for the cast of Roanoke, it became a frightening reality they had to face each night as filming continued.
Kathy Bates’ Experience on Set
One of the most vocal about the strange occurrences on set was actress Kathy Bates, a long-time veteran of horror and thriller genres. While filming in such an unsettling location, Bates reported hearing strange, unexplained noises coming from the woods.
These eerie sounds were not only unsettling but constant, and it was impossible to dismiss them as typical noise from the environment.
Bates wasn’t alone in her experiences.
Other cast members would later echo her unease, but it was Bates who was most outspoken about the disturbances. She described hearing sounds that seemed to be human-like voices or shuffling movements outside her dressing room.
This wasn’t limited to just one incident but seemed to occur on multiple occasions, especially during the late-night shoots that stretched into the early morning hours.
Despite knowing they were in a secluded location, Bates and her co-stars couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something—or someone—watching them. On a show known for its twisted stories, this sudden realization that the place they were filming might hold real-world ghosts was more than a little unnerving.
For Bates, the sounds were chilling reminders of the kind of horror she was used to playing on screen, but this time, it felt all too real.
Angela Bassett and the Feeling of Being Watched
Angela Bassett, another prominent actress in the Roanoke cast, also reported eerie experiences while working on set. Bassett, known for her powerful performances in both horror and drama, admitted that during late-night shoots, she often had the unsettling feeling that she was not alone.
“It felt like someone was standing right behind me, watching my every move,” Bassett recalled in interviews after the season aired.
Other cast members corroborated her feelings of unease.
Many of the night shoots were done in complete darkness, save for the flickering lights of the set, which added to the sense of isolation. With the woods surrounding them and the building’s creaky old bones groaning in the night, the atmosphere quickly became one of constant tension.
Despite no tangible evidence to suggest the crew was being stalked by supernatural forces, the eerie presence was undeniable.
Whether it was the oppressive silence of the woods or the feeling of being observed, many cast members felt more and more disconnected from the normal world as filming continued.
The Unexplained Noises and Moving Objects
As if the creepy setting and the psychological tension weren’t enough, other strange occurrences continued to plague the set.
Cast and crew members began to report unexplained noises, such as the sound of footsteps when no one was near, doors creaking open by themselves, or objects being moved without explanation.
These events started to take on a pattern, occurring when there was little to no movement in the set or when no one was around to cause the disturbances.
While no one was ever able to definitively identify the source of the noises or moving objects, the overall sense of dread on set grew. Some speculated that the house, like the one in the show’s narrative, might be haunted, adding to the already heightened tension. Others were convinced that the spirits from the stories that inspired Roanoke were somehow lingering in the space, making their presence known to those on set.
The Impact of Roanoke’s Real-Life Horror
The strange events on set of American Horror Story: Roanoke had a profound impact on the cast, particularly those who were already familiar with the world of horror.
Actors who were no strangers to filming tense, atmospheric scenes reported that their reactions to the real-life unsettling occurrences were completely different from what they had experienced before.
What made the events surrounding Roanoke stand out was how truly unexplainable they were—strange noises, feelings of being watched, and a general sense of foreboding in a location that was supposed to feel like home. These supernatural occurrences weren’t scripted, and they weren’t the product of special effects or editing.
For the cast, it was almost as though the supernatural themes of the show were manifesting in their real world.
The boundary between fiction and reality began to blur, and as filming continued, some of the crew became increasingly uncomfortable working in such an unnerving environment.
Many crew members said they had never experienced anything quite like it before, making the filming of Roanoke stand out in their careers for both its dark subject matter and the mysterious events that happened behind the scenes.
Is Roanoke Haunted?
While the bizarre occurrences on the set of American Horror Story: Roanoke remain unexplainable, there’s no denying that the chilling atmosphere left an impact on everyone involved.
Could the set truly have been haunted?
Was it merely the intense pressure of working on a horror series that caused these eerie sensations?
Or were the events experienced on set more than coincidental, with something dark lurking just beneath the surface?
There’s no way to know for certain, but the actors and crew members who worked on Roanoke will likely never forget the strange happenings they experienced while filming.
Whether it was the isolated setting or a true supernatural presence, one thing is clear: Roanoke was one of the most spine-chilling seasons of American Horror Story—not just for the terrifying story on screen, but also for the very real terror experienced off-camera.