| Composer: | Morgan Kibby |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 1 |
| Num Episodes: | 10 |
| Runtime: | 30–58 minutes |
| Network: | FX |
| Last Aired: | present |
Grotesquerie is an American horror drama television series created by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken for FX.[1] Niecy Nash-Betts stars as Detective Lois Tryon, alongside Courtney B. Vance, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Micaela Diamond, Raven Goodwin, and Lesley Manville.[2]
The series premiered on September 25, 2024.[3]
Detective Lois Tryon must work with Sister Megan, a local nun, to figure out the source of a series of heinous crimes that is affecting both their community and their personal lives.[4]
The series was announced in February 2024, when creator Ryan Murphy released a teaser on Instagram. Niecy Nash, Courtney B. Vance and Lesley Manville were set to star.[5]
The trailer for Grotesquerie was released in August 2024.[6] The first two episodes of Grotesquerie premiered on FX on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. The subsequent eight episodes will air weekly on Wednesdays in pairs of 2 until October 23, 2024. Each episode will be available for streaming on Hulu the day following its FX broadcast.[7] Internationally, the series was made available to stream on Disney+.[8]
Grotesquerie debuted at No. 1 on Hulu's "Top 15 Today" list on its first full day of release and remained on the list for five consecutive days as of October 1, 2024, alongside other television series made by Ryan Murphy, including American Sports Story and Doctor Odyssey.[9] The streaming aggregator Reelgood, which monitors real-time data from 5 million users in the U.S. for original and acquired streaming programs and movies across subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) and ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) services, reported that Grotesquerie was the eighth most-streamed television series in the U.S. for the week of September 26 to October 2, 2024.[10] Analytics company Samba TV, which gathers viewership data from certain smart TVs and content providers, calculated that it was the ninth most-watched program during the week of September 30 to October 6, 2024.[11] By the week ending October 9, 2024, Reelgood announced that Grotesquerie was the ninth most-streamed series in the U.S.[12]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 79% of 14 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.50/10. The critics' consensus reads, "Equal parts campy and terrifying, Grotesquerie is a stomach-churning feast for viewers seeking a thrill."[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the series a score of 51 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[14]
Nakeisha Campbell of PureWow remarked that while the graphic imagery in Grotesquerie can be unsettling—almost prompting her to stop watching the series—she stated that Niecy Nash-Betts's strong performance kept her engaged. She praised the exploration of Detective Lois Tryon's personal struggles and highlighted the partnership between Tryon and Sister Megan, describing their dynamic as a refreshing addition to the narrative. Campbell also acknowledged the suspenseful tone and expressed curiosity about the series' direction, recognizing its appeal to fans of intense horror.[15] Matthew Creith of TheWrap praised Nash-Betts for her performance, portraying a flawed character who battles alcoholism and personal struggles while investigating a series of grotesque murder cases. He appreciated the eccentricity of the supporting characters, particularly Sister Megan and Nurse Redd, saying they add layers of strangeness to the narrative. Creith complimented the show for its dark and macabre tone, noting its evolution from a typical police drama into a deeper exploration of paranoia and sociopathy, while also acknowledging the intriguing dynamics and theological themes presented throughout the series.[16]
Daniel Kurland of Bloody Disgusting noted that Grotesquerie feels akin to a season of American Horror Story while being more focused and grounded. He found the atmosphere to evoke a heavy sense of dread, drawing parallels to Seven and Hannibal, and said that the contrast between horror and domestic life enhances the impact of the murders. Kurland praised Nash-Betts for her performance and highlighted Micaela Diamond's Sister Megan Duval as the standout character, suggesting that their dynamic explores themes of faith amid violence. Kurland recognized that while Murphy's shows often start strong but may falter, Grotesquerie establishes a solid foundation, concluding with cautious optimism regarding the series' potential within the horror genre.[17] Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter noted that Grotesquerie feels familiar within Murphy's universe, with a setup reminiscent of American Horror Story and Seven, incorporating themes of religious symbolism and societal decay. He praised Nash-Betts' portrayal as a detective, complimenting her fresh take on the archetype and strong chemistry with supporting actors Raven Goodwin and Courtney B. Vance. Fienberg also highlighted Diamond's breakout role as Sister Megan but found the series somewhat predictable in its early episodes, hoping for more innovation in future installments.[18]
Petrana Radulovic of Polygon described Grotesquerie as intriguing but flawed, highlighting the engaging mystery and over-the-top, religiously symbolic murders. She praised the performances, particularly those of Nash-Betts as Detective Lois Tryon and Diamond as Sister Megan. Radulovic also complimented the show's setup and its disturbing crime scenes reminiscent of Seven, but expressed doubt about Murphy's ability to deliver a satisfying conclusion, based on his previous projects.[19] Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian gave Grotesquerie a score of three out of five stars and called the show more downbeat compared to Murphy's typical work, focusing on a grander narrative amid its gothic horrors. She found the show visually striking but criticized its reliance on clumsy exposition, which undermines its eerie atmosphere. Nicholson praised Nash-Betts' performance as a hard-drinking detective, noting her poise despite the clichéd nature of the role, and complimented Lesley Manville's skilled delivery of absurd lines. While acknowledging its slow pace, she found the series intriguing with its themes of societal collapse, faith, and fear, suggesting it is worth continuing despite some flaws.[20]