Where is that ‘the killer is escaping’ sound that’s all over TikTok from originally?

My favourite TikTok audio trend in AGES has arrived in the form of THE KILLER IS ESCAPING! Mostly, because I smugly already knew exactly what it was from, and it made me feel down with the kids. But also because it’s absolutely hilarious and every time someone uses it I laugh out loud.

@mondaysred♬ helllp the killer is ey scape ing – abi

For those uninitiated, the trend is a brief excerpt of a woman screaming at the top of her lungs “HELP! HE’S ESCAPING! THE KILLER IS ESCAPING!” amidst some form of visual panic. Only here, there are no killers in sight. The escaping killers in question range from gazebos blowing down the road, fans vibrating their way across the floor and seagulls wreaking havoc after flying inside a Maccies.

@nathann.xo##CleanItScrunchItCoopIt ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##rain♬ helllp the killer is ey scape ing – abi

@pfizerhottieLMFAOOOO ##fyp ##sarahpaulson ##CleanItScrunchItCoopIt ##mcdonalds♬ helllp the killer is ey scape ing – abi

What is this terrifying sound actually from?!

I’m so glad you asked, because I can smugly tell you with the unwavering certainty of a die hard fan that it’s from American Horror Story. Specifically, it’s from the second season, AHS: Asylum. It’s taken from a sequence during episode two, Tricks and Treats.

Slight spoiler alert, so tread with caution. Sarah Paulson plays journalist Lana Winters, who long story short has been committed to the asylum against her will. She is trying to make her escape with Grace, another patient, but Grace isn’t willing to leave without Evan Peters’ character Kit. Kit is in the asylum as he’s been arrested for being a serial killer – Grace believes he’s innocent and Lana believes he’s guilty. She isn’t willing to make the escape if Kit comes with them, therefore bellowing the immortal “killer is escaping” line that’s found a second life on TikTok today.

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