American Horror Story: Asylum remains one of the most popular AHS seasons to date. Thanks to the creepy atmosphere, a great ensemble cast, and twists that keep viewers guessing, AHS: Asylum is a series that you can watch again and again. Additionally, AHS: Asylum has a lot of great Easter Eggs that many fans may not have noticed the first time around.

American Horror Story does a great job of using familiar situations, themes, villains, and even dialogue from the horror genre. However, they’re not always easy to catch. So, if you enjoy trying to find all of the fun horror Easter Eggs in AHS: Asylum, here are the top 10 horror movie references in AHS: Asylum that you didn’t notice the first time:

Freaks

Pepper, played by Naomi Grossman, is a microcephalic woman living at Briarcliff Asylum. This condition is characterized by an abnormally small head, which was recreated on Naomi using makeup and prosthetics.

However, Pepper is not the first microcephalic character to appear in television or movies. In Tod Browning’s 1932 horror film, Freaks, a troupe of carnival performers (including two microcephalic people) take revenge on the woman who wronged them. Pepper’s character is a throwback to this terrifying Pre-Code classic.

Candyman

As one of the most infamous horror movie villains of all time, Clive Barker’s Candyman has been terrifying viewers for years. However, it was not only Tony Todd’s excellent performance as the eponymous monster that sent shivers down audience spines, but it was also the music.

The creepy piano melody plays whenever the Candyman is near, and this same tune was put to good use in the 11th episode of AHS: Asylum, “Spilt Milk.” When Lana finds a way to escape Briarcliff Asylum, you can hear the Candyman theme playing in the background.

Marathon Man

Dr. Arden functions as the mad doctor in charge of Briarcliff Asylum. While his character resembles mad scientist/doctor characters from a number of films like Frankenstein and Island of Lost Souls, he most resembles the sadistic Nazi doctor in Marathon Man.

While Marathon Man is more of a thriller than a straightforward horror movie, it has plenty of horrific moments. In AHS: Asylum, Dr. Arden is a former Nazi and enjoys torturing his victims, just like Dr. Szell in John Schlesinger’s Marathon Man.

A Clockwork Orange

Throughout AHS: Asylum, Doctor Arden conducts horrific experiments on Kit to extract information. Additionally, Arden enjoys inflicting pain, so he uses these experiments as an opportunity to torture Kit.

Though many films involve torture, the scenes in which Dr. Arden probes and tortures Kit closely resemble those in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. In the film, a young gang member, Alex, is jailed for murder before being subjected to behavior modification experiments.

Boxing Helena 

Though Boxing Helena never garnered critical acclaim or financial success, it left a lasting impression on audiences. As a way to control the woman of his dreams, a lonely surgeon kidnaps his neighbor, subsequently amputating her legs and arms.

In AHS: Asylum, Shelly’s promiscuity leads her to a similar fate; as punishment for failing to “keep her legs closed,” Shelly gets them chopped off.

The Devils

Nuns are generally seen as symbols of purity and chastity. When a nun exhibits the opposite traits, it often seems unnerving, even frightening. In Ken Russell’s 1971 film, The Devils, a group of 17th-century nuns in France lust after a charismatic priest.

Alternatively, in AHS: Asylum, Sister Mary Eunice attempts to seduce Dr. Arden, while Shelly struggles to control her sexual desires. This is one of the more obscure references in the series, and it was probably lost on many first-time viewers.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre follows the violent torture and murder of a group of young people in rural Texas. The perpetrators, a family of psychopaths, includes the hulking, chainsaw-wielding antagonist, Leatherface. Though the story is fictional, Leatherface is loosely based on Ed Gein, the infamous serial killer.

In AHS: Asylum, authorities are on the hunt for a serial killer known as Bloody Face. Just like Leatherface, Bloody Face wears the skin of his victims as a mask. Bloody Face is a very obvious homage to the famous character from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

The entire season of AHS: Asylum is based on a corrupt mental institution that does more harm than good. Specifically, Briarcliff Asylum is led by a stern mistress in Sister Mary Eunice. The asylum, particularly Sister Mary Eunice, recalls the mental institution and head nurse from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

In the film, Jack Nicholson’s character pleads insanity to avoid going to prison. However, this lands him in the care of the cruel and frigid Nurse Ratched. AHS: Asylum and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest have several other thematic similarities, including the detention of mentally stable patients against their will.

The Silence of the Lambs

In The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lector is kept in a high-security prison. As a serial killer, he shares the facility with perpetrators of similarly heinous crimes. When FBI investigator, Clarice (played by Jodie Foster), visits Hannibal, another prisoner throws bodily fluids at her.

While not all of the patients in Briarcliff Asylum are sadistic criminals, many do have legitimate mental issues. As a result, one patient flings similar bodily fluids in the face of Sister Mary Eunice. Though it is difficult to watch, this disgusting act reinforces the chaos of the asylum, while also referencing Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs.

The Exorcist 

American Horror Story is known for its well-crafted opening credits, and Asylum is no exception. The opening sequence features patients laughing maniacally, nuns drifting through dark hallways, and even a person crab-walking up a staircase. This last image is taken directly from William Friedkin’s The Exorcist.

In the film, a priest must battle against a demon that has taken possession of a young girl. The film includes many terrifying and unforgettable scenes, including one in which the girl (while under the control of the demon) crab-walks down the staircase. American Horror Story used this reference as an obvious nod to fans of the horror genre.