If you were captivated by Netflix’s Woman of the Hour, a chilling thriller based on the real-life encounter between serial killer Rodney Alcala and bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw on The Dating Game, you’re likely craving more true crime stories that dig deep into the minds of killers and the women caught in their webs.
With its gripping premise and strong performances, Woman of the Hour has earned its place among Netflix’s most-watched films. However, if you’re looking for more intense, real-life-inspired crime dramas, here’s a curated list of seven films and shows to keep you on the edge of your seat.
1. The Tinder Swindler
The Tinder Swindler is an astonishing true-crime documentary about a man named Simon Leviev. He used Tinder to trick women into believing he was a wealthy billionaire (Spoiler Alert: He wasn’t!). He’d treat the women in his life with expensive dates and presents before tricking them into lending over large sums of money.
The documentary follows three of his victims who were completely duped. It’s incredible how he managed to pull off his scam for so long, and it serves as an excellent lesson to be cautious about who you trust online.
2. The Lovely Bones
The Lovely Bones is a movie about a young girl named Susie. She gets murdered by her neighbor and after her death, she looks over her family from heaven as they try to deal with her death. Her dad, Jack, is especially heartbroken and wants to find her killer. It’s a sad, but beautiful movie about grief, loss, and the power of love.
The film is based on Alice Sebold’s novel and was inspired by true-life murders committed by serial killers in the 1970s.
The film is both thrilling and heartbreaking, depicting how one family’s life is forever altered by a tragic tragedy. Tucci’s depiction as the killer is terrifying, emphasizing the risks that existed in communities at the time.
3. Boston Strangler
The film Boston Strangler is about two female journalists, Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, who were the first to discover that a single killer was responsible for a string of murders in Boston in the 1960s.
They endure numerous challenges, including sexism and disbelief, as they attempt to discover the truth about the Boston Strangler. It’s an exciting story of two courageous ladies who risked their lives to bring a dangerous murderer to justice.
4. Extremely Wicked, Shocking Evil and Vile
While many people may prefer Anna Kendrick’s film, Joe Berlinger’s Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile is also an appealing choice. This Netflix film shows us the story of Ted Bundy through the eyes of his ladylove, Elizabeth Kendall.
Despite criticism that the film does not focus enough on Bundy’s misdeeds and is uneven, Zac Efron‘s acting as Bundy is excellent. He portrays the killer’s unsettling charm and two-faced attitude, making the film worth watching.
5. Memories of Murder
Memories of Murder is a super creepy Korean crime thriller based on a real-life serial killer case. It follows two detectives who are trying to catch a really twisted killer in a small town.
The movie is super suspenseful and has some dark humour too. It’s a must-watch for anyone who loves mystery and doesn’t mind a bit of graphic content (gore and violence, so trigger alert).
6. My Friend Dahmer
The movie My Friend Dahmer is about the teenage years of Jeffrey Dahmer, the infamous serial killer. It’s based on a novel written by a person who knew Dahmer in high school.
The movie shows Dahmer’s weird behaviour and how his friends felt about him, even before he became a killer. It’s a dark look at the early life of one of history’s most infamous and scandalous criminals.
7. Love & Death
Love & Death is a show based on the true story of Candy Montgomery. She was a woman who brutally murdered her friend with an axe! The movie is based on a book and several magazines’ articles. Elizabeth Olsen plays Candy, and she did so well in this that she was nominated for a Golden Globe too.
Jesse Plemons (you might remember him from Breaking Bad) plays Betty’s husband and he has also received an Emmy nomination for his role in this. It’s a dark and twisted narrative of a seemingly ordinary woman who committed something horrific.
Conclusion
If you loved the true crime thriller Woman of the Hour, you’ll love these other shows and movies. They’re all based on real-life stories of crime and mystery, and they’ll keep you hooked just like Woman of the Hour.
From documentaries about con artists to movies about serial killers, there’s something for everyone.