Criminal Adaptations

In part-two of our season finale, we peel back the layers of Austin Peters’s Skincare (2024), the darkly comedic thriller inspired by the bizarre real-life scandal in the Los Angeles beauty industry. Staring Elizabeth Banks as a celebrity aesthetician, the film follows a successful skincare guru whose life begins to unravel amid allegations, sabotage, and paranoia. But how much of this strange story actually happened? And how is it connected to The Bling Ring? We examine the real case of celebrity facialist Dawn DeLuise, who was arrested in 2014 for allegedly plotting to hire a hitman to kill a business rival – only to be acquitted after a dramatic legal battle. We compare the film’s version of events to the facts, explore the shocking twists that weren’t included in the movie, and discuss where the filmmakers chose to fictionalize parts of the story. We also look at the larger questions surrounding media sensationalism, reputation, and what happens when real life scandals become Hollywood entertainment.

Primary Sources:

• LA Magazine (2015)
• LA Times (2015)
• LA Magazine (2018)
• Board of Supervisor’s Agenda County Claims Board (2018)
• People (2026)
• The Curious Case of…The Skincare Queen and the Hitman – Part 1 (2026)
• The Curious Case of…The Skincare Queen and the Hitman – Part 2 (2026)

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In part one of our season finale, we dive into the celebrity obsessed work of Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring (2013), a stylish crime drama based on the real group of teenagers who burglarized the homes of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The film follows a crew of fame hungry teens who break into the houses of celebrities like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Orlando Bloom – but how accurately does it portray the crimes that shocked Los Angeles? We examine the true story of the real Bling Ring, explore how the group selected their targets, and uncover the details of the burglaries that netted millions of dollars in cash, jewelry, and designer goods. We compare the movie’s characters to their real-life counterparts, discuss what was changed for dramatic effect, and look at how celebrity culture and social media helped fuel the crimes in the first place.

 Primary Sources:

• Vanity Fair (2010)
• Sales, Nancy. The Bling Ring: How a Gang of Fame-Obsessed Teens Ripped Off Hollywood and Shocked the World. It Books (2013).
• US Weekly (2026)

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In this episode, we examine Kimberly Peirce’s Boys Don’t Cry (1999), the powerful and heartbreaking film based on the life of Brandon Teena. Widely praised for its performances and emotional impact, the movie brought national attention to a tragic story of violence, identity, and transphobia. But how closely does the film follow the real events that inspired it? We explore the true story of Brandon Teena, a transgender man living in rural Nebraska whose life was cut short in a brutal hate crime. We compare the film’s portrayal of Teena, his relationships, and the events leading up to the murder with the historical record, highlighting where the film remained faithful to the facts and where Hollywood condensed, altered, or omitted details. We also discuss the broader cultural impact of both the crime and the film, and how Teena’s story helped shape conversations about LGBTQ+ rights and violence against transgender people.

 Primary Sources:

• Jones, Aphrodite. All She Wanted: A True Story of Sexual Deception and Murder in America’s Heartland. Simon & Schuster (1996).
• Forensic Files Now (2019)
• Forensic Files Now (2019)

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This week we tackle our third Aaron Sorkin film, The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), the acclaimed courtroom drama about one of the most explosive political trials in American history. The film follows a group of anti-war activists charged with conspiracy and inciting riots following the violent clashes at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. But how accurately does the movie portray the events that unfolded on the streets and inside the courtroom? We examine the real story behind the Chicago Eight, explore the political tensions that fueled the protests, and break down the trial that became a national spectacle. From the film’s depiction of the defendants, judge, and Black Panther leader Bobby Seale, we’ll separate historical fact from Hollywood dramatization.

 Primary Sources:

• Feiffer, Jules; Wiener, Jon; & Hayden, Tom. Conspiracy in the Streets: The Extraordinary Trial of the Chicago Seven. The New Press (2006).

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This week we descend into the foggy streets of Victorian London to compare Albert and Allen Hughes’s From Hell (2001) to the real story of possibly the most notorious serial killer of all time, Jack the Ripper. Starring Johnny Depp and based on the acclaimed graphic novel, From Hell offers a dark and conspiracy filled interpretation of the infamous Whitechapel murders – but how much of its story is rooted in fact, and how much is pure speculation? We explore the real case, examine the identities of the victims, and break down the many theories surrounding the killer’s true identity. From secret societies and royal conspiracies to psychic vision and fictional detectives, we’ll separate the historical records from the movie’s imaginative storytelling. We also discuss what historians actually know about the murders and why the case remains unsolved over a century later.

 Primary Sources:

• Rumbelow, Donald. Jack the Ripper: The Complete Casebook. Virgin Books (2013).
• Moore, Alan & Campbell, Eddie. From Hell: The Master Edition. Top Shelf Productions (2020).

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This week we travel back in time to one of the most famous courtroom battles in American history as we compare Stanley Kramer’s Inherit the Wind (1960) to the Scopes “Monkey” Trial. The film presents a dramatic showdown between science and religion, featuring unforgettable performances from Spencer Tracy and Gene Kelly – but how closely does it follow the events the inspired it? We examine the true story of teacher John Scopes, the Tennessee law that prohibited the teaching of evolution, and the legal battle that brought two of the nation’s most celebrated figures into the courtroom. Along the way, we uncover the liberties the film takes with the facts, explore how the movie’s themes were shaped by the political climate of its time, and discuss whether Inherit the Wind is better understood as history, allegory, or something in between.

Primary Source:

• Larson, Edward. Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion. Basic Books (2006).

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In this episode, we step into the ring with Norman Jewison’s The Hurricane (1999), the powerful biographical drama starring Denzel Washington as boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. The film tells the story of Carter’s rise in the boxing world, his controversial conviction for a triple murder, and the decades long fight to clear his name. But how much of what actually happened do we see on screen? We break down the real case, examine the evidence that led to Carter’s conviction, and explore the key differences between Hollywood’s version and the historical record. From courtroom drama to allegations of racial bias, we separate fact from fiction and discuss whether The Hurricane accurately captures Carter’s story and one of the most debated wrongful conviction cases in American history.

Primary Source:

• Hirsch, James. Hurricane: The Miraculous Journey of Rubin Carter. Mariner Books (2000).

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Michael Chaves’s The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) tells the chilling story of a murder allegedly connected to demonic possession – but how much of it actually happened? In this episode, we separate fact from fiction as we dive into the real-life case of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, the first in US history to attempt a legal defense based on demonic possession. We explore the infamous possession of 11-year-old David Glatzel, the involvement of renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, and the shocking killing that inspired the film. Join us as we uncover the real story behind one of the most controversial cases in paranormal history and compare it to the blockbuster film that brought it back into the spotlight.

 Primary Sources:

• New York Times (1981)
• Brittle, Gerald. The Devil In Connecticut. Graymalkin Media (1983).
• The Devil on Trial (2023)
• Time (2023)
• Fox News (2023)

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In this episode we take a deep dive into Cherry (2021) - directed by the Russo brothers and starring Tom Holland – and compare it to the true story that inspired it. From the realities of military service and PTSD to addiction, crime, and redemption, we separate Hollywood dramatization from real-life events. How closely does Tom Holland’s portrayal match the experiences of Nico Walker, the real-life figure behind the story?

Primary Sources:

• Buzzfeed (2013)
• Shelf Awareness (2018)
• Walker, Nico. Cherry. Vintage (2019).
• GQ (2021)
• The Granta Podcast (2025)

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In this season’s bonus episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the life of everyone's favorite astronaut and toolman, Tim Allen. Best known as the wisecracking star of Home Improvement and the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Storyfranchise, Allen became one of the biggest comedy stars of the 1990s. But long before Hollywood fame, he was at the center of a major drug trafficking case that could have changed the course of his life forever. In honor of Toy Story 5 (2026), we explore Allen’s early years, his rise through the stand-up comedy scene, and the 1978 arrest that led to a prison sentence after he was caught with more than a pound of cocaine at a Michigan airport. Next, we discuss his how his cooperation with authorities reduced his sentence, the controversies that followed him throughout his career, and the remarkable comeback that transformed a convicted drug dealer into one of America’s most recognizable figures.

Multiple sources were used in the development of this bonus episode. We found his recent interview with Howie Mandel the most enlightening.

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