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Criminal Adaptations

Criminal Adaptations

61 episodes

14 hours ago

In this Halloween inspired bonus episode, we dig into the real-life monster who changed horror forever – Ed Gein, the “Butcher of Plainfield.” His gruesome crimes shocked America in the 1950s and went on to inspire some of cinema’s most iconic villains. After going over Gein’s life and crimes, we explore how Norman Bates in Psycho (1960), Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and Jame Gumb (Buffalo Bill) in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) each borrowed pieces of Gein’s disturbin...

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In this Halloween inspired bonus episode, we dig into the real-life monster who changed horror forever – Ed Gein, the “Butcher of Plainfield.” His gruesome crimes shocked America in the 1950s and went on to inspire some of cinema’s most iconic villains. After going over Gein’s life and crimes, we explore how Norman Bates in Psycho (1960), Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and Jame Gumb (Buffalo Bill) in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) each borrowed pieces of Gein’s disturbin...

Show more...

Episodes (20/61)

Criminal Adaptations

Ed Gein & Hollywood (Bonus Episode)

In this Halloween inspired bonus episode, we dig into the real-life monster who changed horror forever – Ed Gein, the “Butcher of Plainfield.” His gruesome crimes shocked America in the 1950s and went on to inspire some of cinema’s most iconic villains. After going over Gein’s life and crimes, we explore how Norman Bates in Psycho (1960), Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and Jame Gumb (Buffalo Bill) in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) each borrowed pieces of Gein’s disturbin...

1 week ago

1 hour 40 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

Memories of Murder

In this episode, we dive into Bong Joon Ho’s Memories of Murder (2003), the haunting crime thriller based on South Korea’s first confirmed serial killings. We unpack how the film portrays the Hwaseong murders of the 1980s and early 1990s, what details were dramatized for the screen, and how the real investigation unfolded. From the frustrations of a police force unprepared for such crimes, to the decades-long mystery that finally, after the wrongful conviction of Yoon Sung-yeo, ended with the...

3 weeks ago

1 hour 20 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

A Cry in the Dark (Evil Angels)

In this episode, we dive into the true story behind one of the most infamous trials in Australian history: the Lindy Chamberlain case. We compare the real events surrounding the disappearance of baby Azaria Chamberlain in 1980 with the Hollywood Adaptation, Fred Schepisi’s A Cry in the Dark (1988; also known as Evil Angels), starring Meryl Streep. How accurately did the film portray Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, the media frenzy, and the controversial trial that followed? Join us as we explo...

1 month ago

2 hours 9 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

In this episode, we peel back the layers of Gus Van Sant’s darkly satirical To Die For (1995) and the true story that inspired it: The 1990 murder of Greg Smart, orchestrated by his wife, Pamela Smart. Nicole Kidman’s icy portrayal of Suzanne Stone – an ambitious small-town woman willing to kill for fame – captivated audiences, but how closely does it mirror Pamela herself? We explore the real case: Pamela’s relationship with teenager Billy Flynn, the media circus that surrounded the trial, a...

1 month ago

1 hour 58 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

Catch Me If You Can

In our season five premiere, we put Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can (2002) under the microscope and compare it to the real-life story of Frank Abagnale Jr., the infamous con man whose wild exploits inspired the film. How much of Leonardo DiCaprio’s slick, globe-trotting portrayal matches reality, and how much is pure Hollywood invention? We dive into Abagnale’s early scams, his claims of passing as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer, and the FBI’s pursuit led by agent Joe Shea – the real coun...

2 months ago

2 hours 23 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

In part two of our season four finale, we unpack Spike Lee’s Malcolm X (1992), starring Denzel Washington, and examine how it compares to the real-life story of one of American’s most influential and controversial civil rights leaders. We break down the key moments from the film – Malcolm’s childhood, time in prison, conversion to Islam, rise in the Nation of Islam, and eventual split – and weigh them against the historical record. What did the film get right? What was left out or dramatized?...

3 months ago

2 hours 10 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

American History X

In part one of our two-part season four finale, we dive deep into the chilling parallels between the critically acclaimed film American History X (1998) and the real-life story of Frank Meeink, a former Neo-Nazi turned spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). While American History X explores the violent world of white supremacy through the fictional character Derek Vinyard, played by Edward Norton, Frank Meeink’s Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead offers a raw, firsthand accoun...

4 months ago

1 hour 45 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

In this episode, we dive into the chilling “Kurim case,” the twisted true tale that inspired Jaume Collet-Serra’s Orphan(2009). After dissecting the movie, which includes a clever nod to Leonardo DiCaprio and Titanic (1997), we compare it to the life of Barbora Skrlova, a woman in her 30s who posed as two 13-year-old children, infiltrated unsuspecting families, and participated in one of the worst child abuse cases in Czechia’s history. Primary Source: Green, Ryan. The Kurim Case...

4 months ago

1 hour 52 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

In this gripping episode we drive deep into the chilling true store behind Bully (2001), directed by Larry Clark and based on the murder of 20-year-old Bobby Kent. We explore the disturbing dynamics between Bobby and his so-called friends who orchestrated and carried out this brutal crime. Through a detailed comparison of the movie and the actual case, we uncover what the film got right, what it changed, the impact this shocking crime had on those involved. We also unpack the sordid productio...

5 months ago

2 hours 21 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

If you were living in Texas and looking for a hit man in the 1990s, Gary Johnson was your man. He was willing to take jobs from just about anyone. From scorned lovers to teens seeking revenge, no request was off limits. The catch? He wasn’t a professional killer at all. In fact, he was an undercover investigator for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. In this episode we dive into the wild and stranger than fiction story behind Hit Man (2023), the Netflix romantic crime comedy direct...

5 months ago

1 hour 27 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

Brandon Lee & The Crow (Bonus Episode)

Brandon Lee was more than the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee – he was an artist searching for his own voice in a world that never let him forget his father’s name. For this season’s bonus episode, we trace Brandon’s path from a childhood marked by loss to a promising career just beginning to take off. His hauntingly powerful performance as Eric Draven in The Crow (1994) was meant to be his breakout moment. Instead, it ended in tragedy due to careless mistakes and cost-cutting measures. ...

6 months ago

1 hour 11 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

Charlize Theron transformed herself and won an Oscar for her portrayal of Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003). She managed to bring a side of humanity to a woman who was a societal outcast and brutally murdered seven men from November 30, 1989 to November 18, 1990. But who was the real Aileen Wuornos? Was she a mentally unstable damaged soul, as depicted in the film? Or was she a ruthless sociopath who would stop at nothing to get what she thought she deserved? Tune in this week to learn all abo...

6 months ago

2 hours 16 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

On November 18, 1978, Jim Jones convinced over 900 members of People’s Temple to commit mass suicide in the country of Guyana. This tragedy inspired Ti West to write, direct, and edit The Sacrament (2013), a faux documentary-style horror film inspired by the last 24 hours of the people who died at Jonestown. In this episode, we explore the life of Jim Jones, including his childhood, religious and political ideologies, and how he came to be one of the most notorious cult leaders of all time. Y...

7 months ago

2 hours 16 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

In this episode, we break down Ridley Scott’s star-studded biographical crime drama House of Gucci (2021). How accurately does the movie portray the rise and fall of the Gucci empire? What really happened between Patrizia Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci? We’ll separate fact from fiction, explore the real-life events, and discuss the biggest differences between Hollywood’s version and history. Tune in for a deep dive into the scandal, betrayal, and power struggles that rocked one of fashion’s most...

7 months ago

2 hours 27 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

In October 2015, Aziah “Zola” King posted a 148 tweet Twitter thread that took the world by storm. #TheStory trended worldwide and became the inspiration for Janicza Bravo’s second feature film Zola (2020), staring Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Colman Domingo, and Nicholas Braun. Listen as we break down everything from the stalled production, exactly what went down that fateful March 2015 weekend in Tampa, and what happened to Zola and “Z” in the years to follow. Primary Sources: Rolling Sto...

7 months ago

1 hour 28 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

On December 9, 1980, Mark David Chapman assassinated one of the most famous musicians to ever live, John Lennon. Nearly 30 years later, director Jarrett Schaefer cast Jared Leto to portray Chapman’s life during the three days leading up to the murder in Chapter 27 (2007). This week, we unpack the controversy behind the movie, Leto’s preparation for the role, and learn just how accurately it captured Chapman’s movements, thoughts, and mental state. Complete with a rundown on Chapman’s entire l...

8 months ago

2 hours 9 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

The Death of Dick Long

Before he won his Academy Awards for the smash-hit Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), Daniel Scheinert directed the dark comedy The Dead of Dick Long (2019), inspired by the death of Kenneth Pinyan in 2005. This case, dubbed the “Enumclaw horse sex case,” went on to fascinate and deeply disturb society and led to Washington making bestiality illegal in 2006. As we will learn, sometimes reality truly is stranger than fiction. Primary Sources: The Seattle Times (2005) Seattle Times (201...

8 months ago

1 hour 24 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

For our season four premier, we take a deep dive into the dazzling world of Rob Marshall's Academy Award winning musical Chicago (2002) and compare it to the gritty crimes that inspired it. Behind all that jazz and glittering costumes lie true stories of scandal, murder, and courtroom drama in 1920s Chicago. We explore the real women who inspired Roxie Hart, played by Renée Zellweger, and Velma Kelly, played by Catherine-Zeta Jones, and learn how American's fascination with female murderers i...

9 months ago

1 hour 57 minutes

Criminal Adaptations

Criminal Adaptations season 4 - Coming January 27th!

Instagram: @CriminalAdaptations Email us: criminaladaptations@gmail.com TikTok: @criminaladaptations X: x.com/CriminalAdapt Theme: DARKNESS (feat. EdKara) by Ghost148

9 months ago

1 minute

Criminal Adaptations

For our two-part season finale, we are unpacking movies about two men who smuggled cocaine for the Medellin Cartel into the states, largely by air. In our second episode, we dive into the thrilling world of Doug Liman’s American Made (2017) and the real-life story of Barry Seal, the infamous pilot turned drug smuggler turned DEA informant. We break down how the movie, starring Tom Cruise, dramatizes Seal’s high-flying exploits, comparing Hollywood’s version to the actual events. Did Seal real...

11 months ago

2 hours 4 minutes