At the moment, both of Netflix’s #1 trending titles,This Is The Zodiac SpeakingandWoman Of The Hour,are in thetrue crimegenre, which highlights the specific kinds of crime stories audiences are currently interested in. Released just a few days ago,This Is The Zodiac Speakingis a docuseries following a family who gives groundbreaking testimonyabout a Zodiac Killer suspect. Meanwhile,Woman of the Houris a feature film centering on the real-life story of whenserial killer Rodney Acalaappeared on the 1970s TV show,The Dating Game.
Although both these projects were only recently released, they have both garnered quite a bit of attention. Aside from being the top trending titles on Netflix, both have received critical praise.Woman of the Hourhas a Certified Fresh 91%onRotten Tomatoes, meanwhileThis Is The Zodiac Speakinghas stirred up significant conversation aboutnew information surrounding the Zodiac Killer case. All in all, these titles are popular for a reason, and their rise in fame reveals a lot about what audiences are looking for when they open their streaming services.
Netflix’s #1 Trending Movie & TV Show Are About Serial Killers
How These Titles Twist The Typical Serial Killer Narrative
It is undeniable that true crime and serial killers are of particular interest to audiences. Despite being morbid and scary, stories about serial killers often get to the root of audiences' fears and ignite a desire to solve the mystery and get justice. BothWoman of the HourandThis Is The Zodiac Speakingare prime examples of this, which is likely why they are at the top of Netflix’s charts. Yet,these projects also put a spin on the typical serial killer story by telling stories that are uniqueor bring viewers closer to the truth.
Why Was The Zodiac Killer Never Caught?
The self-styled Zodiac serial killer’s case happened more than 50 years ago, and despite countless suspects and theories, it remains unsolved.
For example,Woman of the Houris not just about a serial killer, but follows a serial killer’s shocking appearance on a dating TV show. This adds a whole new layer of intrigue to the story as the main character is unknowingly put into incredible danger. Its premise reads like fiction, but the fact that it actually happened makes it all the more riveting. Similarly,This Is The Zodiac Speakingdoes not simply go over the facts of the Zodiac Killer case, but provides new informationthat could finally help solve this long-running mystery.
How Woman Of The Hour & This Is The Zodiac Speaking Puts Focus On Victims
Why Victim Narratives Are So Important
On top of being especially creative,Woman of the HourandThis Is The Zodiac Speakingare victim-centric stories. Although audiences are pulled in by the Zodiac Killer or Rodney Acala, they stay with the story because of the victims who are the center of these narratives.Anna Kendrick’s Cheryl Bradshawis put into a horrifying situation that audiences could easily sympathize with, making her vastly more important than Acala. The same goes for the Seawater family, whose testimony outweighs the importance of the Zodiac Killer inThis Is The Zodiac Speaking.
Over the years,many have criticized the fact that true crime often focuses heavily on the killers without really giving the victims their fair share of spotlight.
Victim-centric stories are incredibly important in the true crime landscape. Over the years,many have criticized the fact that true crime often focuses heavily on the killers without really giving the victims their fair share of spotlight. These stories are not just horror fuel, but are actual events that affected real people. Thus,Woman of the HourandThis Is The Zodiac Speakingshow that victim-centrictrue crimestories can be just as engrossing as narratives that focus solely on killers.
This Is the Zodiac Speaking
After decades of mystery, the Seawater family presents new evidence about the Zodiac Killer, sharing their story and naming the only suspect agreed upon by detectives.
Woman of the Hour
Cast
Woman of the Hour is a biographical thriller directed by Anna Kendrick, who also stars in the film. The movie chronicles the infamous real-life story of Cheryl Bradshaw’s appearance on the 1978 edition of The Dating Game, where one of the contestants, Rodney Alcala, would later be revealed as a notorious serial killer. The film delves into the chilling intersection of entertainment and true crime.
