Warning - spoilers ahead for Monsters and Woman of the Hour.
There is no denying that true crime is a genre that has long fed our curiosity. While some of us enjoy listening to the horrors of history, others prefer to watch them unfold on screen through dramatizations. Not the type of re-creations found on true crime shows on ID, but the flashy, dramatized versions like Ryan Murphy’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut Woman of the Hour.
Many adults—31% according to some research—unwind with true crime, which is probably why it has become a massive genre that screenwriters like you should know how to write. Whether that means writing a true crime series or a feature film, here’s how to find success writing in the genre.
Similar to the horror genre, people are afraid of what lurks in the dark. The unknown is terrifying, but knowing what to look out for can offer a blanket of reassurance. That’s why “ripped from the headlines” stories give audiences a peek behind closed doors.
But this is also where things can get tricky for screenwriters.
While true crime stories offer insight into how a crime unfolded, there are often few answers when it comes to someone’s personal life. This is where your research skills and flair for the dramatic come into play.
Screenwriters should present the facts in a way that adds pieces to the puzzle, building the emotional story and giving the audience an “ah-ha” moment before the criminal makes their ultimate decision—either kicking off the crime story or leading to their eventual demise.
It’s easy to slip into speculation, but it’s crucial to build your narrative on a foundation of verifiable facts. While not every show excels in this regard—Ryan Murphy’s highly dramatized series, for instance, has stirred controversy while introducing a new generation to these tragic murders—your goal should be to balance the truth with compelling storytelling.
Don’t stress about not knowing all the behind-the-door details. Instead, understand the crime from as many angles as possible to craft a story that helps the audience grasp the complexity or villainy of the people involved. Know when to slow down and build character moments that show how someone could commit a crime or how a victim managed to survive.
Each crime is different, but there’s usually plenty of information and facts available to help you craft an engaging story. Once the foundation is in place, add storytelling flourishes that evoke emotional responses, helping the audience understand the complex characters involved in a story they likely already know the ending to.
Is there anything more frustrating than a story without a satisfying conclusion? Luckily for many true crime stories, there is almost always an ending that leaves the audience fairly satisfied. But that’s not the reason people watch true crime shows.
True crime taps into the audience’s problem-solving instincts, encouraging them to engage with the story.
By giving the audience the facts of the case, you’re telling them why they need to be invested in the story, even if it doesn’t have a perfect resolution. Leaving them with the facts allows them to form their own conclusions by the time the credits roll, but there still needs to be an ending.
Did the criminal go to trial and get convicted? Does the court case matter to your story? Or is the perpetrator still out there? Who are we left with at the end, and why are we with them?
Woman of the Hour tells the story of a victim who nearly escaped a serial killer, and the realization of how close she came to death is powerful. The ending focuses on a victim who managed to escape and help catch the killer, allowing us to feel the danger to our protagonist’s life as she gets closer to the serial killer.
But not every true crime story has a neat ending. Don’t worry. As a storyteller, your job is to craft an ending that leaves an impact on the audience. Embrace the ambiguity of unsolved cases and confidently leave the audience with unanswered questions, while showing the effect the crime had on the community and those involved.
It’s important to remember that true crime stories are real to the people involved, some of whom may still be alive.
Many true crime stories focus on the victims. In some cases, the criminal is also a victim of circumstances that shaped their psyche. It’s important not to center them as a cult of personality or a mysterious mind to unravel. Everyone in your story is a real person, but not everyone you’re writing about is a good person.
The lesson here is to consider the impact of the story you’re writing. Ask yourself why this story needs to be told, and ensure that you aren’t writing exploitative scenes that only serve to shock the audience. Consider changing names to protect victims’ identities and any other identifying details if they don’t align with the criminal’s M.O.
Each scene should move the story forward, build character, and give the audience another piece of the puzzle.
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True crime is a genre that has long been popular and will continue to thrive for years to come. As a novice screenwriter building your portfolio or crafting a spec script with high potential to sell, true crime stories are valuable. There are thousands of fascinating true crime stories waiting to be brought to the screen by talented writers like you.
Monsters and Woman Of The Hour are currently streaming on Netflix.