Here's the Wild, True Story That Inspired 'I Am the Night'
If you have seen the trailer for I Am the Night and for some reason, are not immediately inspired to watch when you see Chris Pine's face, you might change your mind when you hear the wild true story behind the series. Prepare to be legitimately shook.
I Am the Night is partially based on the very true story of Fauna Hodel, a woman who decides to find her birth family when she discovers that she was given away as a baby. Fauna's story was first told in her autobiography, One Day She'll Darken. Although Fauna is credited as a writer in the miniseries, she sadly passed away in 2017, after losing her battle with breast cancer.
Here's what you should know about the real-life events before watching I Am the Night.
Fauna's Real Story
Fauna Hodel was born August 1, 1951 in San Francisco. Her mother, Tamar, was 16-years-old at the time, and on the birth certificate, listed Fauna's father as "unnamed Negro." According to Fauna's website, the Hodel family gave baby Fauna to Jimmie Lee, a young black woman who worked at a casino in Nevada. Tamar wanted Fauna to be raised by a black family, because she felt that she would be surrounded with more love.
As a result, Fauna grew up believing that she was biracial. During the civil rights movement, Fauna did not feel like she belonged to either race, which inspired her to find her biological mother for answers. When Fauna sets out to learn about her history, she discovers that there may be some extremely disturbing family secrets. Plot spoiler: It's totally related to the Black Dahlia murder.
Tamar's Real Story
In 1949, two years before Fauna was born, 14-year-old Tamar visited her father, Dr. George Hodel, at his home in Hollywood. Soon after, the father and daughter were involved in an extremely public and salacious incest trial, and Tamar was sent to the Los Angeles Juvenile Hall. Apparently, this is where Tamar finally met people outside of the privileged bubble she lived in.
"It was there that she decided that if she ever had children, she would want them to be raised like someone from the black race, with love and kindness," claims Fauna's website.
The Black Dahlia Connection
in 1947, a woman named Elizabeth Short was brutally murdered in Los Angeles. She soon was given the nickname "The Black Dahlia," and her case became one of the most famous ever. To this day, her killer has still not been found.
HOWEVER, Steve Hodel thinks he knows exactly who did it. Wait, Hodel? Like, Fauna and Tamar Hodel? YUP.
Steve is Tamar's half brother, and he believes that their father, George (the monster who sexually abused his 14-year-old daughter) is the Black Dahlia killer. Steve has spent over 15 years collecting evidence.
Although the Black Dahlia case is still cold, there's no denying that the family connections that I Am the Night has been loosely based on are fascinating, yet creepy as hell.
I Am the Night premieres at 10 p.m. on January 27 on TNT.
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