Looking for a movie based on a chilling sequence of murders and a true story?

If you're a devoted admirer of David Fincher's work in the true crime genre, particularly his exceptional movie Zodiac or the underappreciated Netflix series Mindhunter, then this could be a promising time for you. Although Fincher isn't returning with new content (although he does have a forthcoming movie called The Killer), a production that's evidently influenced by Zodiac has surfaced: it's called Boston Strangler, and it's premiering on Hulu. Like Zodiac, this production is also inspired by a bone-chilling true story.

Boston Strangler, directed by Matt Ruskin and produced by Ridley Scott, features Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon as two journalists examining the killings of several women during the early 1960s. The characters portrayed by Knightley and Coon—Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole—are based on actual women, and the horrific deaths they are researching are also authentic.

While watching Boston Strangler, you might find yourself curious about the actual events that inspired the film. In fact, you might even want to know what you're getting into before you start watching. Don't fret though, we've got you covered. Keep reading to discover the true story behind the Boston Strangler murders.

The Boston Strangler murders occurred between June 1962 and January 1964. During that time, 13 women in the greater Boston area were killed, with the majority of them being strangled in their own homes. Many of the victims were also sexually assaulted. The 13 women who were killed are:

• Anna Elsa Šlesers, 56

• Mary Mullen, 85

• Nina Frances Nichols, 68

• Helen Elizabeth Blake, 65

• Ida Odes Irga, 74

• Jane Buckley Sullivan, 67

• Sophie Clarke, 20

• Patricia Jane Bullock Bissette, 22

• Mary Ann Brown, 69

• Beverly Samans, 26

• Marie Evelyn Corbin, 58

• Joann Marie Graff, 22

• Mary Anne Sullivan, 19

There was no sign of forced entry at the crime scenes, leading investigators to believe that the killer gained entry to the women's homes by either being known to them or by posing as someone with a legitimate reason to enter, such as a maintenance or delivery worker.

The media gave the killer several names, including the "Phantom Fiend," the "Phantom Strangler," and the "Mad Strangler of Boston." However, in 1962, reporters Jean Cole and Loretta McLaughlin published a four-part story in the Boston Record American, officially coining the name "Boston Strangler" for the killer.

Did authorities confirm that Albert DeSalvo was indeed the Boston Strangler?

There is still some controversy and uncertainty surrounding DeSalvo's confession and whether he was responsible for all of the Boston Strangler murders. While he provided a detailed confession, there was no physical evidence linking him to the crimes. In 2013, DNA testing on evidence from one of the crime scenes did not match DeSalvo's DNA. However, some experts believe that DeSalvo may have been responsible for at least some of the murders, while others suggest that there may have been multiple killers involved in the Boston Strangler case.