‘I Am the Night’ shocks viewers with powerful acting, captivating plot

By Sophia Vaughan

Staff Writer

In the first episode of TNT’s “I Am the Night,” a journalist reflects on the past stories of his career, saying, “Some stories don’t wanna be told. Some stories will eat you alive.” The series follows the true story of the adopted Fauna Hodel, who sets out to find her birth family and stumbles upon a shocking connection to the Black Dahlia murder. She soon discovers that this story might really be her own death.

TNT’s “I Am the Night” leaves viewers on the edge of their seats and weaves a tale of murder and intrigue that is mostly factual. The show is brilliantly sprinkled with fiction to enhance the naturally dramatic and suspenseful storyline.

The series stars India Eisley as Fauna Hodel, who after being raised by an African American family in the 1960s, sets her sights on finding her birth family in Los Angeles. Through a series of challenges and setbacks, Hodel soon learns that her grandfather is George Hodel, the primary suspect in the famous unsolved murder of the Black Dahlia.  

In 1947, the murder of a twenty-two year old aspiring actress, Elizabeth Short, shocked the city of Los Angeles. The woman’s body was found brutally mutilated and completely severed at the waist. As the public grew fascinated with the horrifying details of the case, a media frenzy ensued. Newspapers soon began calling Short “The Black Dahlia,” which was a combination of a reference to a murder mystery film called the “Blue Dahlia,” as well as Short’s black clothing.

However, despite the extensive investigation of 150 suspects, the case went cold, and to this day remains Time Magazine’s ninth greatest unsolved case in history. The chief suspect in the murder was George Hodel, a prominent  Los Angeles gynecologist known for his extravagant parties and obsession with surrealism. Though never convicted, Hodel’s son Steve Hodel, an LAPD homicide detective, later launched his own investigation into the complicated case and wrote a series of novels naming his father as the killer.

Patty Jenkins, Victoria Mahoney and Carl Jenkins created “I Am the Night,” a six episode series with episodes each 60 minutes long. The series successfully manages to detail the entire murder investigation from beginning to end.

The sordid tale is laced with suspense, as the viewer is drawn into the labyrinth of secrets that comprise Fauna’s complex family history. Through the eyes of Fauna, the audience experiences her shock and confusion, going on the journey to discover her identity right along with her, feeling her pain and fear as she discovers just how dark her past might be.

The title of the show alludes to the information discussed in the series, as the black of night that the characters act in relates to the seemingly simple name, “I Am the Night.” The title is a vague clue that culminates as a shocking revelation in the thrilling season finale.

Eisley gives a stunning performance as the naive yet determined Fauna, adopting the role as though it is a second skin. Eisley also has a powerful cast of supporting characters, including Chris Pine, Golden Brooks and Connie Nielsen, whose characters all face their own demons to further enhance the plot. Pine’s performance successfully manages to tie Fauna’s story together and simultaneously portrays a complex character, making his role so realistic that the viewer is unable to tell that he is one of the show’s few fictional characters.

“I Am the Night” additionally features stunning sets and charmingly realistic costumes, recreating the atmosphere during the 1960s in Los Angeles. The lighting throughout the series also enhances the depth of the show, as the darkness proves to be yet another reference to the show’s title. The set literally becomes black, subtly alluding to the Black Dahlia.

As America’s killers become increasingly popular on the screen, “I Am the Night” does not disappoint, excellently portraying a true story that has never truly come to light or been solved. The unique plotline, suspense and excellent sets make the series a must watch for fans of Netflix’s “The Ted Bundy Tapes” and “Casting JonBenet,” or films like “My Friend Dahmer.”

The first season of “I Am the Night” was released on TNT on March 4. It is available for online streaming through the network and can be purchased on platforms such as iTunes and on the TNT app. The real-life Fauna’s autobiography, “One Day She’ll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel,” is also available for purchase through bookstores online and nationwide.