What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedManson
Jeff Guinn · Book · 2013
If you loved Manson, start with Helter Skelter (1976) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 1 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Manson across media.
If Manson hooked you with the dark allure of cults and criminal psychology, these picks explore the unsettling shadow of humanity.
Films on the same thread
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
Film · 2019
Explores: Hollywood Golden Age, Changing Industry, Friendship.
This film captures the same 1969 Los Angeles atmosphere found in Manson, contrasting the glamour of the industry with the encroaching dread of the looming Tate-LaBianca tragedy.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Tobe Hooper · Film · 1974
Explores: Psychological Horror, Dehumanization, Social Commentary.
Just as Manson explores the descent into criminal psychosis, this film portrays a terrifying, raw look at dehumanization that mirrors the lack of empathy found in cult violence.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Film · 2023
Explores: Systemic Racism, Greed, Betrayal.
This historical account shares the investigative rigor of Manson, exposing how deep-seated greed and systemic betrayal can lead to calculated mass murder against vulnerable groups of people.
Chaplin
Film · 1992
Explores: Rise to fame, Artistic legacy, Political persecution.
While Manson examines the rise of a counterculture villain, this biopic mirrors that biographical depth by tracing the personal turbulence and public scrutiny defining a complex life.
Series on the same thread
Helter Skelter
Series · 1976
Shares 2 threads with Manson: Counterculture, Cult Crime.
This television classic serves as the essential companion to Manson, offering a direct, unflinching look at the trial and the societal decay that fueled the Family's crimes.
Podcasts on the same thread
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
Those fascinated by the true crime elements of Manson will appreciate how this podcast balances the gravity of dark events with the conversational tone of modern community storytelling.
The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories
Podcast
Shares a thread with Manson: Criminal Psychology.
If you were drawn to the criminal psychology explored in Manson, this podcast provides a deeper analysis of the disturbing minds capable of committing such unthinkable acts.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Manson an authoritative account of the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders?
Yes. Jeff Guinn wrote Manson as an authoritative account of the life of Charles Manson. It provides a detailed narrative regarding the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders, which resulted in the deaths of nine people, including the pregnant actress Sharon Tate.
Does Manson contain previously unpublished photographs of the commune?
Yes. This book includes previously unpublished photographs alongside new information about Charles Manson and his mostly female commune. The narrative explores the history of the group leading up to the events of 1969.
How many people were killed by the group described in Manson?
According to the book Manson, Charles Manson and his commune were responsible for killing nine people. These events occurred during the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders, which claimed the lives of several individuals, including the actress Sharon Tate.
What is the focus of the narrative in Manson?
Manson provides a narrative account of the life of Charles Manson. It examines his background and his mostly female commune, culminating in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders where nine people were killed, including Sharon Tate.