- Hulu’s new show “Candy” is based on the chilling real-life story of housewife Candy Montgomery.
- Montgomery’s 1980 murder of her friend Betty Gore was detailed in two Texas Monthly articles.
- Biel stars as Montgomery in Hulu’s new series, while Melanie Lynskey will play Betty.
The brutal murder of Betty Gore in 1980 shocked the small Texas town where she lived — and now, Gore’s case will be brought to life in “Candy,” a new drama series from
Hulu
.
Starring Melanie Lynskey as Gore, and Jessica Biel as Gore’s friend-turned-murderer Candy Montgomery, the chilling new series will premiere on Monday, May 9. Timothy Simons, Pablo Schreiber, and Raúl Esparza will also appear on the show.
Here’s everything to know about the real-life Montgomery and Gore ahead of the premiere of “Candy.”
Montgomery had a months-long affair with Gore’s husband, Allan
Both the Montgomerys (Candy was married to a Texas Instruments engineer, Pat) and the Gores were active in their local church, which is how Montgomery and Allan first met.
After a church volleyball game, Montgomery reportedly asked Allan if he’d like to have an affair with her; both were sexually unsatisfied in their marriages, but didn’t want to get divorces.
Weeks of meticulous planning (including making a “pros” and “cons” list for having an affair) eventually lead to frequent sexual encounters between Montgomery and Allan at cheap motels. The two vowed to keep their affair strictly physical and avoid any unwanted feelings of attachment towards the other.
But as the affair continued, Montgomery appeared to grow more attached to Allan, leaving him homemade treats and greeting cards on his car windshield, and becoming dismayed when he asked to end their relationship. Eventually, however, the two broke it off shortly after the birth of Allan’s second child with Gore.
Montgomery and Gore were close, by all accounts, until Gore’s death in June 1980
Montgomery and Allan took great pains to hide their affair from their respective spouses, which meant that the two couples continued socializing regularly with each other and other church members, despite Montgomery and Allan’s trysts.
But in June 1980, Gore confronted Montgomery about the affair after Montgomery arrived at the Gore family’s home to pick up their daughter Alisa for swim lessons. Pointing to the letters and notes Montgomery left Allan as proof, Gore reportedly grew upset, leading to a struggle with an axe.
According to Texas Monthly’s reporting on Montgomery’s trial, the two women fought for control over the deadly weapon before Montgomery prevailed, slicing Gore with the axe 41 times and killing her.
Montgomery later claimed that she killed Gore in self-defense, and was acquitted of murder after her trial.
Two articles by Texas Monthly take a deep dive into the affair and Gore’s murder
Titled “Love and Death in Silicon Prairie,” the stories follow Montgomery and Allan’s affair, as well as the aftermath of their breakup, and Gore’s brutal death.
The articles also reveal the immense amount of planning that went into Montgomery and Allan’s clandestine relationship,and the effort made by Allan to save his marriage after a transformative weekend at a couple’s retreat with Gore.
It’s sometimes a bit difficult to read, but both stories provide a disturbing and fascinating glimpse into both the affair and subsequent murder.
Another adaptation of Montgomery’s story is coming to HBO Max later this year
HBO’s version will see “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” star Elizabeth Olsen play Montgomery, and “American Horror Story” star Lily Rabe portray the doomed Gore. Jesse Plemons also stars as Allan in the forthcoming show.
Hulu’s “Candy” premieres Monday, May 9. You can watch the trailer below.