Image Credits: Leah Gallo/Netflix
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Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, Woman of the Hour, delves into one of the most unsettling moments in television history, when a convicted serial killer appeared on a popular dating show. The film, which premiered on Netflix on October 18, revisits the real-life horror behind Rodney Alcala’s appearance on The Dating Game in 1978, where he posed as a charming bachelor, concealing his violent past and ongoing killing spree.
True story behind ‘Woman of the Hour’:
The Dating Game, a show conceived by Chuck Barris in 1965, featured a simple premise: a woman would question three bachelors hidden behind a screen, ultimately choosing one for a date. On the surface, it was lighthearted, but the show’s lack of background checks on contestants allowed Alcala, a convicted rapist and serial killer, to appear as “Bachelor No. 1” on the September 13, 1978 episode.
Alcala’s suitor, Cheryl Bradshaw, a schoolteacher, chose him as her date after he impressed her with witty answers. What Bradshaw didn’t know was that Alcala was already in the midst of a killing spree. He would later be convicted of seven murders, including the brutal killing of a 12-year-old girl, but authorities believe his actual victim count may be closer to 100 women.
Woman of the Hour takes inspiration from this chilling true story, with Kendrick playing a character named Sheryl, based on Bradshaw. The film approaches the narrative from the perspective of the bachelorette, exploring the dangers women face in everyday situations and the subtle red flags that can easily be missed.
Speaking to E! News, Kendrick explained why she was drawn to the project. “I feel very emotionally connected to the material,” she said. “The film teases out larger themes about the way women, especially, have to navigate the world in constant survival mode.”In one particularly haunting scene, Alcala (played by Daniel Zavallo) is shown interacting with a waitress at a bar. Rather than depicting a dramatic outburst, Kendrick opted for subtler cues to create a sense of unease. “
Alcala’s crimes, which span the 1970s, included luring women into isolated areas, often using his skills as a photographer to gain their trust. His charm and appearance on The Dating Game stunned audiences when his true identity was revealed. The disturbing true story behind Woman of the Hour serves as a chilling reminder of how predators can hide in plain sight, and how close some women unknowingly come to danger.