When you think of Anna Kendrick, it’s hard not to picture her as the bubbly, quick-witted star of Pitch Perfect or Up in the Air. But with her directorial debut, Woman of the Hour, Kendrick has ventured into much darker and deeply unsettling territory. This Netflix true-crime thriller dives into one of the most bizarre intersections of pop culture and criminal history—the appearance of serial killer Rodney Alcala on the 1978 episode of The Dating Game.
The real-life story that inspired the movie is both fascinating and terrifying. Alcala, a charming and well-spoken man, had been evading capture while committing a series of gruesome murders across the United States. His appearance on the light-hearted game show, where he was chosen as the “winning bachelor,” adds an eerie twist to his horrifying legacy. But as Kendrick reveals in interviews, Alcala’s participation in The Dating Game is just one layer of a much deeper, darker story.
The Macabre True Story Behind Woman of the Hour
Set in 1978 Los Angeles, Woman of the Hour follows aspiring actress Cheryl Bradshaw (played by Kendrick) as she appears on The Dating Game. The game show, popular for its light-hearted and innuendo-laden format, allowed a contestant to pick a bachelor from three hidden suitors based solely on their answers to flirty questions. The contestant, Cheryl, is unaware that she has just chosen Rodney Alcala (portrayed by Daniel Zovatto), a photographer who is living a grisly double life.
Though Alcala charmed the audience and the host, Cheryl later declined to go on the date, citing his “creepy vibes.” As it turned out, she was right to trust her instincts. Alcala was, by that point, in the middle of a violent crime spree that would ultimately link him to dozens of murders.
Rodney Alcala: The Man Behind the Mask
Rodney Alcala was born in 1943 in San Antonio, Texas. After moving to Los Angeles with his family, Alcala’s life took a darker turn. He joined the U.S. Army at 17 but was discharged after a mental breakdown, marking the beginning of a disturbed and violent path. In 1968, he was arrested for the rape and beating of 8-year-old Tali Shapiro. Though Shapiro survived, Alcala evaded justice by fleeing to New York, where he assumed the alias “John Berger.”
Under this identity, Alcala began a career as a photographer and even studied film under Roman Polanski at New York University. He would later use his photography skills to lure young women, posing as a professional to gain their trust before attacking them. In 1971, Alcala committed his first known murder—Cornelia Crilley, a flight attendant. Her murder was particularly brutal, featuring strangulation and sexual assault, trademarks of Alcala’s modus operandi.
How Alcala Eluded Capture
Incredibly, Alcala’s killing spree went largely unnoticed for years. After serving time for the assault on Shapiro, he was released and went right back to committing more violent crimes. One of his most brazen moves came in 1978 when he appeared on The Dating Game—a year before his final arrest. Alcala was already suspected in several murders but was somehow able to continue his rampage undetected. His appearance on the show highlights just how confident he had become.
Introduced on the show as a “successful photographer,” Alcala was charming enough to win Cheryl Bradshaw’s favor, but thankfully, she never followed through with their date. In interviews, Bradshaw later said she felt uneasy about him, even before learning of his criminal past. Her gut instinct may have saved her life.
The Making of Woman of the Hour
For Anna Kendrick, taking on this dark subject was both terrifying and exhilarating. In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Kendrick spoke about her decision to direct this true-crime thriller, saying, “Once I signed on to direct, and I got to dive into some research and make tweaks, to me, the fact that he went on The Dating Game is the least interesting part of the story”
The film doesn’t just focus on Alcala’s appearance on the show, but rather explores the broader context of his crimes and the societal conditions that allowed him to get away with them for so long. Kendrick also chose to alter certain names in the film, such as renaming the show’s host Ed Burke (played by Tony Hale), a character based on the real host Jim Lange. Another key change involves Amy (played by Autumn Best), a character based on one of Alcala’s surviving victims.
Kendrick’s Directorial Style
In addition to her chilling portrayal of Cheryl Bradshaw, Kendrick’s direction has been praised for its sharp attention to detail and atmospheric tension. Kendrick made it clear that while the story focuses on Bradshaw’s narrow escape, she wanted to ensure that the film also gave a voice to Alcala’s many victims. The juxtaposition of a sunny game show with the grim reality of Alcala’s crimes provides a jarring yet poignant commentary on how easily evil can lurk behind a friendly face.
The Horrific Legacy of Rodney Alcala
Alcala’s reign of terror came to an end in 1979 after he abducted and murdered 12-year-old Robin Samsoe. Authorities released a sketch of the suspect, which eventually led to his capture when Alcala’s parole officer recognized him. Despite multiple trials and convictions, Alcala managed to avoid execution for years due to appeals and overturned verdicts.
In 2010, Alcala was finally convicted on five counts of first-degree murder, including the killings of Jill Barcomb, Georgia Wixted, Charlotte Lamb, and Jill Parenteau alongside Samsoe. He received the death sentence for a third time but continued to appeal the decision. In a chilling moment during his trial, Alcala chose to represent himself and played clips of his appearance on The Dating Game, bizarrely arguing that jewellery found in his possession belonged to him rather than one of his victims.
In 2021, Alcala died of natural causes while still on death row in California. Though he was convicted of five murders, authorities believe his real number of victims could be as high as 130, making him one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history.
Exploring Victim’s Stories
One significant element of Woman of the Hour is how Kendrick’s film attempts to bring humanity back to victims who were often forgotten amidst sensationalism surrounding Alcala’s crimes. By portraying Bradshaw and other women targeted by Alcala, Kendrick makes a powerful statement about focusing not only on killers, but also on the lives they destroyed.
What *Woman of the Hour* Teaches Us
As Woman of the Hour makes its way to Netflix, audiences will get a chance to witness the chilling story that captivated a nation and led to Alcala’s eventual capture. Kendrick’s directorial debut not only marks a shift in her career but also serves as a reminder of how terrifying real life can be.
The case of Rodney Alcala is one of the rare instances where entertainment and horror collide in the most disturbing way. For many, Alcala will always be remembered as “The Dating Game Killer,” but for his victims, Kendrick’s film ensures that their stories—not his—will finally take centre stage.
