The Chilling True Story of Netflix's Woman of the Hour
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VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu
WRITTEN BY: Tyler Allen
The true crime movie of the hour. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we're unpacking the true story behind the shocking serial-killer flick, “Woman of the Hour.” Our video includes Rodney Alcala, Cheryl Bradshaw, Anna Kendrick, and more!
The Chilling True Story of Netflix’s Woman of the Hour
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re unpacking the true story behind the shocking serial-killer flick, “Woman of the Hour.”
In a 1978 episode of “The Dating Game,” in which a bachelorette questions three bachelors hidden behind a wall, Cheryl Bradshaw took the stage to find her perfect match. Seated on the other side was Rodney Alcala, intent on proving he was the one for her. However, Alcala had far more sinister intentions than just scoring a date, which would all come to light soon after. So what really took place during that infamous taping? What was behind Alcala’s eerie smile and how close to reality is “Woman of the Hour?” Here’s everything you need to know about “The Dating Game Killer” and the women who strayed into his path.
Woman of the Hour
The film “Woman of the Hour” serves as Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut and covers the crimes of serial killer Rodney Alcala. Though authorities believe he may have claimed upwards of 130 victims, the story focuses on one who got away. Kendrick stars as Cheryl Bradshaw. While the main draw is certainly the terror of Alcala’s acts, the story largely takes place from Cheryl’s perspective. Though Kendrick acknowledges that many aspects of the narrative are fictionalized, the details of the real case are as harrowing as they are inconceivable.
Rodney Alcala’s Backstory
Alcala had a fairly transient childhood, being moved from place to place after his father abandoned their family. He was discharged from the army as a young man when he was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, a characteristic ascribed to many other notorious serial killers.
As early as the ‘60s, Rodney began to get in trouble with the law. He was even added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list after evading capture in a violent crime involving a young girl. After eventually being caught and serving 34 months, he was forced to register as an offender. Interestingly, he was even considered a person of interest in the case of the Hillside Strangler murders. Though he was cleared of those crimes, he had already been racking up his own body count. He was rearrested for another lesser assault after his release. When he was let out again, he would resume his cross-state killing spree.
Bachelor Number One
Shockingly, background checks were simply not a major part of the casting process in the ‘70s, meaning Alcala’s dirt stayed buried. While most serial killers attempt to blend in or keep a low profile, Alcala boldly projected himself into the spotlight by both auditioning for and then participating in an episode of “The Dating Game.” He’s introduced as a photographer, a key detail that would come up much later when police found photos of women believed to be his victims in his possession. Throughout the episode, Alcala drones on about how much he enjoys the nighttime, does an impression of a dirty old man, and compares himself to a banana waiting to be peeled.
In the end, Cheryl actually chooses Alcala to be her date. Of course, no one knew that he had already taken several lives before taking that coveted seat. Fortunately for Cheryl, she picked up on his unnerving energy and backed out of the Magic Mountain theme park date they’d won together. This decision could have very well saved her life, but many others weren’t as lucky.
Getting Away With Murder
Between the ‘60s and ‘80s, targets (mostly women and children) were incredibly vulnerable. Stranger danger was not as prevalent and it was common for young people to roam the world with fewer precautions. Police work and forensic science were not nearly as advanced as they are today, allowing perpetrators to carry out their slayings for greater periods of time. All of these elements worked in Alcala’s favor, as his murders occurred throughout the ‘70s. His MO involved luring unsuspecting victims to remote locations or to his home photography studio where he would carry out unthinkable acts. He was largely motivated by a dominating sexual gratification and toyed with victims he viewed as prey.
One of the biggest factors in Alcala’s ability to carry out so many murders was the gender dynamics at play. At the time, women who pointed out red flags or even reported instances of abuse at his hands were effectively dismissed. Others were too scared to come forward. This is highlighted in the film “Woman of The Hour” as Alcala is portrayed as incessantly sleazy, yet somehow charming enough to manipulate women into defenseless positions. This presentation lines up with how producers actually felt about him. In the film, an audience member recognizes Alcala as someone last seen with a friend who’d vanished, but she isn’t allowed to speak to anyone of authority. In the real world, other women who escaped Alcala’s clutches have come forward to express how they were attacked by him multiple times.
Alcala’s Undoing
Alcala’s crimes would finally come to light when an officer recognized him from a police sketch. He was arrested in July of 1979 and his disturbing collection of victim photographs was uncovered. Police found physical evidence tying him to the murder scene of Robin Samsoe. He was tried and found guilty in 1980. Alcala was sentenced to death and while he sat on death row, police tied his DNA to several more crimes around the country. He was placed at the scene of at least eight murders, though the true count is likely far higher. In July of 2021, Alcala died in prison of natural causes at the age of 77.
Kendrick’s Vision
This is not the first time “The Dating Game Killer’s” story is being told on screen. Although the sickening true story is now receiving a glossy Hollywood makeover, Kendrick has been clear that one of her primary goals was to spotlight the women’s experiences, something that was accomplished not just with the writing but with the cinematography. It’s also telling that the film focuses on sexism within Hollywood, a real-life issue that’s picked apart in one scene where Kendrick is judged harshly by casting directors.
Kendrick was initially set to just star in the film, but when the director had to back out she felt strongly enough about the material that she decided to take the helm. The film received largely positive reviews, setting it apart from some of the smutty true crime entries that have flooded the market lately. “Woman of the Hour” pinpoints how women in this era had to effectively coach themselves to accept a man’s point of view, even when it was unnerving. Today, a movement toward listening to and believing women, which has roots in Hollywood, has made the tragic stories behind Alcala’s victims even more heartbreaking. If our modern zeitgeist is the answer to the historic culture of deprioritizing women’s experiences, it’s important to not only reflect on how far we’ve come, but to continue learning and remembering the dark places we came from.
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re unpacking the true story behind the shocking serial-killer flick, “Woman of the Hour.”
In a 1978 episode of “The Dating Game,” in which a bachelorette questions three bachelors hidden behind a wall, Cheryl Bradshaw took the stage to find her perfect match. Seated on the other side was Rodney Alcala, intent on proving he was the one for her. However, Alcala had far more sinister intentions than just scoring a date, which would all come to light soon after. So what really took place during that infamous taping? What was behind Alcala’s eerie smile and how close to reality is “Woman of the Hour?” Here’s everything you need to know about “The Dating Game Killer” and the women who strayed into his path.
Woman of the Hour
The film “Woman of the Hour” serves as Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut and covers the crimes of serial killer Rodney Alcala. Though authorities believe he may have claimed upwards of 130 victims, the story focuses on one who got away. Kendrick stars as Cheryl Bradshaw. While the main draw is certainly the terror of Alcala’s acts, the story largely takes place from Cheryl’s perspective. Though Kendrick acknowledges that many aspects of the narrative are fictionalized, the details of the real case are as harrowing as they are inconceivable.
Rodney Alcala’s Backstory
Alcala had a fairly transient childhood, being moved from place to place after his father abandoned their family. He was discharged from the army as a young man when he was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, a characteristic ascribed to many other notorious serial killers.
As early as the ‘60s, Rodney began to get in trouble with the law. He was even added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list after evading capture in a violent crime involving a young girl. After eventually being caught and serving 34 months, he was forced to register as an offender. Interestingly, he was even considered a person of interest in the case of the Hillside Strangler murders. Though he was cleared of those crimes, he had already been racking up his own body count. He was rearrested for another lesser assault after his release. When he was let out again, he would resume his cross-state killing spree.
Bachelor Number One
Shockingly, background checks were simply not a major part of the casting process in the ‘70s, meaning Alcala’s dirt stayed buried. While most serial killers attempt to blend in or keep a low profile, Alcala boldly projected himself into the spotlight by both auditioning for and then participating in an episode of “The Dating Game.” He’s introduced as a photographer, a key detail that would come up much later when police found photos of women believed to be his victims in his possession. Throughout the episode, Alcala drones on about how much he enjoys the nighttime, does an impression of a dirty old man, and compares himself to a banana waiting to be peeled.
In the end, Cheryl actually chooses Alcala to be her date. Of course, no one knew that he had already taken several lives before taking that coveted seat. Fortunately for Cheryl, she picked up on his unnerving energy and backed out of the Magic Mountain theme park date they’d won together. This decision could have very well saved her life, but many others weren’t as lucky.
Getting Away With Murder
Between the ‘60s and ‘80s, targets (mostly women and children) were incredibly vulnerable. Stranger danger was not as prevalent and it was common for young people to roam the world with fewer precautions. Police work and forensic science were not nearly as advanced as they are today, allowing perpetrators to carry out their slayings for greater periods of time. All of these elements worked in Alcala’s favor, as his murders occurred throughout the ‘70s. His MO involved luring unsuspecting victims to remote locations or to his home photography studio where he would carry out unthinkable acts. He was largely motivated by a dominating sexual gratification and toyed with victims he viewed as prey.
One of the biggest factors in Alcala’s ability to carry out so many murders was the gender dynamics at play. At the time, women who pointed out red flags or even reported instances of abuse at his hands were effectively dismissed. Others were too scared to come forward. This is highlighted in the film “Woman of The Hour” as Alcala is portrayed as incessantly sleazy, yet somehow charming enough to manipulate women into defenseless positions. This presentation lines up with how producers actually felt about him. In the film, an audience member recognizes Alcala as someone last seen with a friend who’d vanished, but she isn’t allowed to speak to anyone of authority. In the real world, other women who escaped Alcala’s clutches have come forward to express how they were attacked by him multiple times.
Alcala’s Undoing
Alcala’s crimes would finally come to light when an officer recognized him from a police sketch. He was arrested in July of 1979 and his disturbing collection of victim photographs was uncovered. Police found physical evidence tying him to the murder scene of Robin Samsoe. He was tried and found guilty in 1980. Alcala was sentenced to death and while he sat on death row, police tied his DNA to several more crimes around the country. He was placed at the scene of at least eight murders, though the true count is likely far higher. In July of 2021, Alcala died in prison of natural causes at the age of 77.
Kendrick’s Vision
This is not the first time “The Dating Game Killer’s” story is being told on screen. Although the sickening true story is now receiving a glossy Hollywood makeover, Kendrick has been clear that one of her primary goals was to spotlight the women’s experiences, something that was accomplished not just with the writing but with the cinematography. It’s also telling that the film focuses on sexism within Hollywood, a real-life issue that’s picked apart in one scene where Kendrick is judged harshly by casting directors.
Kendrick was initially set to just star in the film, but when the director had to back out she felt strongly enough about the material that she decided to take the helm. The film received largely positive reviews, setting it apart from some of the smutty true crime entries that have flooded the market lately. “Woman of the Hour” pinpoints how women in this era had to effectively coach themselves to accept a man’s point of view, even when it was unnerving. Today, a movement toward listening to and believing women, which has roots in Hollywood, has made the tragic stories behind Alcala’s victims even more heartbreaking. If our modern zeitgeist is the answer to the historic culture of deprioritizing women’s experiences, it’s important to not only reflect on how far we’ve come, but to continue learning and remembering the dark places we came from.
