Is “Woman of the Hour” Inspired by Real Events? Here’s the Explanation

Woman of the Hour is a gripping crime thriller that marks the directorial debut of Anna Kendrick. The film made its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2023, and is set to be released on Netflix on October 18, 2024.

The movie features Anna Kendrick in the role of Cheryl Bradshaw, who has a chilling encounter with the serial killer Rodney Alcala, portrayed by Daniel Zovatto, after meeting him on the infamous television show The Dating Game. According to Netflix, the official logline for Woman of the Hour reads:

“The stranger-than-fiction story of an aspiring actress in 1970s Los Angeles and a serial killer in the midst of a yearslong murder spree, whose lives intersect when they’re cast on an episode of The Dating Game.”

Who was the real Rodney Alcala depicted in Woman of the Hour?

Daniel Zovatto in an image from the horror film (Image via X/@Anna Kendrick)

Woman of the Hour is inspired by the true story of Rodney Alcala, who earned the moniker ‘The Dating Game’ serial killer due to his appearance on the infamous dating show from the 1970s.

Alcala, originally from San Antonio, Texas, was recognized as a highly intelligent student with an IQ of 135. He joined the United States Army at the young age of 17 and later attended prestigious institutions such as the UCLA School of Fine Arts and New York University. However, his life took a grim turn after this period.

Rodney’s criminal activity began in 1968 when he kidnapped, raped, and brutally assaulted eight-year-old Tali Shapiro. Over the next decade, he consistently attacked women, facing jail time, getting parole, and then violating it. Between 1977 and 1979, he embarked on a horrifying murder spree targeting young girls and women across California.

During this spree, he encountered Cheryl Bradshaw, who was depicted as an aspiring actress in the film but was actually a vibrant drama teacher. In 1978, Cheryl appeared on The Dating Game seeking a companion. She interacted with three suitors, one of whom was Alcala.

After a light-hearted question-and-answer segment, Cheryl selected Rodney as the episode’s winner. According to the show’s guidelines, they were to go on a date the following day; however, Cheryl canceled the planned tennis outing after feeling a ‘creepy’ vibe from him.

The tense date scene depicted in the film’s teaser never took place in reality. Years later, in a 2012 interview with the Sydney Telegraph, Cheryl recounted her instinctive reaction to Alcala:

“I started to feel ill. He was acting really creepy.”

Cheryl’s sharp intuition spared her, allowing her to escape being one of Alcala’s victims. Despite this, Rodney continued his horrifying rampage until he was apprehended in July 1979. The infamous serial killer was convicted of seven murders, but it is estimated that his actual victim count could be as high as 130. He spent the remainder of his life in prison and passed away from natural causes on July 24, 2021, at the age of 77.

Plot Summary of Woman of the Hour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeVkVI0hH0g

Woman of the Hour | Official Teaser | Netflix (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeVkVI0hH0g)

Woman of the Hour is set in the 1970s and revolves around aspiring actress Cheryl Bradshaw, who appears on the well-known dating show The Dating Game in search of love. Unbeknownst to her, she leaves the show with the charming yet dangerous Rodney Alcala, a notorious serial killer on the run.

Initially intrigued by Rodney, Cheryl soon begins to feel increasingly uneasy during their date. The film provides an intense exploration of Rodney’s killing spree, which is believed to have ended the lives of over 100 women.