The True Story Behind Woman of the Hour: The Real-Life Serial Killer Who Inspired Anna Kendrick’s Directorial Debut

The True Story Behind Woman of the Hour: The Real-Life Serial Killer Who Inspired Anna Kendrick’s Directorial Debut

Anna Kendrick, widely known for her charming roles in films like Pitch Perfect, has taken a darker turn with her directorial debut Woman of the Hour. The true-crime thriller, featured in Entertainment Weekly’s Fall Movie Preview, brings to life the chilling story of Rodney Alcala, infamously known as “The Dating Game Killer.” Alcala’s bizarre and terrifying criminal history includes an appearance as a contestant on the popular game show The Dating Game, despite being in the middle of a murder spree.

While Alcala’s gruesome nickname is familiar to many, the full extent of his crimes is far more complex and disturbing than most people realize. Even Kendrick, who directs and stars in the film, was surprised by the depth of the story. “What we’ve heard is, once upon a time, there was a very violent, dangerous murderer who went on The Dating Game,” Kendrick told EW. “But once I signed on to direct and did some research, the fact that he went on The Dating Game is the least interesting part of the story.”

As Woman of the Hour makes its debut on Netflix on October 18, here’s a look at the real-life crimes of Rodney Alcala, which inspired the film.

What is Woman of the Hour about?

Set in Los Angeles in 1978, Woman of the Hour follows Cheryl Bradshaw (played by Kendrick), an aspiring actress who becomes a contestant on The Dating Game. The show’s premise is simple: Cheryl must choose one of three bachelors to accompany her on a date, but she can only base her decision on their answers, as the men remain hidden from view.

As the sleazy host (played by Tony Hale) guides her through the game’s suggestive rounds, Cheryl is drawn to a contestant named Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), who leads a disturbing double life as a photographer and a serial killer.

Is Woman of the Hour based on a true story?

Yes, for the most part. While some details and character names have been altered for the film, Woman of the Hour stays close to the facts. Cheryl Bradshaw was a real contestant on The Dating Game in 1978, where she unknowingly selected Alcala as her winning bachelor. Despite growing uneasy feelings from both the show’s crew and Bradshaw herself, Alcala charmed his way through the episode.

At the time, Alcala was already a convicted criminal, having served time for raping and beating an 8-year-old girl. Shockingly, he was still in the midst of a murder spree when he appeared on the show. During the broadcast, he was introduced as a “successful photographer,” despite the grisly reality of his past. Footage from his appearance would later be used in his trials.

Who was Rodney Alcala?

Rodney Alcala, born Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor on August 23, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas, spent part of his childhood in Mexico before relocating to Los Angeles. At 17, he joined the army but was discharged in 1964 after a nervous breakdown and accusations of sexual misconduct.

Alcala later graduated from UCLA with a fine arts degree in 1968, but soon fled to New York after being linked to the brutal assault of Tali Shapiro, an 8-year-old girl he had lured into his car. Alcala adopted the alias “John Berger” in New York, where he studied film under Roman Polanski at New York University and worked in various jobs, including as a photographer and camp counselor.

The True Story Behind Woman of the Hour: The Real-Life Serial Killer Who Inspired Anna Kendrick’s Directorial Debut

What crimes did Rodney Alcala commit?

In 1971, Alcala committed his first confirmed murder, killing 23-year-old flight attendant Cornelia Crilley. She was sexually assaulted, bitten, and strangled to death, a pattern that would become Alcala’s signature in his later crimes.

The same year, Alcala was placed on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list for the assault on Tali Shapiro. He was eventually arrested after two campers recognized him from the FBI’s wanted posters, and he served a 34-month sentence. However, this did little to stop his murderous activities. After his release, Alcala continued to target women and girls across the United States.

Authorities believe that Alcala may have killed as many as 130 people during the 1970s, though the exact number of victims remains uncertain. Many of his killings took place before his notorious appearance on The Dating Game in 1978, which is a central event in Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour.

Though the film focuses on Alcala’s eerie game show appearance, it also highlights the disturbing reality of how such a dangerous predator managed to evade capture for so long and the chilling consequences that followed. Woman of the Hour offers a haunting glimpse into one of the most shocking criminal cases in American history.

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