Terrifying ‘true’ story behind Netflix film Woman of the Hour

An upcoming Netflix film is based on a shocking ‘true’ story involving a series of horrific crimes.

Woman of the Hour sees Anna Kendrick playing a dating show contestant who encounters a notorious serial killer on the set of the show in 1978 and is based on real life events.

Rodney Alcala’s appearance on the show would later earn him the nickname ‘The Dating Game killer’.

This film also marks the first time the Pitch Perfect star has taken on the role of director while also appearing in front of the camera.

Kendrick’s work has already garnered acclaim after the film was screened at various festivals, including a premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

She was named winner of the Directors to Watch category at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and the film already boasts a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of its October release, reports the Mirror.

In the film, Kendrick portrays Cheryl Bradshaw, a drama teacher who signed up to participate in The Dating Game and ends up choosing Rodney as her date.

The Dating Game was a popular game show in the US, originally airing from 1965. Similar to Blind Date in the UK, the show involved a bachelorette asking a series of questions to three hidden bachelors, eventually choosing one for a date.

The show ran through the 1970s and 1980s and saw a revival in the late 1990s where it experimented with the format.

In 2021, a celebrity edition of a dating game show was launched with ‘New Girl’ star Zooey Deschanel and singer Michael Bolton at the helm, but ended just one year later.

The show’s heyday saw numerous now-famous personalities engaging in matchmaking before their rise to stardom, including Hollywood heavyweights like Tom Selleck, Burt Reynolds, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even comedian Steve Martin graced the show prior to his fame.

One participant who stood out and is the focus of Kendrick’s film, was Rodney Alcala – with Daniel Zovatto depicting him in the movie. Alcala took part in the show in 1978, securing a date with contestant Cheryl.

However, neither the crew behind the scenes nor the viewing public were aware that Alcala had already taken the lives of five women before charming his way on the programme.

Also concealed was his criminal past, where he had been convicted of physically and sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl.

Host Jim Lange introduced him to the audience as a “successful photographer” who liked skydiving, yet another competitor later labelled him as odd with “bizarre opinions”.

Speaking to ABC’s 20/20, executive producer Mike Metzger recalled his reservations regarding Alcala, stating: “No darn way was this guy going to be on my show, because I thought he had a strange personality. He had a mystique about him that I found uncomfortable.”

Before Alcala took his seat on The Dating Game, he had already lured five women to his home under the guise of a photoshoot, only to beat, rape, and strangle them.

Despite these horrific acts, Metzger’s wife and talent coordinator Ellen was persuaded to cast him on the show.

Following his appearance on The Dating Game, Alcala went on to rape and murder three more women, including 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in Los Angeles in 1979. He was handed down three death sentences for his crimes in 1980, 1986, and 2010.

While the upcoming film’s portrayal of events could focus on Cheryl Bradshaw, little is known about the real woman from the show.

Bradshaw reportedly felt uneasy after filming and declined to go on a date with Alcala, describing him as “creepy”.

Ellen Metzger remembered Bradshaw saying: “She said, ‘Ellen, I can’t go out with this guy. There’s weird vibes that are coming off of him. He’s very strange. I am not comfortable. Is that going to be a problem?’ And of course, I said, ‘No.'”.

The chilling saga of Alcala continued for decades beyond his notorious TV appearance.

In March 2010, Huntington Beach Police discovered over 100 photographs in a storage locker owned by Alcala, many depicting young women in provocative poses, as reported by CBS news.

Authorities made a public appeal for assistance in identifying the subjects of the photos, fearing there could be more victims.

Investigators across the United States have connected Alcala to murders in Los Angeles and Marin County in California; Seattle, Washington; New York; New Hampshire and Arizona.

There are eight confirmed victims of Alcala but reports suggest that the actual number could be as high as 130. Alcala passed away in 2021, at the age of 77 from natural causes while awaiting execution.

Woman of the Hour is available to stream on Netflix from Friday, October 18 on Netflix.

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