You’ve probably seen the trailer or scrolled past the thumbnail on Netflix. It looks like a retro, neon-soaked trip back to the 70s, right? But Woman of the Hour isn't just a stylistic exercise in nostalgia. It is a deeply unsettling, bone-chilling dive into one of the most bizarre chapters in American true crime history. Honestly, it’s the kind of story that makes you want to double-check the locks on your front door.
Anna Kendrick didn't just star in this; she directed it. And she chose a hell of a story to start with. The film centers on the real-life intersection of Cheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress looking for her big break, and Rodney Alcala.
Alcala wasn't just some creepy guy. He was a prolific serial killer. And the kicker? He was a contestant on The Dating Game right in the middle of his murder spree.
The Reality of The Dating Game Killer
Most people asking what is Woman of the Hour about are looking for the lore behind the "Dating Game Killer." That’s Rodney Alcala. By the time he stepped onto the set of the popular televised matchmaking show in 1978, he had already murdered multiple women. He was literally hiding in plain sight, wearing a groovy suit and offering up "charming" quips to a national audience while the police were hunting for a monster.
The movie captures this tension perfectly. It isn't a traditional slasher. It’s a psychological thriller that focuses on the systemic failures that allowed a man like Alcala to thrive. You see the casual sexism of the era—how women were dismissed, how red flags were ignored because "men will be men," and how a killer used the very structures of society to hunt.
Kendrick plays Cheryl Bradshaw. In the film, as in real life, Cheryl is the "bachelorette" tasked with choosing between three hidden suitors. Alcala was Bachelor Number One.
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Why the 1970s Setting Matters
The 70s were weird. It was a decade caught between the radical freedom of the 60s and the looming conservatism of the 80s. Law enforcement didn't talk to each other across state lines. DNA testing? Forget about it. This lack of communication is basically how Alcala stayed free for so long.
He was an artist. A photographer. He used his camera as a lure, telling young women and girls he could make them famous or capture their beauty. It’s a predatory tactic that hasn't really gone away; it’s just moved to Instagram and TikTok. Woman of the Hour leans into this "predator in plain sight" vibe. It highlights how Alcala’s intelligence and Ivy League background (he studied at NYU under Roman Polanski) acted as a shield. People didn't think a "refined" man could be a butcher.
The Scene Everyone Talks About
There is a specific moment in the movie—and in real life—where the tone shifts. During the taping of The Dating Game, Alcala’s answers are just a little too "on the nose." He’s playful, but there’s an undercurrent of aggression.
Cheryl actually won the date with him.
Think about that for a second. She chose him. But after the show, they met backstage, and the "vibe" was off. She famously told the show’s producers later that she couldn't go on the date because he was "creepy." That gut instinct saved her life. Most true crime stories focus on the victims who didn't make it, but this film gives a lot of weight to the agency of the woman who saw through the mask.
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Breaking Down the Performances and Direction
Anna Kendrick’s direction is surprisingly restrained. She doesn't lean into gore. Instead, she focuses on the feeling of being hunted. It’s about the "male gaze" turned lethal. Daniel Zovatto, who plays Alcala, is terrifying precisely because he isn't a snarling villain. He’s handsome. He’s articulate. He’s the guy your mom would think is a "nice young man" until he's alone with you in a dark room.
The film jumps around in time a bit. We see Alcala’s other victims. This is important because it prevents the movie from becoming just a "game show movie." It reminds the viewer that while the TV segment was absurd, the consequences were fatal.
- The Cinematography: It uses warm, golden hues that contrast sharply with the cold, clinical nature of Alcala’s crimes.
- The Script: Ian McDonald wrote a screenplay that focuses more on the victims' lives than the killer's "origin story." We don't need to know why he’s evil; we need to see the impact of his evil.
- The Pacing: It’s a tight 90-minute-ish watch. No filler.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Story
Social media likes to simplify things. You might see posts saying Cheryl "defeated" him. The truth is more nuanced. She survived him. The "defeat" of Rodney Alcala took decades and involved tireless work by investigators and the bravery of survivors like Tali Shapiro, whom Alcala attacked when she was just eight years old.
Another misconception is that the show’s producers knew he was a killer and let him on anyway for ratings. They didn't know he was a murderer, but they did ignore warnings that he was "strange." One of the contestants even told the producers Alcala was a "weird guy," but he was kept on because he was "good TV." It’s a damning indictment of the entertainment industry’s priorities.
The Real-Life Rodney Alcala
If you’re wondering what happened after the credits roll, the real story is even grimmer. Alcala was eventually arrested in 1979. He was sentenced to death multiple times, but California’s legal system saw his convictions overturned and then reinstated over several decades.
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He died of natural causes in prison in 2021. He was 77.
Authorities believe his victim count could be as high as 130 people. When he was arrested, police found a locker filled with over a thousand photographs of women and children—many in sexually explicit or distressed poses. To this day, many of the people in those photos haven't been identified.
How to Protect Yourself Today
While Woman of the Hour is a period piece, the lessons are contemporary. The "creep factor" Cheryl felt is what security experts call "The Gift of Fear," a term coined by Gavin de Becker.
- Trust your gut. If someone feels "off," they are. You don't owe anyone a "polite" explanation for leaving a situation.
- Verify before you meet. In the age of dating apps, use reverse image searches and public records. Alcala thrived on anonymity.
- The "Golden Boy" Fallacy. Don't assume someone is safe because they have a high-status job, a degree, or a charming personality. Predatory behavior is about power, not social standing.
- Community Awareness. Tell people where you are going. The 70s were the era of "going off the grid," which was a predator's playground. Today, we have the tools to stay connected—use them.
The film is a reminder that the most dangerous people usually don't look like monsters. They look like Bachelor Number One.
To get the most out of the experience, watch the original footage of Rodney Alcala on The Dating Game (available on YouTube) before or after the movie. It makes Kendrick's portrayal and the film’s atmosphere feel significantly more haunting when you see how closely they mirrored the reality of his chilling, televised charm.