So, you’ve probably seen the Netflix movie. Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, Woman of the Hour, took over the streaming charts by revisiting one of the most unsettling moments in television history. It’s a wild story. Rodney Alcala, a literal serial killer, appeared on a 1970s dating show and actually won. People watch the film and think, "There’s no way the reality was that blatant."
But honestly? The truth is actually weirder. And in many ways, it's a lot more frustrating.
When we talk about the Woman of the Hour, we aren’t just talking about a thriller flick. We’re talking about a massive failure in institutional oversight. We’re talking about how a guy who was already a convicted child molester managed to get past a network screening process to sit under bright studio lights. It wasn't just a "glitch" in the system. It was a complete lack of a system.
The Reality of Rodney Alcala’s TV Appearance
The movie centers on Cheryl Bradshaw. In the film, she’s portrayed as a sharp, intuitive woman who senses something is deeply wrong with "Bachelor Number One." While Kendrick plays her with a modern edge, the real Cheryl Bradshaw was equally perceptive.
She wasn't just some starlet looking for a break. She was a person with a gut instinct that saved her life.
After the cameras stopped rolling on The Dating Game in 1978, Alcala was supposed to take her on a date. But Cheryl didn't go. She famously called the show's contestant coordinator, Ellen Metzger, and told her she couldn't go out with the guy because he was "creepy."
Think about that for a second.
Alcala had already murdered multiple people by the time he sat on that stage. He was active. He was dangerous. And yet, he was charming enough—or the producers were lazy enough—to let him through. The movie emphasizes the "vibe" he gave off, but the criminal record he possessed should have been the first red flag.
Why the Producers Missed Everything
You have to remember the era. 1978 wasn't exactly the age of instant background checks. There was no Google. You couldn't just type a name into a database and see a mugshot. However, Alcala wasn't some unknown entity to the law. He had served time. He was on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list at one point earlier in the decade.
The disconnect happened because the entertainment industry and the legal system didn't talk.
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Sheryl McCollum, a well-known cold case investigative expert and founder of the Cold Case Research Institute, has often pointed out that serial killers like Alcala thrive in the "gaps." They find the places where people aren't looking too closely. For Alcala, that was the bright, vapid world of game show television. He used the platform to validate his ego. It was a game to him. A literal game.
The Victims the Movie Focuses On (And Those It Doesn’t)
Woman of the Hour does something interesting. It doesn't just focus on the killer. It focuses on the women. This is a shift in the "true crime" genre that we’re seeing more of lately. Instead of glorifying the monster, the narrative centers on the survivors and those whose lives were cut short.
But there’s a nuance here that gets lost in the dramatization.
Alcala’s victim count is staggering. While he was convicted of several murders, authorities believe the actual number could be over 100. When he was finally arrested in 1979, police found a locker filled with hundreds of photos of women and children.
Many of these people have never been identified.
The Photography Ruse
This was his "thing." He would pose as a professional photographer. He’d tell women they had "the look." It’s a classic predator move because it plays on someone’s aspirations. In the 70s, the idea of being "discovered" was the ultimate dream. Alcala knew this. He used his camera as a weapon of manipulation long before he used actual weapons.
The movie shows this, but it’s hard to capture the sheer volume of his obsession. When you look at the real-life photos recovered from his collection, the sheer normalcy of the poses is what’s terrifying. They look like regular graduation photos or headshots.
What the Film Changes for "Drama"
Hollywood always tweaks things. You know that. I know that.
In the film, the interaction between Cheryl and Rodney is condensed into a high-tension sequence. In reality, the "creepy" factor was a bit more slow-burn. The real Cheryl Bradshaw didn't have a long, philosophical debate with him on stage. She just felt an immediate, visceral repulsion.
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Also, the character of "Amy" in the movie—the runaway—is a composite. She represents the many vulnerable people Alcala targeted. By using a composite character, Kendrick is able to show the systemic failure of the police to protect "disposable" people.
It’s a fair critique of the time.
The police in the 70s were often dismissive of runaways or women they deemed "trouble." This gave Alcala a massive advantage. If no one is looking for the victim, no one is looking for the killer.
The E-E-A-T Factor: Why We Still Care About This Case
Experts like Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis, a psychiatrist who studied serial killers (and actually interviewed Alcala), have noted that his intelligence was his greatest tool. He had a high IQ. He was a graduate of NYU. He even studied under Roman Polanski at one point.
This is the "Complexity of Evil" that Woman of the Hour tries to unpack.
We want our monsters to look like monsters. We want them to growl and hide in shadows. We don't want them to be the guy wearing a ruffled shirt on a dating show telling jokes. The reason this story continues to trend—decades after it happened—is because it forces us to acknowledge that danger often looks exactly like "normal."
The "Dating Game" Legacy
The show itself continued for years, but the Alcala incident remains its darkest footnote. It changed how contestants were vetted. Sorta. I mean, we still see people with questionable pasts ending up on reality TV today, don't we? The tech has improved, but the desire for "good TV" sometimes overrides the need for safety.
Addressing the "Missing" Evidence
One thing the movie touches on but can't fully explore is the "Alcala Photos."
In 2010, the Huntington Beach Police Department released over 100 photos found in Alcala’s possession, hoping the public could help identify the people in them. This led to several cold cases being closed. It also led to families finally getting answers.
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If you’re interested in the real Woman of the Hour history, the most impactful thing you can do isn't just watching the movie. It’s looking at those photos. It’s seeing the faces of the people who might have crossed paths with him and disappeared.
It’s a heavy rabbit hole. Honestly, it's heartbreaking.
What We Can Learn Right Now
We live in a world of apps. Tinder, Bumble, Hinge. In a way, we are all on The Dating Game every single day. The lessons from Cheryl Bradshaw’s experience are surprisingly relevant for 2026.
- The "Vibe" is Data: Cheryl couldn't point to a specific crime Alcala committed, but her brain was processing micro-signals. If someone feels "off," they are off. Period.
- Institutional Failure is Real: Don't assume that because someone is on a platform (a show, an app, a job) they have been "vetted." Background checks are often superficial.
- The Importance of Advocacy: The victims who were ignored by police in the 70s are a reminder that we have to fight for those the system ignores.
The movie is a great piece of cinema. Anna Kendrick did a hell of a job. But the real story is a cautionary tale about the cost of being polite. Cheryl Bradshaw survived because she decided she didn't care about being "nice" or "giving him a chance." She prioritized her safety over a stranger's feelings.
Actionable Steps for True Crime Consumers
If you want to move beyond just being a spectator of this story, there are things you can actually do.
- Support Cold Case Initiatives: Organizations like the Cold Case Research Institute or the DNA Doe Project do the heavy lifting that the police sometimes can't. They use modern tech to solve 50-year-old mysteries.
- Vetting in the Modern Age: If you're dating online, use public record searches. They are way more accessible now than they were in 1978. Sites like TruthFinder or even just deep-diving through social media can reveal more than a bio ever will.
- Listen to Victims: Read the memoirs of people who survived Alcala. Tali Shapiro, who was just eight years old when Alcala attacked her, has spoken out about her experience. Her story is much more important than the killer's "legend."
The Woman of the Hour isn't just Cheryl Bradshaw. It's every woman who has had to navigate a world where predators are hidden in plain sight. It’s a reminder that while the lights of Hollywood are bright, they often cast the longest shadows.
Stop looking for the "why" of the killer and start looking at the "how" of the survival. That’s where the real value lies. Alcala died in prison in 2021, taking many of his secrets with him. We don't owe him any more of our attention. We owe it to the victims to remember their names, not just his.
Next time you’re watching a true crime documentary or a dramatized film, ask yourself: Who is being centered here? If it’s the guy with the handcuffs, turn it off. Find the story about the person who walked away. That’s the story worth telling.