Rodney Alcala Profiled: Insights from Netflix’s Woman of the Hour Documentary

The film *Woman of the Hour*, directed by Anna Kendrick, marks her debut as a filmmaker, with a screenplay penned by Ian McDonald. This gripping true crime narrative delves into the harrowing story of Rodney Alcala, a serial killer active in the 1970s. Notably, Alcala infamously appeared on the game show *The Dating Game* in 1978, all while reportedly engaged in a series of gruesome murders.

Making its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2023, *Woman of the Hour* became available for streaming on Netflix on October 18, 2024.

According to Netflix, the official logline for *Woman of the Hour* is as follows:

“An astonishing true tale of an aspiring actress in 1970s Los Angeles and a serial killer amidst a lengthy murder spree, whose paths cross during an episode of *The Dating Game*.”

Rodney Alcala was an infamous serial killer who was linked to the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of over 100 women and girls in the 1970s. During his *Dating Game* appearance, Alcala managed to win a date with contestant Cheryl Bradshaw.

Woman of the Hour highlights the chilling story of Rodney Alcala

At the time of his participation on *The Dating Game* in September 1978, Alcala was reportedly in the midst of a reign of terror in California. This critical event serves as a significant element in *Woman of the Hour*, as it juxtaposes his crimes throughout the decade.

On the show, Alcala was among three contenders competing for the affection of bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw. Cheryl, a young drama teacher, was charmed by Alcala, who was introduced as a “highly successful photographer.”His confident demeanor and witty responses captivated both the audience and Cheryl.

During the question round, when asked by Cheryl, “What’s your best time?”Alcala replied with a chilling undertone, saying, “The best time is at night… nighttime is when it gets really good.”When Cheryl inquired, “I’m serving you for dinner. What do you call yourself, and what do you look like?”he unnervingly responded, “I’m called the banana, and I look really good… Peel me.”

Ultimately, Cheryl chose Alcala as the winner of the episode. Unbeknownst to her, the man she selected was a wanted killer. However, her intuition prompted her to cancel their date, as his unsettling demeanor during their conversation left her feeling uneasy. Thanks to her instincts, she avoided becoming one of his victims.

Another contestant from the episode, Jed Mills, remarked on Alcala:

“I immediately did not like this guy.”

An in-depth exploration of Rodney Alcala’s criminal history

A scene from the Netflix film *Woman of the Hour* (Image via Tudum by Netflix)

Alcala boasted a high IQ of 135 and attended prestigious institutions, including New York University and the UCLA School of Fine Arts. He even briefly worked for the Los Angeles Times.

As reported by Mahamana News, Alcala’s first known crime occurred shortly after his 25th birthday in September 1968 when he attacked 8-year-old Tali Shapiro, whom he lured into his home before brutally assaulting her. To evade capture, Alcala fled to New York. In 1971, he began working at a New Hampshire children’s arts camp under the alias John Burger.

That same year, he was apprehended after two campers recognized him from an FBI Most Wanted poster. Alcala pleaded guilty to child molestation since the young victim did not testify against him and consequently faced probation and parole multiple times in subsequent years; however, he continued to prey on women and girls throughout California and New York.

From November 1977 to June 1979, Alcala engaged in a disturbing crime spree in California, which resulted in numerous murders, many victims of whom remain unidentified. This was also the period during which he appeared on *The Dating Game*.

Cheryl’s intuition spared her from his grasp, but Alcala continued his assault on the innocent for another year before being apprehended.

The arrest of the Dating Game serial killer in July 1979

Daniel Zovatto portrays Rodney Alcala in *Woman of the Hour* (Image via Netflix)

In July 1979, Alcala was arrested and put on trial for the murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe. He was found guilty and initially sentenced to death in June 1980, yet the conviction was annulled in 1984. By 1986, he received his second death sentence, which was also overturned in 2003. His third death sentence was issued in 2010.

As reported by NBC News, investigators discovered over 100 images of unidentified women and children in sexually explicit situations stored in his Seattle locker. This discovery led authorities to suspect that the actual number of Alcala’s victims could be as many as 130. In 2012, he was convicted for the murders of Ellen Jane Hover in 1977 and Cornelia Crilley in 1971.

Rodney Alcala passed away from natural causes at age 77 on July 24, 2021, while awaiting execution on death row, according to the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation.

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