The upcoming American crime thriller Woman of the Hour, directed by Anna Kendrick, is set to premiere on Netflix on October 18, 2024. This gripping film explores the unsettling encounters between Cheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress from Los Angeles during the 1970s, and the notorious serial s*x offender and murderer Rodney Alcala. Their paths crossed when they were cast together on a dating show.
That dating show, titled The Dating Game, featured Alcala as a contestant in 1978. He was selected by Bradshaw as one of the bachelorettes for a date, but ultimately she backed out, stating that Alcala exhibited “creepy”behavior.
As reports emerged about Rodney Alcala’s s*xually predatory and murderous history, he became infamously known as The Dating Game Killer, highlighting his connection to the show.
Who is Rodney Alcala, also known as The Dating Game Killer, as portrayed in Netflix’s Woman of the Hour?
The film will depict the chilling relationship between Cheryl Bradshaw, played by Anna Kendrick, and Rodney Alcala, portrayed by Daniel Zovatto. Their encounter occurred through the American game show The Dating Game in 1978. Following her selection of Alcala as her date, Bradshaw ultimately declined, notifying the show’s producers of Alcala’s unsettling behaviors.
Rodney Alcala was later linked to the s*xual assault and murder of at least five women, including children, with estimates suggesting the true number of victims could be higher. Distinctively, Alcala would strangle his victims, letting them faint before reviving them, only to repeat the harrowing process until he ultimately killed them.
Throughout his criminal activities, Alcala was arrested multiple times but managed to evade justice due to insufficient evidence. He often changed his identity and posed as a professional photographer to lure in his victims successfully.
Approximately a year after his appearance on The Dating Game, Alcala was caught and charged with at least three murders. He received death sentences for his horrific crimes in 1980, 1986, and 2010, and remained on death row until he passed away from natural causes on July 24, 2021, at the age of 77.
Trailer Overview for Woman of the Hour
Netflix released the Woman of the Hour trailer on YouTube on September 17, 2024. The footage hints that Bradshaw and Alcala first met over a meal.
While it remains unclear if this meal corresponds to the actual date planned on the show, Bradshaw ultimately cancelled the date at the last moment. It’s plausible that this aspect has been fictionalized for artistic interpretation in the film.
The trailer indicates that Bradshaw was wary during the meal due to Alcala’s unsettling requests, such as asking for her phone number and verifying it to ensure she wasn’t giving him a false one.
Moreover, Alcala’s lingering presence in the parking lot after their encounter added to Bradshaw’s unease.
Woman of the Hour will premiere on Netflix on October 18, 2024, at midnight EST.
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