Trigger warning: This article mentions death.
Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut film Woman of the Hour, based on the true story of 70s serial killer Rodney Alcala and his murder spree, is coming to Netflix soon! The streaming platform has acquired the rights to it after its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in 2023. However, it will not be available for global viewing as of May December, but only in select regions.
The trailer is just a glimpse of Alcala’s horrific and gruesome activities, which lasted from 1968 to 1979 and terrorized the country in the ’70s. Kendrick plays Cheryl Bradshaw, a female contestant on the hit 1970s TV matchmaking show The Dating Game, where Alcala appeared as one of three bachelors.
Despite being a convicted murderer and child predator at the time, he appeared on the show due to the lack of a thorough background check and was offered a date with Bradshaw. However, she later felt “weird vibes” from the man and reportedly refused to go on her date to a tennis lesson, but she later learned that he had escaped a horrific death.
Alcala has been known as the Dating Game Killer ever since his truth came out. During his two-year killing spree, five people lost their lives. Although the actual number of his victims is still unknown, it could be as high as 130, ranging from murder to sex crimes.
In the film adaptation, Akala is played by Daniel Zovatto. The cast also includes Kathryn Gallagher, Nicolette Robinson, Kelly Jakle, Autumn Best, Pete Holmes, and Tony Hale in supporting roles.
The film has received rave reviews since its premiere at TFF. There is no official release date yet, but the streaming platform claims it will be available to home viewers soon.
