An aspiring actress crosses paths with a prolific serial killer in ’70s LA when they’re cast on an episode of “The Dating Game.” Based on a true story.
A film by Anna Kendrick, starring Daniel Zovatto, Nicolette Robinson, Autumn Best, Pete Holmes, Kelley Jakle, Kathryn Gallagher, Tony Hale, and Anna Kendrick.

In 1977 Wyoming, Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) is photographing a woman in the plains. The woman, Sarah (Kelley Jakle), tearfully confides in Rodney about her dream of visiting all 50 states with her boyfriend before their baby’s arrival. Her dream has been shattered, she explains, since her boyfriend left her.

Rodney approaches and suddenly attempts to strangle her. Sarah pushes him away, initially thinking he’s just being playful. When he tries again, she realizes with horror that he intends to harm her. She attempts to flee, but Rodney catches her and chokes her until she loses consciousness. He then revives her, only to strangle her to death again.

The character of Sarah is inspired by Christine Ruth Thornton, a 28-year-old woman who fell victim to homicide. In June 1977, following a breakup with her partner, Thornton was last seen hitchhiking in Biloxi, Mississippi, before she disappeared. Her remains were discovered in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, in 1982 but weren’t identified until 2015 through DNA matching with her relatives. Reports indicate she was approximately six months pregnant at the time of her murder. A photograph of Thornton was found among Alcala’s belongings, leading to the connection between him and her case.

In 1978 Hollywood, aspiring actress Sheryl (Anna Kendrick) juggles multiple auditions, including one with casting directors (Matty Finochio & Geoff Gustafson) where she once again fails to land a part. Returning to her apartment frustrated, she realizes she may not be able to make rent if she doesn’t book a job soon.

At her apartment, Sheryl receives a call from her agent Helen (Jessica Chaffin), who informs her that while the casting directors loved her, they didn’t think she was quite right for the part. Discouraged, Sheryl confides in Helen that despite working incredibly hard, she is accomplishing very little. She questions whether an acting career is the right path, especially as she can barely make rent. Helen then reveals she’s booked Sheryl a guest spot on ABC’s “The Dating Game.” She encourages Sheryl to do the show, noting that even Sally Field had appeared on it, and suggests it could give her exposure and potentially lead to other opportunities.

The Dating Game is an American television game show that first aired on 20 December 1965. Created by Chuck Barris, it became a popular format where a bachelorette would ask questions to three eligible bachelors hidden from her view, ultimately choosing one for a date. The show was notable for its unique setup, which allowed contestants to make selections based on personality rather than appearance, as the bachelors were concealed behind a partition. American actress Sally Field was a contestant on the show in 1966, shortly before her career took off in Hollywood. At that time, she was around 19 years old and had already begun to establish herself in the entertainment industry with roles in television shows like Gidget. Field’s participation is notable not only because of her subsequent fame but also because it highlights the show’s history of featuring future stars.

Woman of the Hour is a captivating crime thriller directed by Anna Kendrick in her directorial debut, with a screenplay by Ian McDonald. The film is loosely based on the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala and his infamous 1978 appearance on the television show The Dating Game.

While Alcala’s story is inherently fascinating, particularly due to his unusual methodology compared to typical serial killers, the film only scratches the surface of his character. In reality, Alcala exhibited a uniquely sadistic pattern, strangling his victims to unconsciousness before reviving them, making him one of history’s most disturbing murderers.

Unfortunately, the film misses the opportunity to explore his psychological motivations, instead focusing primarily on his surface-level actions and his facade as a charming, successful photographer on television.

Despite its relatively short 90-minute runtime, the pacing feels sluggish. The filmmakers seem uncertain about where to place their focus — on the killer himself, his victims, or the television show storyline.

The Dating Game sequences prove to be the most chilling aspects of the film, as we watch Alcala’s charismatic performance knowing he’s a serial killer, while the show’s audience remains blissfully unaware of his violent nature.

However, the film dedicates perhaps too much screen time to Sheryl’s story arc, following the contestant who encounters Alcala on the show and manages to escape his grasp.

The film’s editing could be improved by adopting a more chronological approach, particularly in scenes like Alcala’s encounter with a runaway girl, which should occur after his television appearance.

While Woman of the Hour showcases impressive craftsmanship and cinematography, marking a solid directorial debut for Kendrick (who also stars in the film), it ultimately falls short of the high bar set by similar true-crime thrillers like David Fincher’s ZODIAC.

On 14 February 1979, a teenage runaway escaped Rodney Alcala by asking him to keep the encounter a secret. While awaiting trial, he was released on bail. Once freed, he murdered a 21 year old woman and a 12 year old girl. Alcala was rearrested in 1979. Only then did authorities begin to uncover the scope of his crimes. For over a decade Alcala had been reported to law enforcement by survivors and other private citizens without consequence. He was eventually convicted of the murders of seven women and girls. Some authorities estimate the true number of victims to be as high as 130.

Woman of the Hour premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on 8 September 2023. The film began streaming on Netflix on 18 October 2024.