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 Cheryl Bradshaw (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 does not 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 did not 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.

That evening, Sheryl goes out for drinks with her friendly neighbor Terry (Pete Holmes), a seasoned actor who helps her run lines for auditions. She confides in him that she hasn’t dated in two years, wanting to focus solely on her acting career without distractions. Terry encourages her to do the show, insisting it would be good for her even if she considers it beneath her.

Sheryl is caught off guard when Terry makes an advance, attempting to touch her face. When she realizes he doesn’t see her as just a friend — unlike how she sees him — and appears disappointed by her lack of reciprocal feelings, she decides to have another drink and eventually sleeps with him.

However, Terry’s character is purely fictional and not based on any actual person in Bradshaw’s life. While Pete Holmes delivers a solid performance, his character’s purpose in Bradshaw’s backstory remains unclear. Is he meant to demonstrate Bradshaw’s usual caution around men? Her judgment of male character? Her decision to sleep with him seems particularly inconsistent with her established behavior, making his role in the narrative feel somewhat strange.

In 1979 San Gabriel, Alcala spots a teenage runaway named Amy (Autumn Best) sitting alone under a staircase in Canterbury Lane. Without a job or money, Amy survives by occasionally stealing. When Alcala approaches her, she is initially suspicious, assuming he’s trying to sell her something. However, her guard drops when he compliments her appearance and explains he is looking for subjects for a photo contest, asking if she would be interested in modeling. Amy agrees, and Alcala drives her to a remote location for the photoshoot.

Canturbury Lane is situated in the city of San Marino, which is adjacent to San Gabriel. San Marino is known for its affluent residential areas and proximity to various cultural institutions, including the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, established in 1919. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens was founded by Henry E. Huntington, a railroad magnate, and his wife, Arabella Huntington. The institution was created as a public trust to advance learning in the arts and sciences, and it officially opened to the public in 1928 after the deaths of its founders. Canturbury Lane became infamous in 1979 due to the murder of Robin Christine Samsoe, a 12-year-old girl from Huntington Beach, California. She was last seen biking to a ballet class on 20 June 1979, and her body was discovered twelve days later in the Los Angeles foothills.

In 1971 New York City, flight attendant Charlie (Kathryn Gallagher), who has recently moved into her new loft, spots Alcala taking photographs across the street. After the moving company abandons her furniture on the curb, she asks him for help bringing them inside. Once they finish moving the furniture, Charlie offers him a beer, and they talk. She becomes captivated when Alcala claims he studied film under Roman Polanski at NYU. After a violent struggle, Alcala strangles her to death with her own stockings.

Roman Polanski is a Polish-French film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Polanski began his film career in Poland, gaining international recognition with his first feature film, Knife in the Water (1962), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He later moved to France and then to the United States, where he directed several influential films including Rosemary’s Baby (1968). Polanski taught a filmmaking class at New York University (NYU), particularly during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The character of Charlie is inspired by Cornelia Crilley, a 23-year-old Trans World Airlines (TWA) flight attendant who was murdered in her Manhattan apartment on 12 June 1971. She had recently moved into the building, which was known for housing young professionals, particularly flight attendants.

In 1978, Laura (Nicolette Robinson) attends a live taping of The Dating Game with her boyfriend Ken (Max Lloyd-Jones) and his parents, Bob (Andy Thompson) and Diane (Nancy Kerr).

The show, hosted by Ed Burke (Tony Hale), takes a terrifying turn for Laura when she recognizes Alcala among the bachelor contestants (Matt Visser & Jedidiah Goodacre) — the man she believes murdered her friend Alison.

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 Daniel Zovatto delivers an outstanding performance and 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.

The film spends 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 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on 8 September 2023. The film began streaming on Netflix on 18 October 2024.