The film marks Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut (Image: Netflix)
Woman of the Hour is set to terrify Netflix subscribers just in time for Halloween, with the plot inspired by the true story of a serial killer who participated in a TV dating show in the ’70s.
The first official trailer was released on Tuesday (October 1), leaving viewers both excited and terriified in equal measure.
The film is Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut and sees her taking the lead as Cheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress whose path fatefully crosses with a murderer on an episode of The Dating Game. It is based on the true story of Rodney Alcala, a serial killer who appeared – and ultimately won – a TV dating show in 1978.
However, the woman that selected him on the show decided against seeing through a date, reportedly citing that he was “creepy”. Alcala later committed further atrocities, raping and murderering more women, having already killed several before his TV appearance. He was ultimately convicted of seven murders, though this number could be much higher.
Woman of the Hour delves into the narrative primarily from Cheryl Bradshaw’s perspective (portrayed by Kendrick), leading up to and including the notorious TV segment.
Rodney Alcala was branded the The Dating Game Killer (Image: ABC)
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The official synopsis reads: “The stranger-than-fiction story of an aspiring actress in 1970s Los Angeles and a serial killer in the midst of a years-long murder spree, whose lives intersect when they’re cast on an episode of The Dating Game.”
The first trailer for the film was released on Tuesday (October 1) which shows how Kendrick’s character ends up in the same studio as Alcala (portrayed in the film by Daniel Zovatto).
Reacting to the footage, one viewer shared: “Rodney Alcala…. that just creeped me all kinds of out,” while another shared their excitement for the film. “Anna Kendrick giving me another reason to live through 2024! This looks amazing” they wrote.
One comment under the trailer read: “Finally the Dating Game Killer is being played on screen. Rodney Alcala is one of the worst serial killers in mankind history. Cheryl needs to thank her gut instinct of refusing to go out on a date with her possible predator, period!”.
Rodney Alcala died of natural causes in July 2021 at the age of 77 while awaiting execution. Investigators across the United States have associated Alcala with murders in Los Angeles and Marin County in California; Seattle, Washington; New York; New Hampshire and Arizona.
Woman of the Hour is available to stream on from October 18