Netflix's Woman Of The Hour True Story, Explained

Summary

Anna Kendrick directed Woman of the Hour, a captivating movie based on true events premiering on Netflix in October 2024.
Woman of the Hour shows the chilling true story of Cheryl Bradshaw and serial killer Rodney Alcala in a dramatic and smart way.
Kendrick aims to explore themes of love, dating, and trust in Woman of the Hour, departing from sensationalized storytelling.

Anna Kendrick has had an exciting career that started with a small role in 2008's Twilight. She has starred in smart films like 50/50 and Up in the Air, comedies like Pitch Perfect and Drinking Buddies, and in 2022, took on the role of a woman in an emotionally abusive relationship in Alice, Darling. Kendrick made her directional debut in 2023 with Woman of the Hour, which will premiere on Netflix soon.

Many movies are releasing on Netflix in the next few months, from the time travel horror movie Time Cut to Woman of the Hour. Since Woman of the Hour is based on a true story, audiences will want to know all about it before checking out this fascinating and gripping movie.

What Is Woman Of The Hour About?

Netflix's The Woman of the Hour is based on the infamous case of a serial killer appearing on the reality series The Dating Game. Anna Kendrick plays a character named Cheryl Bradshaw, who dreams of becoming an actress and who wins the chance to go out with Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), who has killed five women. The movie joins the long list of true crime projects on Netflix. Rounding out the cast are Kathryn Gallagher, Tony Hale, Nicolette Robinson, and Taylor Hastings. Ian McDonald wrote the movie and Kendrick directed it.

The Woman of the Hour trailer shows Cheryl going to auditions with no luck. When she explains that she can't pay her rent, she gets cast on a TV show: The Dating Game. The trailer contrasts scenes of Cheryl bonding with Rodney on the show and becoming more interested with him with scenes of Rodney taking photos of his soon-to-be victims outside in some fields. A makeup artist tells Cheryl that no matter who appears on The Dating Game, "the question remains the same: which one of you will hurt me?" It's a smart question that suggests the horror underneath Rodney's good-looking facade.

Woman of the Hour is a captivating movie based on a true story and, from the trailer, it looks like the shocking truth about Rodney will be revealed in a memorable way. Since the movie is a dramatic, fictional take on real events, unlike documentaries like Netflix's Jailbreak: On The Run, that allowed the filmmakers to present a character study. Viewers will get to know this version of Cheryl and Rodney while also being aware of the horrifying and tragic real-life events.

The True Story Behind Woman Of The Hour

While Netflix has become known for dating reality series like Love is Blind and the addictive series Perfect Match, there was another dating show back in the day that captivated viewers. The Dating Game premiered in 1965 and, according to People, Rodney Alcala was cast in 1978. By the time he was cast, he had killed two women, but he snuck onto the show due to a lack of a background check. The real-life Cheryl Bradshaw called him "creepy" and while she picked him for a date, she didn't actually go on the date.

Alcala was arrested in 1979 and while he received death sentences in 1980 and 1986, judges changed their mind about that twice. He received another death sentence in 2010 after new evidence was found. He passed away in 2021 from natural causes.

Like the Netflix horror movie The Deliverance that is also based on true events, Woman of the Hour goes beyond the sensationalized story that people know about and offers something intelligent. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Kendrick explained that Woman of the Hour addresses big themes asks and important questions about love, dating, and truly knowing another person. She said:

"what we've heard is once upon a time, there was a very violent, dangerous murderer who went on The Dating Game. But once I signed on to direct and I got to dive into some research and make tweaks, to me, the fact that he went on The Dating Game is the least interesting part of the story."

Kendrick continued:

"We got to use The Dating Game as this framing thematic device about, how do you know who is a safe person and who is not?"

When Does Woman Of The Hour Come Out?

Anna Kendrick on The Dating Game in Woman of the Hour

Woman of the Hour will premiere on Netflix on October 18th, 202 4. The movie was screened at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8th, 2023.

What Are Some Of Anna Kendrick's Movies?

The Company You Keep (2011)
Into the Woods (2013)
Happy Christmas (2013)
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016)
Table 19 (2017)
Noelle (2019)
Stowaway (2021)

While a popular horror movie left Netflix in late September 2024 and fans always have to say goodbye to favorite TV shows and films that leave the streaming service, everyone should check out Woman of the Hour. Kendrick's directional debut looks to be as impressive as the rest of her resume.