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Warning! This post contains spoilers for Woman of the Hour.
This post contains mentions of sexual assault, murder, and Rodney Alcala’s real-life violent crimes.
Woman of the Hourstays true to many elements of Rodney Alcala’s serial killer history but also does not shy away from taking several creative liberties. Marking Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut,Woman of the Hourdoes not present itself as a mere timeline of Rodney Alcala’s real-life murders. Instead, it grabs a few segments of his story that not only highlight the vicious nature of his crimes but also portray how everyday sexism allowed him to enter a dating game show and get away with many murders.
Anna Kendrick’s direction ensures thatWoman of the Hourprimarily unfolds from the perspectives of the women who crossed paths with the serial killer. However, in all of its realism and emotional weight, theNetflix true-crime thrilleralso introduces many fictional elements. While some of its characters are not based on real people, many of its scenes also never occurred in real life. These creative choices do not diminish the impact ofWoman of the Hour’s overarching message. However, it is worth exploring how factually accurate theAnna Kendrick movie’s portrayal of the strange true storyis.
10Woman Of The Hour Changes The Names Of Several Real-Life People
Even The Main Character’s Name Is Spelled Differently
The movie’s main character, played by Anna Kendrick, is based on Cheryl Bradshaw, who encountered Rodney Alcala inThe Dating Gameshow. However, in the movie,Chreyl’s name is intentionally spelled as “Sheryl"because it takes many creative liberties with its portrayal of her story. Even The Dating Game’s host inWoman of the Houris named Ed Burke, when the name of the show’s real host was Jim Lange. In one of its timelines,Woman of the Houralso portrays Monique Hoyt’s encounter with Rodney Alcala. The character based on Monique Hoyt is named Amy in the movie’s story.
9The Real Rodney Alcala’s Answers In The Dating Game Were Creepy From The Beginning
His Early Answers Might Have Raised Cheryl Bradshaw’s Suspicion
InWoman of the Hour, Rodney Alcala sways Sheryl and the audience with his charm and clever answers to all questions. However, during the events of the realDating Gameepisode, his answers seemed off-putting from the beginning. When Cheryl Bradshaw asked, “I’m serving you for dinner. What are you called and what do you look like?” Alcala creepily replied, “I’m called the banana and I look good,” adding “peel me” to his response (viaABC News).
8The Real Cheryl Bradshaw & Rodney Alcala Did Not Meet After The Dating Game
The Movie’s Portrayal Of Their Meeting Is Entirely Fictional
Sheryl meets Rodney again after wrapping up filming for theDating Gameepisode inWoman of the Hour’s ending arc. Although the two are supposed to wait for the show to arrange a holiday date for them, Rodney convinces Sheryl to go out on a date with him on the same night. Things start well between them, but Sheryl gradually gets uncomfortable around Rodney.
Pete Holmes
Terry
Sheryl even rejects him and tells him she does not want to see him again. Rodney does not handle the rejection too well and almost gets violent with her, but he is forced to let Sheryl go to avoid drawing attention. In real life,Cheryl Bradshaw and Rodney Alcala never met after the show. Even though Rodney Alcala won his date with Cheryl, she later refused to go out with him.
7No Dating Game Contestant Warned Cheryl Bradshaw About Rodney Alcala
Cheryl Bradshaw Rejected Rodney Alcala Based On Her Own Judgment
When Bachelor Number 2 finally meets Sheryl towards the end of the show inWoman of the Hour, he secretly warns her to be careful about Rodney Alcala before leaving the stage. His warning gives her an early heads-up that something is not right about Alcala. The warning seems to later play a crucial role in convincing Sheryl that she should not go on a date with the show’s winner.
Woman Of The Hour Cast & Real-Life Character Guide
Apart from walking through some real-life crimes of Rodney Alcala, Woman of the Hour also uses its character beats to explore deeper underlying themes
In real life, there was no account of such an interaction between Cheryl Bradshaw and a contestant. Bradshaw drew from her own instincts and feelings about Alcala’s answers before rejecting him. However, according to reports (viaJ.H. Moncrieff) actor Jed Mills, who was also a contestant on the show,did call Alcala a “very strange guy” with “bizarre opinions.”
6Cheryl Bradshaw Canceled Her Date With Rodney Alcala Over A Call
Her Instincts Seemingly Saved Her Life
Unlike the movie, where Sheryl and Rodney were supposed to go on a vacation, thereal Cheryl Bradshawand Rodney Alcala had scheduled a tennis match date the day after the show’s filming. However, after meeting Alcala, Bradshaw called contestant coordinator Ellen Metzger to inform her that she wanted to drop the date. “I can’t go out with this guy, there’s weird vibes that are coming off of him. He’s very strange. I am not comfortable," she said (viaABC News), clearly expressing how being around him made her feel uneasy.
5Woman Of The Hour Imagines Most Elements Of Cheryl Bradshaw’s Acting Backstory
Most Aspects Of Cheryl Bradshaw’s Background Remain Unknown
BeforeWoman of the Hour’s credits start rolling, its epilogue reveals that Cheryl Bradshaw quit acting soon after appearing inThe Dating Gameand went on to live a private life. Owing to Bradshaw’s decision to stay away from the spotlight, nothing much seems to be known about her life before or after she appeared on the game show. Some aspects ofWoman of the Hour’s portrayal of Bradshaw’s early struggles as an actress may be true.
Her [Sheryl’s] backstory inWoman of the Houradds more heft to the film’s overarching themes surrounding casual misogyny in workplaces and the dangers faced by women in male-dominated work environments.
However, there are no official accounts of her experiences before she quit acting altogether. The movie’s “Sheryl” is primarily a fictional version of the real Cheryl Bradshaw. Her backstory inWoman of the Houradds more heft to the film’s overarching themes surrounding casual misogyny in workplaces and the dangers faced by women in male-dominated work environments.
4The Real Rodney Alcala Was Not Bachelor Number 3 In The Dating Game
His Cue Number In The Real Show Was Different
Alcala is portrayed as “Bachelor Number 3” inWoman of the Hour’sThe Dating Gameshow. Of the three men who appear on the show as Sheryl’s dating prospects, he is always the third one to answer her questions. This, in many ways, seems to favor Alcala because he benefits from having more time to think and always manages to respond in a way that makes him seem wittier than the other two contestants. Even though Alcala managed to win the real life show as well,he was “Bachelor Number 1” when he appeared inThe Dating Gameepisode.
3Rodney Alcala’s Backstage Interactions With Other Dating Game Contestants Were Significantly Different
Rodney Alcala Did Not Reveal Pictures Of Victims To Another Contestant
“Bachelor Number 2” and Rodney Alcala get increasingly competitive in theAnna Kendrick movie. During a filming break, Alcala even confronts the contestant by claiming he always gets the girl. He even exposes the contestant for implying that “bra sizes are a prerequisite for a meaningful relationship.”
Anna Kendrick won the Palm Springs International Film Festival award in the “Directors to Watch” category forWoman of the Hour.
Infuriated by Alcala’s actions, Bachelor Number 2 later warns Alcala that he would like to talk to him after the show ends. Alcala agrees to exchange contact information but hands him a picture of one of the women he murdered instead of giving him his calling card. There were no such real-life accounts of behind-the-scenes interactions between Rodney Alcala and the other contestants fromThe Dating Game. However, his fellow contestant Jed Mills did briefly talk to him backstage where Rodney said he always gets his girl.
2Alcala Did Not Directly Take Monique Hoyt To The Mountains After They First Met
He Took Her To His Apartment Before Driving Her To The Mountains
Woman of the Hour’s Amy is based on Monique Hoyt, a 15-year-old hitchhiker who met Alcala on July 10, 2025. The movie accurately portrays how Alcala took Monique to the mountainous area near Banning, California, and physically abused her. Even the part where Amy escapes from Alcala’s car when he stops at a gas station on their way back to Riverside County closely captures what happened in real life. However, in real life, before Alcala drove Monique to the mountains, he first took her to his apartment, where he sexually assaulted her.
1Laura Is Not Based On A Real Person In Woman Of The Hour
The Movie Introduces The Fictional Character To Double Down On Its Message
Laura, one of the spectators ofThe Dating Game, is introduced as a key player inWoman of the Hour’s overarching story. She takes one look at Rodney Alcala and realizes he murdered her best friend a few years ago. With what follows, she sets out to report how dangerous Rodney is to the game show’s authorities. However, to her dismay, no one seems to take her too seriously. Although completely fictional, her side of the story inWoman of the Hourhighlights the systemic issues that allow dangerous individuals like Alcala to operate unchecked.
Woman of the Hour
Woman of the Hour is a biographical thriller directed by Anna Kendrick, who also stars in the film. The movie chronicles the infamous real-life story of Cheryl Bradshaw’s appearance on the 1978 edition of The Dating Game, where one of the contestants, Rodney Alcala, would later be revealed as a notorious serial killer. The film delves into the chilling intersection of entertainment and true crime.
