The captivating Netflix film, "Woman of the Hour," masterfully helmed by Anna Kendrick, delves into the chilling true tale of a notorious serial killer who brazenly appeared on a prime-time dating show amidst his gruesome spree. This is the story of Rodney Alcala, infamously known as the "Dating Game Killer," whose sinister deeds were concealed beneath a charming facade.
In 1978, Alcala stepped onto the stage of a Blind Date-inspired television program, masquerading as a eligible bachelor, little knowing that he was already two years away from being convicted for the brutal murder of a 12-year-old innocent girl. His reign of terror, spanning from 1971 to 1979 across New York, California, and Wyoming, claimed eight confirmed victims, yet whispers whisper of an even more sinister tally—over 100 women and girls whose lives he mercilessly extinguished.
Alcala, a predator disguised as a fashion photographer, lured his targets with flattery and the promise of a photographic shoot. These seemingly harmless encounters were but the prelude to his sinister intentions. In 1980, he was handed a death sentence for the heinous crime of murdering Robin Samsoe, a young girl whose life was tragically cut short. However, the wheels of justice turned, and his sentence was overturned twice by the California Supreme Court, granting him new trials, only to see him sentenced to death again, only for it to be overturned yet again in 2003.
As investigators delved deeper, forensic evidence emerged, tying Alcala to more unsolved murders across California. The tide turned definitively in 2010, when he was convicted not just of Samsoe's murder but also of four additional femicides, their ages ranging from 18 to 32, occurring between 1977 and 1979.
Despite his heinous crimes, Alcala dared to pen a book titled "You, the Jury" while incarcerated in 1994, insisting on his innocence, a desperate attempt to sway public opinion. But the law would not be swayed. In 2012, he faced justice in New York, extradited there to answer for two more murders from 1971 and 1977. There, he admitted his guilt and was sentenced to 25 years to life behind bars.
Even in the twilight of his days, Alcala's legacy of evil persisted. In 2016, fresh charges surfaced, accusing him of the 1977 murder of Christine Ruth Thornton, a woman whose image was eerily discovered amidst his photographs, providing yet another chilling link to his reign of terror. Alcala's life ended in prison in 2021, but the memory of his heinous deeds lingers on, forever immortalized in the pages of history and now, on the silver screen, in the gripping narrative of "Woman of the Hour."
In the year 2021, at the age of 77, Alcala peacefully passed away due to natural causes, surrounded by the clinical ambiance of a hospital nestled near the ominous Corcoran State Prison in California. Retrospectively, he earned the infamous moniker of "The Dating Game Killer," stemming from his nefarious television debut amidst a string of shocking murders.
Back in September 1978, Alcala, a man of towering stature, disarming charm, and unsuspected darkness, stepped onto the stage of The Dating Game, an American TV sensation reminiscent of the UK's Blind Date. The show's premise revolved around a sole female contestant posing queries to three suitors, visible to the audience but veiled from her gaze. At the end of each episode, hearts fluttered as she chose her date based on their witty replies. Ironically, Alcala's charm and looks, unchecked by thorough background investigations, propelled him to victory.
Cheryl Bradshaw, the lucky lady of that fateful episode, chose Alcala amidst the anticipation. However, their encounter took a chilling turn backstage, where Bradshaw detected an eerie aura, prompting her to abandon the date. This intuitive decision arguably spared her from a grim fate.
The original episode, now but a fleeting memory, lingers online in fragmented form, a testament to a bygone era.
Meanwhile, Woman of the Hour unfolds in 1977, painting a chilling portrait of Alcala as he lures Sarah, an unsuspecting woman, into divulging intimate details against the backdrop of Wyoming's remote mountains. The tone shifts abruptly as Alcala's true colors reveal, transforming from charm to cruelty as he violently attacks her, setting the stage for his predatory pattern with other women.
The film weaves a nonlinear narrative, exploring various threads centered on distinct victims. The graphic violence of the murders remains off-screen, instead focusing on the initial encounters and the ominous moments preceding them.
A substantial chunk delves into the day of The Dating Game's taping, where Anna Kendrick, not only directs but also portrays Bradshaw with nuanced finesse. This artistic endeavor, grounded in real events, indulges in creative liberties. For instance, Bradshaw defies convention, asking spontaneous questions, imbuing the film with a feminist spirit absent from the reality. The fictitious date between Bradshaw and Alcala further expands the narrative, imagining a tense encounter in a bar followed by a confrontation in a car park, despite their real-life encounter never transcending beyond the show's conclusion.
One of Alcala's victims, Monique Hoyt, miraculously escapes his clutches, her story beautifully woven into the film's fabric. As a 15-year-old posing for pictures in a secluded mountain area, Hoyt fell victim to Alcala's assault. With remarkable cunning, she feigned acquiescence, luring him into a false sense of security before fleeing at a gas station, ultimately securing her freedom.
Kendrick's foray into directing, though unexpected by some, stems from personal experiences that resonate deeply with the film's themes. Her distinctive wit and mastery of Hitchcockian suspense shine through, crafting a compelling narrative that questions the illusion of safety amidst the pursuit of love.
Critics have received Woman of the Hour with mixed reviews, some applauding Kendrick's directorial debut while others noting room for improvement. Nonetheless, the film stands as a poignant reminder of the dangers lurking beneath the veneer of charm, a testament to the resilience of those who survive against all odds.
