Warning! This post contains spoilers for Woman of the Hour.
This post contains mentions of sexual assault, murder, and the real-life violent crimes of Rodney Alcala.
Woman of the hour Stays true to many elements of Rodney Alcala’s serial killer story, but also doesn’t shy away from taking some creative liberties. Marking Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, Woman of the hour is not just a timeline of the real-life murders of Rodney Alcala. Instead, it captures several segments of his story that not only highlight the vicious nature of his crimes, but also depict how everyday sexism allowed him to enter a dating game show and get away with many murders.
Anna Kendrick’s direction ensures that Woman of the hour Primarily unfolds from the perspectives of the women who crossed paths with the serial killer. However, for all its realism and emotional weight, the Netflix true-crime thriller also 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. The creative choices do not diminish the impact of Woman of the hours overarching message. However, it is worth exploring how actually accurate the portrayal of the funny true story of Anna Kendrick movie is.
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Woman of the Hour changes the names of several real-life people
Even the main character’s name is spelled differently
The film’s main character, played by Anna Kendrick, is based on Cheryl Bradshaw, who met Rodney Alcala in The dating game Show. However, in this movie, Cheryl’s name is intentionally spelled as “Sherrill“ Because it takes many creative liberties with its depiction of its history. Even THe dating games boss in Woman of the hour is named Ed Burke, when the name of the show’s actual host was Jim Lange. In one of his timelines, Woman of the hour Also depicts Monique Hoyt’s meeting with Rodney Alcala. The character based on Monique Hoyt is named Amy in the story of the movie.
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The real Rodney Alcala’s answers in the dating game are creepy from the start
His early answers may have raised Cheryl Bradshaw’s suspicions
in Woman of the hourRodney Alcala sways Cheryl and the audience with his charm and clever answers to all questions. However, during the events of the real Dating game episode, his answers seemed off-putting from the start. When Cheryl Bradshaw asked, “I am serving you for dinner. What is your name and what do you look like?” Alcala replied creepily, “I call the banana and I look good,“add”Peel me“To his reply (by ABC News).
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The real Cheryl Bradshaw and Rodney Alcala did not meet after the dating game
The movie’s depiction of their meeting is completely fictional
Sheryl meets Rodney again after wrapping up filming for The Dating game Episode in Woman of the hours endless arc. Although the two are supposed to wait for the show to arrange a holiday date for them, Rodney convinces Cheryl to go out on a date with him that same night. Things start well between them, but Cheryl gradually gets uncomfortable around Rodney.
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Woman of the Hour’s Main Cast & Characters |
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Actor |
Role |
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Anna Kendrick |
Cheryl Bradshaw |
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Daniel Zovatto |
Rodney Alcala |
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Nicolette Robinson |
Laura |
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Autumn best |
Amy |
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Tony Hale |
Ed Burke |
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Kathryn Gallagher |
Charlie |
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Pete Holmes |
Terry |
Cheryl even rejects him and tells him she doesn’t want to see him again. Rodney doesn’t handle the rejection too well and almost gets violent with her, but he’s forced to let Cheryl go to avoid attention. In real life, Cheryl Bradshaw and Rodney Alcala never met after the show. Although Rodney Alcala won his date with Cheryl, she later refused to go out with him.
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No dating game contestant warned Cheryl Bradshaw about Rodney Alcala
Cheryl Bradshaw rejects Rodney Alcala based on her own judgment
When guy number 2 finally meets Sheryl at the end of the show Woman of the hourHe secretly warns you to be careful about Rodney Alcala before you leave the stage. His warning gives you an early heads-up that something is not right about Alcala. The warning seems to later play a crucial role in convincing Cheryl that she should not go on a date with the winner of the show.
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In real life, there is no account of such an interaction between Cheryl Bradshaw and a contestant. Bradshaw drew on her own instincts and feelings about Alcala’s answers before dismissing him. However, according to reports (via JH Moncrieff) actor Jed Mills, who was also a contestant on the show, called Alcala a “Very funny guy“with”Strange opinions.“
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Cheryl Bradshaw canceled her date with Rodney Alcala over a phone call
Her instinct seemingly saved her life
Unlike the movie, where Sheryl and Rodney were supposed to go on vacation, the real Cheryl Bradshaw and Rodney Alcala scheduled a tennis match day after the film. However, after meeting with Alcala, Bradshaw called contestant coordinator Ellen Metzger to inform her that she wanted to leave the date. “I can’t go out with this guy, there are weird vibes coming off him. He is very funny. I’m not comfortable” she said (via ABC News), clearly expressing how being around him made her feel uneasy.
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Woman of the Hour imagines most elements of Cheryl Bradshaw’s acting backstory
Most aspects of Cheryl Bradshaw’s background remain unknown
Before woman of the hours credits begin rolling, its epilogue reveals that Cheryl Bradshaw quit acting shortly after appearing in The dating game And went to live a private life. Due 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 of Woman of the hourThe portrayal of Bradshaw’s early struggles as an actress may be true.
you [Sheryl’s] Backstory in Woman of the hour Adds more heft to the film’s overarching themes around 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 is “Sherrill” is primarily a fictionalized version of the real Cheryl Bradshaw. Her backstory in Woman of the hour Adds more heft to the film’s overarching themes around casual misogyny in workplaces and the dangers faced by women in male-dominated work environments.
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The real Rodney Alcala is not bachelor number 3 in the dating game
His cue number in the actual show was different
Alcala is described as “Bachelor number 3“In Woman of the hours The dating game Show. 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 wittier than the other two contestants. Although Alcala also managed to win the real life show, he was “Bachelor number 1“When he appeared in The dating game episode.
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Rodney Alcala’s backstage interactions with other dating game contestants are significantly different
Rodney Alcala did not reveal pictures of victims to another contestant
“Bachelor number 2” And Rodney Alcala become increasingly competitive in the Anna Kendrick movie. During a filming break, Alcala even confronts the contestant by claiming that he always gets the girl. He even exposes the contestant for implying that “Bra sizes are a prerequisite for a meaningful relationship.“
Outraged by Alcala’s actions, Guy Number 2 later warns Alcala that he would like to speak to him after the show ends. Alcala agrees to exchange contact information but gives 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 of The dating game. However, his fellow contestant Jed Mills briefly spoke to him backstage where Rodney said he always gets his girl.
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Alcala didn’t immediately take Monique Hoyt to the mountains after they first met
He took her to his residence before driving her to the mountains
Woman of the hourAmy’s is based on Monique Hoyt, a 15-year-old hitchhiker who met Alcala on February 14, 1979. The movie accurately depicts 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 the way back to Riverside County, strongly 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.
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Laura is not based on a real person in Woman of the Hour
The movie introduced the fictional character to double down on his message
Laura, one of the spectators of The dating gameis introduced as a key player in Woman of the hours overarching story. She takes one look at Rodney Alcala and realizes that he killed her best friend a few years ago. With what follows, she plans to report how dangerous Rodney is to the game show authorities. But, to her dismay, no one seems to take her too seriously. Although completely fictional, her side of the story in Woman of the hour Highlights the systemic issues that allow dangerous people like Alcala to operate unchecked.