True crime is a very popular genre that includes books, TV shows, podcasts, documentaries, and movies.
In the US, 41% of people watch true crime on TV, according to YouGov.
A new Netflix original movie in this genre has left viewers shaken by its events.
Fans have praised the film.
One person wrote: “Not even horror films have scared me as much as this one did. It’s truly terrifying being a woman in this world.”
Another added: “This film is so good, so well-crafted, and so thought-provoking. It’s almost unbelievable how well it tells a compelling story with imagery.”
A third viewer said: “This movie scared the s*** out of me. Even more so since it’s based on a true story. The acting is amazing and makes it a lot more unsettling.”
Actress Anna Kendrick made her directing debut with this Netflix original movie.
The 39-year-old actress is known for her roles in films like the Pitch Perfect series, A Simple Favor, and the Twilight saga.
Kendrick not only directed the movie but also played the lead role.
She spoke to The Wrap about how she prepared to make a movie based on a true story.
“So I did a lot of research,” she said. “A lot of it was just me and a subscription to Newspapers.com — was very, you know, low-budget film vibes.”
“The prosecutor [on the case] really made himself available as a resource to me, which was incredibly generous. And there are so many details that felt incredibly moving and haunting that we wanted to keep in the film,” Kendrick added.
The movie also stars Daniel Zovatto, known for It Follows and Ladybird.
The film has received a strong 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.7 on IMDb.
Critics have praised the movie as well.
Kevin Maher from The Times says it’s “a fiercely committed depiction of murder and misogyny in 1970s America.”
Jake Coyle from The Associated Press writes: “Kendrick’s achievement is in capturing, from a woman’s point of view, just how hard it can be to pick a serial killer out of an all-male line-up.”
Nick Schager from The Daily Beast reviews it as “a true-crime thriller that also operates as a damning commentary on societal misogyny—especially in Hollywood—it’s as chillingly sharp and canny as its deranged fiend.”
Netflix’s description of the movie says: “An aspiring actress crosses paths with a prolific serial killer in ’70s LA when they’re cast on an episode of The Dating Game. Based on a true story.”
The movie tells the story of Rodney Alcala, who became known as the “Dating Game Killer.”
Alcala appeared as a bachelor on the dating show in 1978, two years before he was convicted of murdering a 12-year-old girl.
Alcala would lure women by pretending to be a photographer, often flattering them and asking to take their pictures.
The premise of The Dating Game was that a single woman would ask questions to three potential dates who could be seen by the audience but not by her. The contestants wouldn’t meet face-to-face until she picked one.
Matt Murphy, a former homicide prosecutor on the Alcala case, told The Guardian: “It speaks to the narcissism, the arrogance of psychopaths. He’s in the middle of a murder spree and he went on The Dating Game and he was selected.”
Alcala was chosen as the winner by contestant Cheryl Bradshaw.
He appeared charming on the show, and a now-infamous photo captures his reaction after winning.
However, Bradshaw didn’t go on the date with Alcala because a conversation backstage left her feeling uncomfortable. That decision saved her life.
Ellen Metzger, the contestant coordinator, told ABC News that Bradshaw called her to cancel the date, saying, “There’s weird vibes that are coming off him. He’s very strange. I am not comfortable.”
Bradshaw later told Alan Warren, author of The Killing Game: The True Story of Rodney Alcala: “When they were both standing there on the break behind the scenes. She got chills and shivers and she thought there’s something off about him. She thought this guy’s weird.”
After his TV appearance, Alcala committed at least three more murders before being arrested on July 24, 1979.
He was sentenced to death for eight murders across New York, California, and Wyoming between 1971 and 1979, though he is suspected of killing over 100 women and girls.
Alcala died of natural causes in 2021 at age 77 in a hospital near California’s Corcoran State Prison.
Zovatto, who plays Alcala in the film, spoke to Comic Book Resources about his experience playing the serial killer.
“I think Rodney’s like a lion playing with his prey. He’s not just going for the kill and that’s it,” he said.
“He was addicted to this power and being God for the next hour or two. He thought, ‘I’m going to choke you, and I’m going to let you come back to life.’ There was so much of that disgusting behavior that he loved.”
“He loved doing that to his victims and feeling like he controlled their lives. Their lives were in the palm of his hand.” Zavatto continued.
Kendrick told Rolling Stone how important it was to accurately show the killer’s crimes on screen, saying, “He kept trophies, usually jewelry, the mental image of him, in the aftermath of violating and brutally killing a person.”
“Taking the time to remove a delicate piece of jewelry, haunts me. He preserved them for years. He treated an earring with more respect than a human being.”
Woman of Hour is now streaming on Netflix.
