‘Woman of the Hour’ is the much-anticipated directorial debut of the talented Anna Kendrick. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, the movie hit the streaming giant Netflix on October 18, 2024. The film follows the chilling true story of the notorious serial killer Rodney Alcala, who remarkably won an episode of ‘The Dating Game’ in 1978 during his killing spree.
The picture brings to life the real characters who crossed paths with Rodney Alcala while he was one of the most wanted men in all of America. ‘Woman of the Hour’ is definitely not 100% accurate, which comes as no surprise, but it still does its best to blend crucial facts with creative elements for dramatization. After all, it’s a movie and not a documentary! So, here’s a guide to the real people behind the film’s characters.
Anna Kendrick as Cheryl Bradshaw
The Real Person: Cheryl Bradshaw was the bachelorette on the infamous 1978 episode of ‘The Dating Game.’ She selected Rodney Alcala as her date but ultimately decided not to go out with him, feeling uncomfortable and uneasy about him. Her instincts likely saved her life, as Alcala was later revealed to be a serial killer.
The Character: Kendrick portrays Bradshaw, focusing on her unsettling encounter with Alcala on national television.
Daniel Zovatto as Rodney Alcala
The Real Person: Rodney Alcala was a serial killer who assaulted and murdered at least seven women between 1977 and 1979. Though convicted of seven murders, investigators suspect his true number of victims could be as high as 130. Despite his horrific crimes, Alcala appeared as a contestant—and won—on ‘The Dating Game’ in 1978.
The Character: Zovatto captures the duality of Alcala: a charming contestant on television and a violent predator in real life.
Tony Hale as Jim Lange (Ed Burke)
The Real Person: Jim Lange was the actual host of ‘The Dating Game’ during the time of Alcala’s appearance. Lange’s role was to facilitate light-hearted interactions between the contestants, unaware of Alcala’s dark past.
The Character: In the film, Tony Hale plays Ed Burke, a character inspired by Lange, guiding the disturbing episode Alcala was part of.
Kathryn Gallagher as Cornelia Crilley (Charlie)
The Real Person: Cornelia Crilley was a 23-year-old flight attendant brutally murdered in her Manhattan apartment in 1971. Though her case went unsolved for years, DNA evidence eventually linked her murder to Alcala while he was on death row.
The Character: Gallagher portrays a version of Crilley, named Charlie in the film, symbolizing the tragic fate of one of Alcala’s earlier victims.
Kelley Jakle as Christine Ruth Thornton (Sarah)
The Real Person: Christine Ruth Thornton disappeared while on a road trip in the 1970s. Her remains were discovered years later in Wyoming, and Alcala’s photos connected him to her murder. She was six months pregnant at the time of her death.
The Character: Jakle portrays Sarah, an embodiment of Thornton’s tragic encounter with Alcala.
Autumn Best as Monique Hoyt (Amy)
The Real Person: Monique Hoyt was a 15-year-old hitchhiker who was brutally assaulted in 1979 after Rodney Alcala lured her under the guise of a photography session. Following her escape, Hoyt reported the crime, which eventually led to Alcala’s arrest and conviction, though she later retreated from public life, only testifying against him during a 2010 trial.
The Character: Best plays Amy, a fictionalized version of Hoyt, who managed to escape Alcala’s deadly grasp.
‘Woman of the Hour’ is streaming on Netflix.
