7 Shocking Facts About The True Story Behind 'Woman Of The Hour' And The Dating Game Killer

Is *Woman of the Hour* based on a true story? The answer is a resounding, and chilling, yes. The Netflix film, which premiered in late 2023, is a tense, unsettling, and meticulously crafted dramatization of one of the most bizarre and terrifying episodes in American true crime history: the moment a notorious serial killer appeared as a charming contestant on a beloved television game show. The movie, which also marks Anna Kendrick's directorial debut, focuses on the 1978 appearance of Rodney Alcala—the man who would become known as "The Dating Game Killer"—on the popular show *The Dating Game*. The film is a powerful testament to the intuition of the bachelorette, Cheryl Bradshaw, who, against all odds, sensed danger and ultimately saved her own life. This article, updated for December 2025, dives deep into the verified facts, the creative liberties taken, and the horrifying full scope of Rodney Alcala's crimes.

The Man Behind the Smile: Rodney Alcala's Chilling Biography and Profile

The true story of *Woman of the Hour* centers on Rodney James Alcala, a man who successfully masked a dark, predatory nature behind a façade of charm and intelligence. His appearance on national television in 1978 remains a shocking example of evil hiding in plain sight.

Full Name: Rodney James Alcala
Aliases: The Dating Game Killer, John Berger
Born: August 23, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas
Died: July 24, 2021, at age 77, in a California prison
Education: Graduated from UCLA with a degree in art, studied film at New York University (NYU)
Occupation: Photographer, clerk, serial killer
Modus Operandi (MO): Luring victims, often young women and girls, by offering to take their photograph. His attacks frequently involved rape, strangulation (often non-fatal before the fatal attack), and posing the bodies.
Known Victims (Convictions): Jill Barcomb, Georgia Wixted, Charlotte Lamb, Jill Parenteau, Enid Alcaraz, Pamela Lambson, and 12-year-old Robin Samsoe.
Estimated Total Victims: Law enforcement officials believe Alcala may have killed as many as 130 people across California, New York, and other states.

Alcala's criminal career began long before his game show appearance. His first documented attack was the brutal assault and kidnapping of 8-year-old Tali Shapiro in 1968, for which he served a short sentence. By the time he walked onto the set of *The Dating Game*, he was already a wanted fugitive and a suspected killer, having committed several other heinous acts.

Fact vs. Fiction: What *Woman of the Hour* Changed from the True Events

As with most films "based on a true story," *Woman of the Hour* took necessary creative liberties for narrative flow and dramatic effect. However, the core, terrifying truth of the story remains intact. Understanding the differences is key to appreciating both the film and the reality.

1. The Bachelorette's Name and Intuition

• The Movie: The bachelorette is portrayed by Anna Kendrick as a young woman with a sharp, almost immediate sense of unease about "Bachelor Number 1."
• The Reality: The real bachelorette was Cheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress. She did choose Alcala (Bachelor No. 1) as her date based on his smooth, witty answers. However, her intuition kicked in immediately after the show. When they met backstage, she found him "creepy" and "gave off bad vibes." She famously refused to go on the date, telling a producer, "I can’t go out with this guy. He’s weird. I’ve changed my mind."

2. The Date Prize and Location

• The Movie: The winning date is often depicted as a romantic trip, possibly to a scenic location like Carmel (as mentioned in some fictionalized accounts).
• The Reality: The actual prize was a tennis lesson with a celebrity and a chaperoned dinner. The filmmakers likely changed this to a more isolated, romantic getaway to heighten the sense of danger and the stakes of Cheryl's refusal. This change is a clear example of dramatic license to serve the thriller genre.

3. Alcala's Photography as a Weapon

• The Movie: The film subtly (or not so subtly) highlights Alcala's obsession with photography, showing him with a camera.
• The Reality: This detail is tragically accurate. Alcala, who had a degree in art, used his camera and the lure of a photoshoot to approach and gain the trust of many of his victims. After his arrest, police found a storage locker containing more than 1,000 photographs of young women and girls, many of whom have never been identified, suggesting a far greater number of victims.

The Full Scope of Alcala's Reign of Terror: The "Dating Game" as a Timeline Marker

The appearance on *The Dating Game* in 1978 was merely a brief, public stop in a decade-long crime spree. The true story's horror lies not just in the close call of Cheryl Bradshaw, but in the dozens of lives Alcala ruthlessly extinguished.

The Robin Samsoe Case and Alcala's Downfall

Rodney Alcala was eventually convicted of the 1979 kidnapping and murder of Robin Samsoe, a 12-year-old girl in Huntington Beach, California. This case was pivotal. Alcala was initially convicted in 1980, but the conviction was overturned on appeal. He was tried and convicted again in 1986, and again, the conviction was overturned. It wasn't until 2010 that a jury finally convicted him of five murders: the aforementioned Robin Samsoe, along with four women murdered between 1977 and 1979: Jill Barcomb, Georgia Wixted, Charlotte Lamb, and Jill Parenteau. DNA evidence was instrumental in linking him to the crimes after decades of legal wrangling.

The Unidentified Victims and the Photography Cache

The most chilling aspect of Alcala's legacy is the sheer number of potential victims. The cache of over 1,000 photographs found in his Seattle storage unit led to a nationwide effort to identify the women in the pictures. While many were eventually identified as being alive and well, others remain a mystery, fueling the belief that Alcala's victim count could be over a hundred. This element gives the film a profound sense of topical authority, highlighting the hidden dangers of the time and the predatory nature of serial killers. The full timeline of his documented crimes includes: * 1968: Kidnapping and assault of Tali Shapiro. * 1971: Arrest for a different crime, leading to a brief prison stint. * 1977-1979: The period encompassing the murders of the five victims for which he was eventually convicted in California. * 1978: Appearance on *The Dating Game*. * 2005: DNA links Alcala to the cold cases. * 2010: Convicted of five murders in Orange County, California. * 2013: Pleaded guilty to two murders in New York—Ellen Hover and Cornelia Crilley. * 2021: Died of natural causes while on Death Row at the age of 77.

The Lasting Impact and Why *Woman of the Hour* Resonates Today

The true story behind *Woman of the Hour* serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the illusion of safety and the importance of trusting one's instincts. Cheryl Bradshaw's decision to refuse the date, based on a gut feeling she couldn't articulate, saved her life and potentially others. The film's exploration of this event, framed through the lens of a true crime thriller, allows modern audiences to grapple with the reality that serial killers are often not the movie monsters of fiction, but seemingly normal, even charming, individuals. The contrast between the lighthearted, kitschy atmosphere of *The Dating Game* and the darkness lurking in one of its contestants is what makes this story so uniquely terrifying and why Anna Kendrick's film has resonated so strongly with viewers. It is a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that lurk in everyday life, and a tribute to the power of intuition that saved a woman from the clutches of a monster.