Five things Woman of the Hour gets wrong about Dating Game killer (2024)

*Warning: Contains spoilers for Woman of the Hour*

Netflix's latest true crime offering delves into how notorious serial killer Rodney Alcala came to be known by his chilling moniker.

Eventually labelled The Dating Game killer, Alcala is infamous for the murder of at least eight women, although it's believed the actual tally could be significantly higher.

His nickname was derived from his appearance on the well-known American gameshow of the same name during his killing spree, where he secured a date with contestant Cheryl Bradshaw. This tale is recounted in Woman of the Hour, which stars and is directed by Anna Kendrick.

However, as is often the case with films or TV series based on real-life events, there are certain details about the genuine killer Rodney Alcala that the film doesn't disclose, reports Lancs Live.

Alcala was on the FBI's most wanted list

The film begins and ends with two of Alcala's distinct and equally horrifying crimes. As portrayed in the opening scene of the film, Alcala killed Christine Thornton in 1977, who was indeed six months pregnant at the time, as suggested through the character's dialogue.

Conversely, the final moments of the movie relate to the attack on then 15-year-old Monique Hoyt, whom Alcala picked up while she was hitchhiking in February 1979. As depicted in the film, Hoyt did indeed manage to escape while her assailant used a petrol station toilet, and she subsequently alerted the police.

Alcala wasn't dramatically apprehended, but as the on-screen text suggests, he was released on bail. What it doesn't disclose is that Alcala's mother was the one who posted his bail. Alcala also made it on to the FBI's most wanted list in 1971, six years before Woman of the Hour's story begins.

In 1968, he was jailed for sexually and physically assaulting an eight year old girl, but was paroled in 1976 after serving a two-year sentence.

No one recognised Rodney Alcala on TV

In the film, an audience member suddenly walks out of the studio as The Dating Game contestants are introduced.

As the filming of The Dating Game progresses in the film and the contestants are introduced, one audience member suddenly leaves. They react dramatically to seeing Alcala on stage, intercut with images of a body in a beachfront flat.

This audience member is meant to be a friend of Georgia Marie Wixted, a nurse found dead in her Miami flat in 1977. Contrary to what the film suggests, her friend didn't find her; they reported her missing, and police discovered the body along with signs of forced entry into her home.

In truth, there's no proof of anyone recognising Alcala on television, either during filming or when it aired. It seems that the film uses this moment to highlight how the killer managed to elude authorities for such a long time.

Cheryl Bradshaw knew Alcala was 'creepy' before drinks

Anna Kendrick's character is seen sharing a drink with Alcala at a cocktail bar immediately after the filming of the show. This leads to some incredibly uncomfortable moments, leaving us to ponder about the potential horror that could have unfolded in the car park.

In reality, Bradshaw, who was indeed an actress, was encouraged to participate in the show for publicity. However, she had doubts about the date much earlier than the film suggests.

Considering that The Dating Game recorded three episodes consecutively, which meant three bachelorettes and nine bachelors were wandering around the studio along with staff and crew, it's unlikely they met at the studio entrance. Instead, Bradshaw reached out to one of the show's producers the next day, expressing her inability to go on the date as she found him 'creepy'. The producer was very supportive of her decision.

How Alcala was actually apprehended

The film ends with his dramatic arrest, but notes that Alcala was back on the streets shortly thereafter.

After his appearance on The Dating Game, he killed at least three more women, including 12 year old Robin Samsoe in Los Angeles in June 1979. Her friends informed the police that a stranger had approached them offering to take photos before she disappeared.

A sketch was created and Alcala's parole officer identified him. This time, he was arrested and held without bail. Alcala would eventually receive three death sentences for his crimes in 1980, 1986 and 2010.

There are hundreds of photos of potential victims

Throughout the film, Alcala is depicted with a camera, discussing photography and even capturing images of his victims. This is all true and was reportedly the method the murderer used to entice most of his victims.

However, while the film acknowledges the potential for more victims, it doesn't mention that authorities found hundreds upon hundreds of photos as part of Alcala's grim collection in a storage locker.

In 2010, some of these photographs were made public by authorities in the hope that friends and family of those pictured could identify them and, if relevant, help determine their fate. The New York City Police Department released 120 photos but held back approximately 900, considering them too sexually explicit.

Christine Thornton, whose murder forms the opening scene, was one such victim identified after the pictures were released. Although her body was discovered in 1982, five years after her death, she wasn't identified until 2015.

Woman of the Hour is now streaming on Netflix