Netflix fans are loving Woman of The Hour starring Anna Kendrick, based on an entirely real story that saw a serial killer appear on a dating show.
The film has shot up in rankings on Netflix after launching on October 18-skyrocketing to the top spot as fans stream this shocking new drama film.
The true-crime-inspired thriller follows Sheryl (played by Anna Kendrick) an aspiring actress who appears on a dating show and is partnered with a serial killer.
Set in the 70s and based on a true story the film shines a light on misogyny during this time and the women who were tragically murdered.
Although it’s only been out for a couple of days, many have praised the film which marks Kendrick’s directorial debut – highlighting that the sinister film is an ‘incredible’ watch.
‘I loved everything about @AnnaKendrick47’s #WomanOfTheHour. Giving victims a story, letting us know who these women were, was such a beautiful touch. One of my favorite dives into fictionalized true crime,’ said RachelLeishman on X.
‘Highly recommend WOMAN OF THE HOUR. Impressed with McDonald‘s writing bc so many sentences & instances are relatable for women.
‘The people pleasing, babying men to feel safe, trying to stay calm in times of danger, not being believed. Kendrick’s debut is a sharp & tense success,’ said Marisa_Mirabal.
‘Anna Kendrick absolutely smashes in her directional debut in The Woman of the Hour, from now on she’s to be referred as DIRECTOR Anna Kendrick for yall,’ said Starkcanarie.
‘I need anna kendrick to abandon the trolls franchise and start directing more thrillers because holy sh*t woman of the hour was INCREDIBLE!!!’ Lastkissperry added.
The story is based on a real-life story about serial killer Rodney Alcala who appeared on the dating series The Dating Game in the US in 1978.
Acala appeared on the show and was matched with Cheryl Bradshaw during the middle of his killing spree, earning him the nickname The Dating Game killer.
The serial murderer killed his first victim in 1977 and killed five more people over the next two years, with his spree estimated to have taken place over 11 years from 1968 until 1979.
He was sentenced to death in California, but spent his life in prison for five murders. Acala was linked to a total of eight murders, with some suspicions that the true number could be in the hundreds.
It was thought that he raped and tortured his victims, often resuscitating them after strangling them to death in order to ‘toy with them’.
Acala died in California in 2021 from natural causes at the age of 77.
The film is a dramatisation of real-life events and there has been some criticism that the movie is not entirely accurate to the events that took place.
For example, Sheryl is based on the real person Cheryl Bradshaw – but her story is not a true reflection of the real-life person.
Similarly, in the film Acala brags about going to university with director Roman Polanski, but there is no evidence that this is true.
In the film, Sheryl also decides to ask the bachelors her own questions on the show – rather than the sexist ones selected by producers – creators of the show have said this was Kendrick’s decision while directing to flesh out her character Sheryl.