"Woman of the Hour," directed by and starring Anna Kendrick, is based on the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala competing on a dating show.

The main reason for that is Anna Kendrick, who makes a formidable, clear-eyed directorial debut in addition to playing Bradshaw. Using plenty of her own career experiences, Kendrick presents Bradshaw’s story as a grimly common one of pervasive,

That simply cannot be true” is the reaction many will have to the narrative centerpiece of Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, “Woman of the Hour.” And yet: On a 1978 episode of “The Dating Game,” one of the “eligible bachelors” was a serial killer in the midst of a murder spree.

The haunting true story of Seventies killer Rodney Alcala is given the Netflix treatment – but it’s a touch too glossy to feel genuine

In "Woman of the Hour," Anna Kendrick plays Cheryl Bradshaw, a plucky young actress trying to make it in Hollywood. She's going out for auditions but not having much luck when she lands herself a gig: appearing as a guest on "The Dating Game.