How ‘Woman of the Hour’ Decided Which Rodney Alcala Murders to Depict on Screen and the Level of Violence They Should Show

As a film enthusiast with a penchant for true crime stories that resonate deeply and leave a lasting impact, I must say “Woman of the Hour” has certainly piqued my interest. The tale of Rodney Alcala, a charismatic yet chilling serial killer who won “The Dating Game,” is not only stranger-than-fiction but also seems to offer valuable insights into our contemporary culture.

ATTENTION: The following narrative may reveal some minor plot points about “Woman of the Hour,” which is currently available to stream on Netflix.

In his second screenplay, “Woman of the Hour” writer Ian McDonald encountered an unusual task – to portray a genuine crime story that seemed both essential and beneficial. Fortunately, the bizarre true tale of Rodney Alcala, who happened to win “The Dating Game” while on a murderous rampage in 1978, provided a rich opportunity for exploration.

McDonald expresses that there are numerous stories about serial killers targeting women, but this one seemed particularly relevant in today’s social and cultural context. People might compare Rodney to Ted Bundy because they both have good looks and education, but McDonald points out that they were quite different. Rodney was a master of disguise, able to convincingly portray himself as something he wasn’t. This intrigued McDonald, as it highlighted the role culture played in overlooking such deception, enabling him.

Under Anna Kendrick’s direction and starring as Cheryl, an actress who selects Alcala on a reality show, the movie made its premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival to critical acclaim and debuted on Netflix on Oct. 18. Just a few days later, it finds itself leading Netflix’s most-watched movies list, suggesting that its blend of captivating narrative and unique storytelling techniques has resonated with viewers.

McDonald emphasized the significance of deciding which victim encounters to depict in the script, considering that Alcala could potentially be linked to as many as 130 deaths.

“That was the thing that changed the most throughout developing this,” he says. “It was less about ‘Which victim do we want to write about in terms of the person?’ and more that how you open and close a movie says so much about the film’s intentions thematically, and has a massive dramatic impact. You can do it chronologically, where you start with his earliest murder, and then move to his most recent. You can do it thematically and find specific events that you feel build upon each other in a revealing way, or based around character. How does each crime reveal something new about the killer? It was a cross between those last two — that’s kind of where we landed.”

How ‘Woman of the Hour’ Decided Which Rodney Alcala Murders to Depict on Screen and the Level of Violence They Should Show

In their reenactment, McDonald and Kendrick purposefully avoid excessive violence, yet they refrain from glossing over the truly heinous nature of McDonald’s crimes.

I struggled with any scenes of violence in this film because it’s not like ‘Seven,’ a movie I admire greatly. However, since this is a true crime story, we have to remember that these were real people who suffered, leaving their families behind. It’s crucial to portray the killer truthfully and darkly, without being excessive. This is a delicate balance, one I took very seriously. There was a lot of adjusting lines, removing others – fine-tuning the narrative to ensure every detail was included.

Empathy for the victims echoed throughout the perspective of the script, with characters interacting with Alcala’s increasingly disturbing nice-guy facade. A notable scene, where Cheryl departs from a bar with Alcala only to walk away while he follows casually behind, was penned with empathy by McDonald.

As a passionate cinephile, I can relate when characters find themselves in tricky scenarios, often with other males. You know those moments when the atmosphere shifts unexpectedly, becoming awkward and even potentially menacing. I’ve experienced my fair share of unsettling situations, and it’s these experiences that I could somewhat draw upon to add authenticity. However, it’s crucial to remember that these scenarios are not identical due to my physical stature – being 6’1″ and weighing 200 pounds.

Apart from their collaborative work, McDonald shared that Kendrick was equally involved in delving into the movie’s main ideas together with him.

“There was one scene between the hitchhiker and Rodney,” McDonald says. “Anna looked at the script and said, ‘I really like that you’re writing her with so much agency, but you need to give her less, because right now she’s being really forthright and kind of combative with him. The truth is we have to do this little dance where we are polite and we placate, but without contradicting them.’ At that point, you just listen to people who have experiences you don’t, and try to be honest and make sure it finds its way into the document.”

Watch the “Woman of the Hour” trailer below.

2024-10-22 02:16

How ‘Woman of the Hour’ Decided Which Rodney Alcala Murders to Depict on Screen and the Level of Violence They Should Show

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