Five chilling Rodney Alcala facts that were left out of Netflix's Woman of the Hour

Serial killer Rodney Alcala, known as the Dating Game Killer is the subject of Netflix's latest true crime film Woman of the Hour, but it doesn't tell viewers everything

*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.

Alcala, who was eventually labelled The Dating Game killer, is infamous for having murdered at least eight women, although it's believed the actual count could be significantly higher.

His nickname stems from his appearance on the popular American gameshow 'The Dating Game', during which he won a date with contestant Cheryl Bradshaw at the height of his killing spree. The story is retold in Woman of the Hour, a new Netflix film starring and directed by Anna Kendrick.

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

Alcala was on the FBI's most wanted list

The film opens and concludes with two of Alcala's most horrifying crimes. As shown in the opening scene of the film, Alcala murdered Christine Thornton in 1977, who was indeed six months pregnant at the time, as suggested through the character's dialogue.

The film's closing moments relate to the assault of then 15 year old Monique Hoyt, whom Alcala picked up while she was hitchhiking in February 1979. As depicted in the film, Hoyt managed to escape while her attacker used a petrol station bathroom, and she subsequently alerted the police.

The capture of the notorious murderer wasn't as dramatic as one might expect. As indicated in the on-screen text, he was released on bail, but a detail not revealed is that it was Alcala's mother who posted it.

Moreover, Alcala had been on the FBI's most wanted list since 1971, six years before the events depicted in Woman of the Hour. In 1968, he was incarcerated for sexually and physically assaulting an eight year old girl, but was paroled in 1976 after serving two years.

No one recognised Rodney Alcala on TV

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

This audience member is portrayed as a friend of Georgia Marie Wixted, a nurse found dead in her Miami flat in 1977. But contrary to the film's narrative, her friend did not discover her; they reported her missing, and police found the body along with signs of forced entry into her home.

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

Cheryl Bradshaw knew Alcala was 'creepy' before drinks

In the film, Anna Kendrick's character is seen sharing a drink with Alcala at a cocktail bar immediately after the show's filming. This leads to some incredibly uncomfortable scenes, leaving viewers 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 reservations about the date much sooner than the film suggests.

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

The dramatic arrest

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

Following his appearance on The Dating Game, he murdered 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 vanished.

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

Rodney Alcala's victim photos

The film portrays Alcala with a camera, often discussing photography and even taking pictures of his victims. This is accurate, as it was reportedly the method he used to lure most of his victims.

However, the film doesn't mention that authorities discovered hundreds of photos in Alcala's grim collection in a storage locker, suggesting there could be more victims. In 2010, some of these photos were made public by authorities, hoping that friends and family of those pictured could identify them and possibly help determine their fate.

The New York City Police Department released 120 photos but withheld approximately 900 due to their explicit nature. Christine Thornton, whose murder is depicted in the opening scene, was identified after these pictures were released.

Her body was found in 1982, five years after her death, but she wasn't identified until 2015.

Woman of the Hour is now streaming on Netflix