An upcoming Netflix film inspired by a horrifying true story is causing viewers to re-examine a shocking episode of a dating game show in which a woman likely narrowly avoided death.
Hardcore fans of dating shows can often treat them as if they are a matter of life and death, however in this case, that was literally true.
The upcoming film, Woman of the Hour, will see Anna Kendrick make her directorial debut while also starring.
Kendrick will play Cheryl Bradshaw, the woman who narrowly avoided death on the American show called The Dating Game.
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Bradshaw appeared on the show in September 1978, after receiving word she had been selected to be a bachelorette in the show.
She would speak to three men without seeing their faces, and pick one lucky suitor to take her out on a date.
She ended up selecting ‘bachelor number one’, which turned out to be a man by the name of Rodney Alcala.
Producers of the show did not carry out a background check on Alcala, who was a convicted child predator and serial killer.
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At the time Alcala appeared on the show as a secret bachelor, he had already killed at least two women.
He had also served three years in prison for beating and raping an eight-year-old child.
Despite this, he was able to charm Bradshaw on the show with his sense of humour.
After he won, Bradshaw eventually pulled out of a potential date with the man, not knowing at the time that this almost certainly saved her life.
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Following this rejection, Alcala carried out a horrific murder spree, leading one police officer to dub him a ‘killing machine’.
It is estimated that Alcala killed over 100 women, and was eventually caught after the brutal murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in 1979.
After meeting Alcala face to face, she decided to cancel their upcoming date.
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According to an interview with the Sydney Telegraph in 2012, Bradshaw said: 'I started to feel ill'.
“He was acting really creepy. I turned down his offer. I didn’t want to see him again.”
She reportedly called up producer Ellen Metzger and said: “There’s weird vibes that are coming off of him. He’s very strange. I am not comfortable. Is that going to be a problem?"
Thankfully, the producers didn't make Bradshaw go through with the date or else she almost certainly would have been killed.
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Alcala was sentenced to death for his numerous murders in 2010, but died on death row of natural causes in 2021.
The Netflix film focusing on the true story releases October 18, and has received rave reviews so far.
It currently has a score of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, while Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com has dubbed it 'a confidently made thriller that’s not just a true crime story but an unpacking of systemic misogyny and how it encourages violence.'
Topics: True Crime, Netflix, Film, TV and Film
Michael Slavin