Dating Game Killer

Rodney Alcala is portrayed as a charming, calculating predator who hides a violent, predatory impulse behind a friendly and affable exterior. The film follows his manipulative pattern, showing how he evaded harsher sentences through good behavior while continuing to kill. His charisma masks a ruthless, methodical mind behind decades of crime.

Tammy Jensen is the murder victim whose disappearance becomes a turning point in the case. The discovery of her earrings in Alcala's storage locker provides crucial evidence that helps prosecutors build the case. Her story anchors the later legal battles and testimonial confrontations.

Rosie Hoffman is the young survivor whose attack and subsequent relocation to Mexico shape the case's background. She returns 42 years later to testify, providing a critical link between the early crime and later charges. Her experience underscores the lasting trauma of the case on families.

Detective Jim Hamell is depicted as a diligent investigator who advocates for justice despite repeated excuses of reform. He helps connect the disparate clues — from eyewitness accounts to physical evidence — to build a coherent case against Alcala. His persistence is a key through-line in the pursuit of truth.

Carol Jensen, Tammy Jensen's mother, embodies long-running pursuit of justice. Her testimony and memory of her daughter's case contribute to the ongoing effort to hold Alcala accountable. She represents the resilience of families affected by his crimes across decades.

The park ranger serves as a pivotal eyewitness, spotting Alcala with a murder victim and linking the park setting to the killer's pattern. This identification becomes the break in the investigation that leads to arrests and convictions. The character highlights how frontline witnesses can matter in serial cases.