Woman of the Hour (2024) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Rodney Alcala managed to become a contestant on The Dating Game despite being a serial killer. The movie shows that the show's producers did not properly vet contestants, which allowed him to slip through the screening process. His charming persona and photogenic appearance made him appear as an acceptable bachelor, though audience member Laura later realized he had been associated with a murdered friend.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Rodney posing as a photographer to lure victims, demonstrating his skill at presenting a trustworthy front.

• rodney alcala
• dating game
• bachelor
• vetting
• contestants

When Laura tried to warn show security about Rodney, the guard deliberately misled her. He falsely directed her to the janitor rather than connecting her with a producer who could have intervened. This failure in communication allowed the show to continue without investigating Laura's concerns about Rodney being connected to her friend's murder.

• laura
• producer
• security
• warning
• janitor

After waking up tied up in the desert, Amy realized Rodney was emotionally vulnerable and crying. She cleverly played along, feigning empathy and sympathy to lower his guard. This manipulation convinced Rodney to untie her, and when they stopped at a gas station, Amy seized the opportunity to run and alert authorities, leading to his arrest.

Foreshadowing: The earlier scenes show Rodney targeting vulnerable young women, underestimating their intelligence and resourcefulness.

• amy
• escape
• tied up
• gas station
• arrested

Rodney's crying appears to stem from an emotional breakdown, possibly triggered by the stress of his crime or a moment of psychological instability. Amy observed this vulnerability and used it to her advantage, convincing him to untie her. This moment reveals a crack in his calculated predatory demeanor.

Foreshadowing: The scene shows Rodney's pattern of targeting vulnerable women, but his emotional outburst suggests underlying psychological instability.

• rodney
• crying
• tied up
• emotional
• psychological

After his appearance on The Dating Game, Rodney was arrested in 1979 following Amy's escape. However, he was released on bail while awaiting trial, during which he murdered a woman and a young girl. He was rearrested in 1979 and later died while incarcerated in 2010 after serving time for his crimes.

Foreshadowing: The movie intercuts Rodney's charming dating show persona with his brutal attacks, showing the disconnect between his public and private behavior.

• rodney alcala
• arrested
• bail
• murder
• incarcerated
• death

Cheryl sensed something was wrong with Rodney during their post-show drinks. When he asked for her phone number, she gave him a fake one because his behavior had made her uncomfortable and uneasy. This decision proved crucial for her survival, as Rodney later threatened to bash her head in when he realized the number was fake.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Cheryl going off-script during the show, demonstrating her strong instincts and willingness to trust her gut.

• cheryl
• fake number
• phone number
• threat
• escape

Cheryl Bradshaw appears to be a fictionalized composite character created for the film. While the movie is based on true events involving Rodney Alcala and his appearance on The Dating Game in 1978, Cheryl's specific storyline and character were developed for the narrative. The postscript notes she left California to live a private life and raise a family.

• cheryl bradshaw
• fictional
• real
• character
• dating game

In 2010, Amy, who had escaped from Rodney in 1979, returned to testify against him in court as an adult. Her testimony was crucial in the legal proceedings against him. This was years after Rodney had been rearrested following his bail release and additional murders.

Foreshadowing: Amy's earlier escape and subsequent cooperation with authorities set the stage for her later testimony.

• amy
• 2010
• testimony
• trial
• rodney alcala

Alison was Laura's friend who was found murdered at the beach. Laura recognized Rodney in the dating show audience as the last person seen with Alison before her murder. This recognition triggered Laura's attempt to warn producers and security about Bachelor #3, though her concerns were dismissed.

Foreshadowing: The opening scenes establish Rodney's pattern of targeting women and his predatory approach to finding victims.

• alison
• laura
• beach
• murdered
• recognized

Cheryl decided to abandon the scripted questions because she found them sexist and insulting. Instead, she asked more intellectual questions referencing philosophers like Einstein and Kant, and inquired about the difference between a boy and a man. Despite her unconventional approach, Rodney still won the date, likely because the other two bachelors came across as bumbling by comparison.

Foreshadowing: This moment establishes Cheryl's strong character and independent thinking, traits that would later help her survive.

• cheryl
• off-script
• dating game
• questions
• feminist

The movie depicts multiple victims across different years: a woman in Wyoming in 1977, flight attendant Charlie in 1971 New York City, and Amy in 1979 San Gabriel. After his initial arrest and bail release, he murdered an additional woman and a young girl before being rearrested. He was ultimately convicted of multiple murders.

Foreshadowing: The movie uses a nonlinear timeline, intercutting between different victims to show the full scope of Rodney's criminal history.

• victims
• murders
• timeline
• wyoming
• new york
• san gabriel