Alcala was convicted of killing at least eight women during the 1970s, but authorities believe the real number of his victims could be far higher. Some experts suggest he might be responsible for as many as 122 deaths, making his crimes even more chilling.
The movie zooms in on a bizarre and unsettling moment in Alcala’s life — the time he appeared on the game show The Dating Game. He went on the show in hopes of wooing a contestant named Sheryl, a role played by Kendrick.
During a recent episode of the Crime Junkie AF podcast, the 39-year-old actress shared why this project was so important to her.
“This was never a money-making venture for me.” she explained. “Eventually, Netflix bought the movie. But it wasn’t until, like, the week before TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) that I thought: ‘Oh, this movie’s gonna make money.'”
“I asked myself the question of: ‘Do you feel gross about this?’ And I did.” the Self Reliance actress said, reflecting on the discomfort she felt.
“That felt like the least that I could do,” she continued, sharing how giving back in this way felt like the right thing to do in light of the movie’s subject matter.
Someone else also shared their admiration by saying: “Anna Kendrick decided to devote her life to helping victims.”
Alongside her work on the film, Kendrick also opened up about her own difficult past, including a toxic and abusive relationship that deeply impacted her.
“It makes you question whether you’re making all of it up, or if you’re being paranoid or too sensitive.” she continued, elaborating on the emotional toll. “You sound crazy. You’re dismissed. ‘He brushed your hair off your shoulder – that’s nothing.'”
Woman of the Hour is currently streaming on Netflix, so you can watch the film and see the incredible performance and effort Kendrick put into it — both on and off screen.