• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Detail woman spotted that saved her life after man won dating game show in horrifying true story inspiring Netflix film

Home> Entertainment> Netflix

Updated 12:52 18 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 12:11 18 Sep 2024 GMT+1

Detail woman spotted that saved her life after man won dating game show in horrifying true story inspiring Netflix film

The true story is being turned into a Netflix film releasing next month

Michael Slavin

Michael Slavin

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.

Bradshaw appeared on the show in September 1978, after receiving word she had been selected to be a bachelorette in the show.

Advert

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.

At the time Alcala appeared on the show as a secret bachelor, he had already killed at least two women.

Advert

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.

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.

Advert

Bradshaw and Alcala (ABC)
Bradshaw and Alcala (ABC)

After meeting Alcala face to face, she decided to cancel their upcoming date.

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?"

Advert

Thankfully, the producers didn't make Bradshaw go through with the date or else she almost certainly would have been killed.

Alcala was sentenced to death for his numerous murders in 2010, but died on death row of natural causes in 2021.

Alcala was later sentenced to death, but died of natural causes in 2021 (Allen J Schaben via Getty Images)
Alcala was later sentenced to death, but died of natural causes in 2021 (Allen J Schaben via Getty Images)

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.'

Featured Image Credit: Netflix / ABC

Topics: True Crime, Netflix, Film, TV and Film

Michael Slavin
Michael Slavin

Michael Slavin is LADbible's dedicated specialist Film and TV writer. Following his completion of a Masters in International Journalism at Salford University, he began working for the Warrington Guardian as a reporter. Throughout this he did freelance work about Entertainment for publications such as DiscussingFilm, where he was the Film and TV editor. Now, he is LAD's go to voice on all things Netflix, True Crime, and UK TV, as well as interviewing huge global stars such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Daisy Ridley, and Ben Stiller.

X

@michaelslavin98

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

12 mins ago
an hour ago
4 hours ago
  • 12 mins ago

    People divided after watching clips of Joe Rogan’s stand up from 30 years ago

    Now best known for hosting his podcast, Rogan began his entertainment career as a comedian

    Entertainment
  • an hour ago

    Robert Pattinson said filming X-rated scene was ‘one of the most difficult things has ever had to do’ for one reason

    The actor revealed what it was like to film the infamous sex scenes in Breaking Dawn

    Entertainment
  • an hour ago

    Brad Pitt said crew ‘fled’ after something he did on set of one of his early films

    Maybe all the mums will stop fancying him now

    Entertainment
  • 4 hours ago

    Oasis fans in debate after seeing what crowd member did during one of the 'greatest songs ever'

    Not the best thing to do at a gig

    Entertainment
  • Horrifying true story behind photo of man smiling as he won dating game show as Netflix thriller drops today
  • Man smiles after winning dating game show as horrifying true story inspires new Netflix movie
  • Netflix true crime doc reveals moment Gabby Petito's friends spotted 'dark side' to fiancé before he killed her
  • ‘Frightening’ ITV crime drama based on tragic true story goes straight to number one on Netflix