‘Woman of The Hour’ Ending Explained: Aftermath of Rodney Alcala’s Arrest

‘Woman of the Hour’ tells the chilling true story of Rodney Alcala, a serial killer who shockingly appeared on and won a dating game show. Anna Kendrick makes her directorial debut in this OTT film, blending multiple timelines to depict Rodney’s interactions with victims and his eerie presence as Bachelor No. 3 on ‘The Dating Game’.

Kendrick aimed to balance a compelling narrative while exposing the repeated miscarriages of justice during Alcala’s killing spree. The film's ending reflects this, portraying a bittersweet escape by a teenage runaway, but reminding viewers that Rodney would continue his deadly actions. 

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The runaway’s deep exhale in the final scene leaves the ending ambiguous, symbolising survival yet hinting at the disturbing nature of Rodney’s fate.“That’s the chord resolving at the end of ‘Into the Woods’," Kendrick explained, "but there’s still dissonance. She survived, but it’s not as simple as ‘she’s fine now,’” she shared with Tudum.

In the film, Rodney lures Amy with compliments and the offer of a photo shoot, only to turn violent. In a suspenseful moment, after instructing her to look up at the sky, the scene abruptly shifts, leaving viewers unsettled. 

Image Courtesy: Animated Times

Amy escapes to a diner and witnesses Rodney’s arrest from a distance, adding to the film’s tension. Amy’s character is fictional but inspired by a real runaway teen who survived an encounter with Alcala, although her identity remains anonymous due to her age at the time.

In another striking moment, Amy, covered in blood and restrained, manipulates Rodney into releasing her, pretending she’s embarrassed and asking him to keep the incident a secret. This chilling portrayal of survival and psychological manipulation is one of the film's most powerful moments, solidifying ‘Woman of the Hour’ as a haunting exploration of true crime.

-Sushmita Sarkar