18/26
Well, Cheryl, time to make a decision!
Chronology
Sheryl Bradshaw, a single woman looking for a suitor for a hit 1970s TV series, chooses charming bachelor Rodney Alcala, unaware that behind the gentle facade lies a deadly secret. Some of Sheryl’s bad experiences as an aspiring actress mirror those of Anna Kendrick. A comment about Sheryl’s breasts was “taken literally from something that happened to me when I was 19.” At the end of the film, her name is spelled Cheryl in one of the storylines revealing what happened after the film. Her name was actually spelled Sheryl, which was correct on the cast list. Ed: That signals the end of our game. Mentioned on CTV News’ Six Toronto: September 8, 2023 episode (2023).
Greetings again from the darkness
When you’re a single woman, being told you look like a model is a welcome compliment. As a runaway living on the streets, having a young man interested in you is a welcome event. As a single woman moving into an apartment and having a charming young man help her move furniture, it’s a welcome event. As a struggling actress, landing a role on a hit TV series is a welcome job. What do all these situations have in common? They feature vulnerable women who cross paths with Rodney Alcala, a notorious serial rapist and murderer.
The film is set mostly in the late 1970s, though it does move around a bit
This is the first feature film directed by the talented Anna Kendrick, and it’s a thought-provoking one. Director Kendrick also stars as Cheryl Bradshaw, a struggling actress who we first meet during one of the endless rounds of auditions, where she’s rejected because of her physical appearance. This is one of the misogynistic scenarios that plays out in the film, written by Ian MacDonald and based on the true story of the evil Rodney Alcala (played by Daniel Zovatto). Alcala is first seen charming a woman in 1977 Wyoming, using his camera and photography skills to comfort her and lure her into his car. There’s very little on-screen violence, but the aftermath leaves no doubt that Alcala is a monster. Aside from the murders, Rodney Alcala became famous for his 1978 appearance on The Dating Game, a popular TV show at the time (except we don’t hear the iconic theme song and there’s no kiss at the end).
This sequence alone shows Ms
Coincidentally, the bachelorette who was talking to all three bachelors that day was Cheryl Bradshaw. As host, Ed Burke (not Jim Lange, played by Tony Hale) deepens the misogyny of the era, while hairdressers and makeup artists quietly cheer on Cheryl as she rewrites the questions from the second half, revealing her frustration at playing the object of desire for three men. The film’s best sequence, no shortage of scary and macabre moments, features Cheryl and Alcala walking through a dimly lit parking lot after a particularly awkward post-concert drink. Kendrick’s courage as a filmmaker—the tension is almost unbearable. Rather than simply telling the story of a ’70s psychopath, the film adds layers, reminding us of what women faced during that era—from subtle lack of worth to overt abuse and constant fears for her safety. Even Cheryl’s interactions with her neighbor (Pete Holmes) show the challenges she faces in everyday situations.
Premieres on Netflix October 18, 2024
The 1979 San Gabriel clip of the fugitive (“Autumn Best”) is both true and horrifying, and further evidence of the liberties an educated white man like Alcala can take (he was already questioned by police in 1977). If you make it to the end of the film and aren’t completely disgusted by Rodney Alcala, just stay calm and read the last few slides about his trail of destruction—and how this latest fugitive showed courage.
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