Anna Kendrick Makes Directorial Debut with ‘Woman of the Hour’ Trailer

In the upcoming Netflix film Woman HoursAspiring actress Sheryl Bradshaw wants nothing more than to be in the spotlight. She was played by Anna Kendrick in her directorial debut, and she finally gets her chance when she’s cast in an episode of a 1970s blind dating series Dating game. But lurking in the shadows is a participant with a dark past: serial killer Rodney Alcala, who takes Sheryl on a disturbingly disturbing date in the film’s first teaser, out October 18.

In the trailer, Sheryl and Rodney are sitting in a dimly lit restaurant on a date that could have gone better. His eye contact is a little too intense. His compliments (“I mean, you have Patti Smith vibes”) are delivered a little too earnestly. And his instinct to order another round of drinks without consulting his date is a little too brazen. But it’s only when they’re leaving the restaurant that the alarm bells in Sheryl’s mind jump from a whisper to a scream.

As they walk through the parking lot, Rodney asks Sheryl for her phone number. She reminds him that she just gave it to him, but he wants to make sure she has the right one. When she offers to look at him to verify, he snaps, “Can’t you repeat that from memory?” They’re locked in a chilling, silent standoff for a few seconds before her fight-or-flight instincts kick in and she starts to head for her car. Rodney remains in the background, still assessing his potential next victim.

Woman Hours is based on the true story of Rodney Alcala, known as the Dating Game Killer. Police estimated that Alcala murdered dozens of women during his killing spree, which coincided with his appearance on the once-popular Dating game series in 1978.

The film also starred Tony Hale, Nicolette Robinson, Autumn Best, Kathryn Gallagher and Kelley Jakle.