Everything Woman of the Hour changed from chilling real life story as Anna Kendrick explains decisions for new movie

Here are all the changes made in Netflix's new Woman of the Hour movie as the film debuts on Netflix.

Landing on the streaming platform last week, Woman of the Hour tells the story of serial killer Rodney Acala and how he ended up winning TV show The Dating Game back in 1978.

The dramatisation of the chilling true story is likely to be a hit amongst true crime fans, with Kendrick also starring as a fictionalised version of Cheryl Bradshaw - the woman who'd selected Acala to go on a date with after the show - named Sheryl.

However, Woman of the Hour has since received mixed reviews online, with many questioning Kendrick's decision to change certain aspects of the story.

How does Woman of the Hour differ from the true story of Rodney Acala?

The biggest difference between the film and real life is how Cheryl/Sheryl and Rodney's relationship is depicted on-screen.

In real life, all the questions Cheryl asked to the eligible bachelors on The Dating Game had been pre-written by producers, whereas Kendrick's Sheryl comes up with the questions herself.

In real life, Cheryl never met up with Rodney after the game show finished after feeling uncomfortable around him. She would later explain her reasons why in an interview with the Sydney Telegraph in 2012, saying: "He was acting really creepy. I turned down his offer. I didn’t want to see him again."

Whereas Sheryl later agrees to go on a date with Rodney and is left feeling visibly uncomfortable with their encounter.

Several other creative liberties are taken when depicting the events of The Dating Game, such as Rodney's bachelor number, claims of studying alongside Roman Polanski and his interactions with other cast members.

However, the chilling fact that Acala managed to take part on a dating show after serving two prison sentences thanks to no background checks taking place on the show, is accurate.

Asides from Sheryl's story, Woman of the Hour also makes changes to how 15-year-old Monique Hoyt, who is renamed 'Amy' in the film, encounters the killer at the end of the film, who manages to survive her ordeal.

Nicolette Robinson's character of Laura, who recognises Rodney in the audience of The Dating Game, also appears to be fictionalised, as per Screen Rant.

Kendrick has since explained her decision for taking certain creative liberties with the story, revealing she wanted to focus on the perspective of the women who'd encountered Acala.

"On paper, this story was ready for Hollywood, with an emphasis on maybe a young detective who finally takes on this case, and a determined prosecutor who keeps the criminal behind bars," she explained.

"But while those things are facts in this case, it felt emotionally dishonest if I had included that in my film."