Meet Anna Kendrick’s Netflix movie roles

Anna Kendrick stars as The Dating Game contestant Cheryl Bradshaw, who won a date with Rodney Alcala in 1978. Ellen Metzger, the show’s contestant coordinator at the time, said on an episode of ABC’s “20/20” that Bradshaw called her after she was introduced to Alcala and said, “Ellen, I can’t date this man.” Strange vibrations are coming from him. He’s very strange. I don’t feel comfortable.”

Daniel Zovatto embodies the serial killer Alcala, who was sentenced to death in California after being found guilty of raping and murdering seven women between 1977 and 1979. Authorities estimate the actual number at around 130 victims. He appeared and won ‘The Dating Game’ even though there was a warrant out for his arrest for the attempted murder of an eight-year-old.

Tony Hale plays game show host Ed Burke, who is based on “The Dating Game” host Jim Lange.

Kathryn Gallagher plays a version of Alcala’s victim Cornelia Crilleywho was murdered in June 1971. She was a 23-year-old flight attendant who was strangled by her stockings in her Manhattan apartment. Her death was linked to Alcala while he was already on death row when the bite marks on her breasts and saliva DNA on her body matched his.

Kelley Jakle plays an embodiment of a victim inspired by Christine Ruth Thornton. Thornton was on a road trip from Texas to Montana with her boyfriend when they got into an argument and broke up. At some point she met a photographer, Alcala, who murdered her and left her remains on the plains of Wyoming, which were discovered by a rancher five years later. Thornton was pregnant at the time.

Autumn Best plays “Amy,” a fictionalized version of the real-life teenage runaway who survived an encounter with Alcala. The film claims she did this by asking him to “keep the meeting a secret.” The role is based on a teenager whose identity remains unknown because she was a minor. However, there are two possible inspirations for the role: survivor Tali Shapiro, who was sexually abused by Alcala at the age of eight, and Morgan Rowan, who was also attacked and abused at the age of 16.

Jedidiah Goodacre and Matt Visser play the two contestants who face off against Alcala in the September 13, 1978 episode of “The Dating Game.” Their performance is not a direct reflection of the bachelors in the episode. The real participants are actors Jed Mills and Armand Cerami. In an ABC episode “20/20,” Mills described getting a “creepy” vibe from Alcala and that when they were in the green room before the show, Alcala said, “I always get my girl.”

Pete Holmes plays Bradshaw’s neighbor, who is not based on any real person in her life.

Nicolette Robinson plays the distressed and grieving boyfriend of one of Alcala’s victims who recognizes him in the TV show when she goes to watch it with her boyfriend and his family. Her character cannot be linked to a true story.