Warning! This post contains spoilers for Woman of the Hour.
This post contains mentions of murder, sexual assault, and Rodney Alcala’s real-life violent crimes.
Since Amy is one of the main characters inWoman of the Hour’s storyline, it is hard not to question what happened to the real person, Monique Hoyt, on whom she is based. Directed by Anna Kendrick,Woman of the Hourprimarily recounts the events of the chilling Dating Game episode that featured serial killer Rodney Alcala as one of the contestants. While walking through how Alcala won a date with Cheryl Bradshaw onThe Dating Gamebefore getting rejected by her, the movie also jumps to other timelines that highlightRodney Alcala’s serial killer history.
One of these timelines focuses on Alcala’s encounter with a young girl named Amy. In the movie’s storyline, Alcala convinces Amy he is a professional photographer and asks her to model for him. However, just when Amy poses for the camera, he charges at her and assaults her. InWoman of the Hour’s endingarc, Amy carefully misguides him before finding the right opportunity to escape and calling the police. Given how many story beats from the film are based on real-life events, viewers may be curious about who Amy is based on and what really happened to her.
Woman Of The Hour’s Amy Was Based On Real Victim Monique Hoyt
Monique Hoyt Was 15 When She First Met Rodney Alcala
Just likeWoman of the Hour’s Rodney Alcala meets Amy on Valentine’s Day,the real serial killer also met 15-year-old Monique Hoyt on August 13, 2025. He offered her a lift when she was hitchhiking in Riverside County and drove her to his home before sexually assaulting her in his apartment. Alcala then drove her to a mountainous region near Banning, California, where he assaulted her again and even hit her in the head with a rock.
Autumn Best plays Amy inWoman of the Hour. The actress has previously starred in the sci-fi series4400, andWoman of the Hourmarks her feature film debut.
AlthoughWoman of the Houraccurately shows many aspects of Rodney Alcala and Monique Hoyt’s first encounter, it does not exactly portray Amy as a hitchhiker. Daniel Zovatto’s Rodney Alcala seems to randomly spot her sitting under a staircase in the movie’s story before he approaches her and asks her to model for him. Unlike the real-life incident, where Alcala first took her to his apartment, the movie’s serial killer character directly drives her to the mountains before assaulting her.
Monique Hoyt Helped Get Rodney Alcala Caught, But He Posted Bail After
Woman Of The Hour’s Epilogue Mentions The Arrest’s Aftermath
InWoman of the Hour’s ending moments, Amy gets Rodney to trust her because she realizes that attempting to run away from him would be dangerous. Her plan works, and Rodney agrees to take her back to his apartment. However, soon after Alcala stops his car at a gas station to use the restroom, she flees from his car and calls the police. Like Amy in the movie, Monique Hoyt also escaped Rodney Alcala after they stopped at a gas station while driving back to Riverside County.
After his encounter with Monique Hoyt, Rodney Alcala reportedly killed at least two other people before he was finally arrested again in July 1979, and held without bail.
Similar to Amy, she had to convince the serial killer that she wanted to continue their relationship before finding the right chance to escape. Hoyt also informed the police about the incident, leading to Rodney Alcala’s arrest. However, asWoman of the Hour’s postscript reveals,he was released soon after his arrest when his mother posted his bail. After his encounter with Monique Hoyt, Rodney Alcala reportedly killed at least two other people before he was finally arrested again in July 1979 and held behind bars without bail.
What Happened To Monique Hoyt After Rodney Alcala Was Convicted
She Testified Against Rodney Alcala In 2010
A little over three decades after she escaped Rodney Alcala, Monique Hoyt testified against the serial killer in court. She was 46 at the time and never got over the trauma of her encounter with Alcala. According to reports (viaLA Weekly), a Los Angeles Police Department detective sat with her during the proceedings to help her feel safe.
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During the 2010 conviction, Monique Hoyt not only testified against Rodney Alcalabut also mentioned how he wrote horrific tales about her in his 1994 book,You, the Jury, to destroy her reputation. Since then, not much has been known about Monique Hoyt. She seemingly lives a private life and remains out of the public eye. After learning about Monique Hoyt’s true story, one cannot help but appreciate how, despite its creative liberties,Woman of the Hourdoes not try to sensationalize Rodney Alcala’s real-life crimes and respectfully portrays the victims' stories.
Woman of the Hour
Woman of the Hour is a biographical thriller directed by Anna Kendrick, who also stars in the film. The movie chronicles the infamous real-life story of Cheryl Bradshaw’s appearance on the 1978 edition of The Dating Game, where one of the contestants, Rodney Alcala, would later be revealed as a notorious serial killer. The film delves into the chilling intersection of entertainment and true crime.
