SCREEN | Anna Kendrick Courts 'Woman of the Hour'

"I felt looked at."

AGC Studios / VVS Films

Based on actual events, Woman of the Hour depicts an incident from an episode of The Dating Game in 1978 where a bachelor contestant looking for a date turned out to be a notorious serial killer (Daniel Zovatto as Rodney Alcala). Actress Anna Kendrick, who plays the (un)lucky bachelorette date, also makes her directorial debut in the sharp but straightforward true crime thriller that zeroes in on the rampant casual misogyny that allowed a hundred women and girls to be raped and murdered despite numerous reports.

While Kendrick's depiction of violence is taught, she leaves much to our imagination by suggesting much of the horror that Alcala enacted against women. Written by Ian McDonald, his non-linear script jumps back and forth through time to Alcala's many different violent crimes while following his television appearance as the film's throughline framing structure.

Kendrick's Sheryl is appropriately troubled and frustrated by the sexism she must constantly navigate while auditioning for roles and just existing in her modest L.A. apartment. However, we rarely get much insight into the victims, Sheryl, or the killer himself. Nonetheless, it's an efficient, low-budget ninety-minute thriller focused on key aspects of the killer's many crimes.

Kendrick proves her chops by doing double duty behind and in front of the camera in rattling off solid effort, albeit a little oversimplified in its period crime details. However, her control of tone and direction of actors makes Woman of the Hour such a confident debut.

Woman of the Hour will be available to stream on Netflix in the U.S. starting October 18th.


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