Cheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick) is trying to live out her dream in Woman Of The Hour. Like many others, she is an aspiring actress who has moved out to LA in the late 70s. She has the schooling, the ambition, and the work ethic – but things are just not going according to plan. Naturally Cheryl begins questioning her choices and her future. Barely being able to afford her rent isn’t helping anything. Cheryl’s agent Helen finally books her a spot on a TV show, the big break she’s been hoping for…right?
The wind gets taken out of her sails when Helen breaks the news the spot is on The Dating Game. Helen convinces Cheryl to do the show, citing Sally Field having been on it. It might be just the exposure that Cheryl needs to get noticed and her career off the ground. Plus, a little flirting and chance to meet a great guy – what’s the worst that could happen? Well, turns out that the worst case scenario is possibly dating a serial killer. Soon to be notorious serial killer Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) is one of the contestants on the show, and a charming one at that.
Not only does Anna Kendrick star in the film, but she brings her talents behind the cameras as well. Woman of the Hour is her directorial debut. Ian McDonald penned the script, with the film being only his second feature length work. The lack of experience of Kendrick and McDonald in these positions is not prevalent in the slightest. Woman Of The Hour has an engaging script that mixes moments of suspense and dread with subtle humor. Kendrick and McDonald do not shy from moments of absurdity surrounding Hollywood and the film industry.
Kendrick weaves a tense film, at every moment making the audience wonder what Alcala will do next. As the film continues, we see Alcala unraveling – starting to turn more desperate and audacious. A transformation that makes a monster even more dangerous. Zovatto excels here at showing his range. He expertly balances the charm Alcala uses to ingratiate himself with his victims and the darkness bubbling to the surface. Kendrick delivers a strong performance as usual and is a pleasure to watch. Throughout the film we see music and facial expressions telling a story, not needing dialogue to drive what the characters are thinking.
Woman Of The Hour is full of unique and wonderful scenes and images. Kendrick uses spacing and reflections incredibly well with her eye for shots on full display. She frequently contrasts peaceful and beautiful scenes of nature – quiet and desolate – with dreary Hollywood. It is almost as if the shots in Hollywood have a sepia filter applied. Yet it is those gorgeous outdoor places where the Alcala lays his traps. Kendrick cuts scenes and angles to not subject the audience to the most gruesome aspects of the crimes. She provides enough context, so it is clear what happened without having to show all of the gore.
History is full of some bizarre and harrowing stories. Alcala’s, aka The Dating Game Killer, certainly falls in this category. Woman Of The Hour being based on this true story is not only mind boggling but adds a whole new layer to the film. The film jumps back and forth through time to show some of Alcala’s history. Naturally much of Alcala’s story could not be captured in a single film. However, what Kendrick and McDonald were able to highlight is abhorrent but packaged into an incredibly entertaining and suspenseful film. For those that enjoy thrillers without an overabundance of gore, Woman Of The Hour is especially perfect for you. The strong performances, entertaining script, building dread, and unbelievable story make Woman Of The Hour absolutely worth a watch.
Woman of the Hour is streaming now on Netflix.
