Woman of the Hour
Dustin Chase
Actress Anna Kendrick is usually associated with light-hearted projects like the “Pitch Perfect” series or romantic comedies similar to “Mr. Right.” She makes her directorial debut behind the camera with a chilling true crime story in “Woman of the Hour.” Her work on screen in this film reminds us why she has an Oscar nomination for a movie like “Up in the Air.” Despite Kendrick’s juggling act as actor, director, and producer, she is overshadowed by Daniel Zovatto’s ominous performance and Andy Canny’s editing work. What could have been a cut-and-dry retelling of a serial killer is creatively interwoven with scenes before and after the events of the CBS game show.
The year is 1979, and Sheryl (Kendrick) is about to give up on her Hollywood dreams of becoming a working actress. With a last-ditch effort, Sheryl’s agent lands her gig on the popular show “The Dating Game.” In each episode, a new female guest must choose a date without seeing the men, based only on their responses to her questions. What Sheryl doesn’t realize, nor anyone watching, is that one of the contestants is a serial killer who has evaded authorities for years. Rodney Alcala (Zovatto) presents himself as a photographer and an artist as he preys on young women. Intelligent and confident, at one point, he tells the other male contentment, “I always get the girl.”
"Never a dull moment; it’s fast-paced and constantly engaging."
While Kendrick’s “Woman of the Hour” only scratches the surface of Alcala’s brutal crimes, he is considered one of America’s most notorious serial killers. The convergence of Alcala on a silly televised dating show is where Kendrick finds her way into the material. Once again, it’s the editing that really makes things fall in place. Never a dull moment; it’s fast-paced and constantly engaging. Whether with the various women Alcala is interacting with, behind the scenes of a game show, or how frustrating it is for the viewer that people are missing obvious warning signs. The most spine-tingling part of the entire film is the information given right before the credits.
Not only is “Woman of the Hour” one of Kendrick’s best on-screen performances, but it also stands out as a mature, sophisticated Halloween horror movie, which is why Netflix is releasing the film that premiered in Toronto last October. Alcala is far more terrifying than a Freddy, Jason, or Ghost Face, and Kendrick makes that case without jump scares, loud music, and little on-screen violence. As a director, Kendrick keenly errs on the side of less is more with the subject matter. A quick search of the serial killer reveals disturbing evidence from police reports that Kendrick’s film only hints at.
Final Thought
Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut is not only impressive but an engrossing true crime thriller.
1 thought on “Woman of the Hour”
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