REVIEW: ‘Woman of the Hour’ is a Step in the Right Director for First-Time Director, Anna Kendrick
Based on true events, Woman of the Hour takes the audience back to 1978, where serial killer, Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) appears as a contestant on the highly popular game show, The Dating Game. Hoping to be the lucky winner who gets to take Cheryl Bradshaw (Kendrick) out on a date, Alcala lays the charm on thick as he preys on who he hopes will be his next potential victim. As the game is unfolding, we learn, through a series of flashbacks, exactly what is hiding under all that charm, a ruthless killer who loves the hunt just as much as he loves the final kill.
In her directorial debut, Kendrick knocks it out of the park. The movie is short and straight to the point. She doesn’t try to fluff up the story or add unnecessary scenes to sway the audience’s opinion of Alcala. Instead, she takes writer Ian McDonald‘s script and chooses to highlight the sick individual that he was and how he managed to game everyone, that is until one woman ultimately games him. This is extremely noticeable during her shooting of the murder scenes. Typically, these types of scenes are over with pretty quick. Kendrick, however, draws these scenes out, which leaves the audience feeling extremely uncomfortable, which I have to imagine was the point. Thankfully, this film is being released on Netflix, so you can fast forward through these scenes if they make you too uncomfortable.
She and McDonald also do a wonderful job shedding light on what it was like being a woman in the 70s. From the comments made by The Dating Game’s misogynistic host, Ed Burke (Tony Hale) to Cherly to the cocky, best thing to happen to women game show contestant, Arnie (Jedidiah Goodacre), no male character was safe in this film. This choice to display the men in this movie this way played so well into the storyline Each man had their own toxic trait, which helped the audience better understand why so many women fell for Alcala’s game.
Zovatto is brilliant as Alcala. You can’t help but be drawn in by his swoon-worthy charm, only to be painfully reminded who he really is underneath. He beautifully transitions between charming and evil, which leaves an unnerving impression on the audience. Kedrick also does well as Cherly Bradshaw, especially when her character finally eases into the dating game. Nicolette Robinson (Laura), Hale (Ed Burke), Kathryn Gallagher (Charlie), and (Autumn Best) round out the cast, and do well with the minimal scenes they are in.
Woman of the Hour isn’t perfect, but it is a step in the right direction for Kendrick. The film is an eye-opening count of how one man was able to get away with countless murders. If you enjoy true-crime documentaries or a pulse pounding thriller, I highly recommend checking this film out.
Grade: B+