Woman of the Hour (2023)

Woman of the Hour (2023). 1h 35m

“Greetings again from the darkness. As a lonely woman, being told you have the look of a model is a welcome compliment. As a runaway living on the streets, having a young man show an interest in you is a welcome development. As a single woman moving into an apartment and having a charming young man help move your furniture is a welcome occurrence. As a struggling actress, getting cast on a hit show is a welcome gig. What do all of these situations have in common? They feature vulnerable women who crossed paths with Rodney Alcala, an infamous serial rapist and murderer. This is the first feature film directed by uber-talented Anna Kendrick and itu0026#39;s a doozy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDirector Kendrick also stars as Cheryl Bradshaw, the struggling actress whom we first meet in one of her endless rounds of auditions where she doesnu0026#39;t get cast due to her physical appearance. Itu0026#39;s one of a series of misogynistic scenarios that play out in this film written by Ian MacDonald and based on the true story of evil Rodney Alcala (played here by Daniel Zovatto). The film is set mostly in the late 1970u0026#39;s, although it bounces around a bit. We first see Alcala charming a woman in 1977 Wyoming by using his camera and photographic skills to instill a level of comfort and entice her into his car. Very little violence is shown on screen, but the aftermath is – leaving no doubt that Alcala is a monster.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBeyond the murders, what made Rodney Alcala headline-famous, was his 1978 appearance on u0026quot;The Dating Gameu0026quot;, a very popular TV show at the time (only we donu0026#39;t get to hear the iconic theme song, and thereu0026#39;s no kiss thrown at the end). By pure coincidence, the bachelorette questioning the three bachelors that day was Cheryl Bradshaw. As the host of the show, Ed Burke (not Jim Lange, played by Tony Hale) adds to the misogyny of the times, while the hair and make-up ladies quietly cheer on Cheryl as she re-writes the second half questions exposing her level of frustration at playing an item of desire for three men. With no shortage of creepy or horrific moments, the filmu0026#39;s best sequence involves Cheryl and Alcala walking through a poorly lit parking lot after an excessively awkward post-show drink. This sequence alone proves Ms. Kendricku0026#39;s mettle as a filmmaker – the tension is nearly unbearable.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRather than a straightforward re-telling of a psychopathu0026#39;s tales from the 1970u0026#39;s, the film adds layers by reminding us of what women faced in that era – from subtle lack of value to outright abuse and constant concern for their safety. Even Cherylu0026#39;s interactions with her neighbor (Pete Holmes) displays challenges faced in ordinary settings. The 1979 San Gabriel segment with the runaway (Autumn Best) is both true and chilling, and yet further proof of how much leeway an educated white guy like Alcala could get away with (he had been previously questioned by police in 1977). If somehow you reach the end of the film and arenu0026#39;t totally sickened by Rodney Alcala, just try and keep it together while reading the last few slides regarding his trail of destruction – and just how courageous that final runaway proved to be.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ePremieres on Netflix on October 18, 2024.”