Woman of the Hour film review: Anna Kendrick makes directorial debut in this quirky true-crime thriller

Anna Kendrick, left, and Daniel Zovatto in a scene from ‘Woman of the Hour’ | Photo Credit: Leah Gallo

Anna Kendrick has chosen a story stranger than fiction for her directorial debut – featuring the bizarre presence of a serial killer dating gameA popular show from the 70’s. The killer, Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), was on the show as one of the bachelors, earning him the nickname ‘Dating Game Killer’. lady of time The story is told from the perspective of Sheryl Bradshaw (Kendrick), an aspiring actor and the show’s bachelorette who must choose a date among three bachelors.

The film combines the game show with scenes from Alcala’s past crimes. lady of time Wyoming began in 1977 in which Alcala took photographs of a woman before strangling her to death. In 1979, Alcala picks up Amy (Autumn Best), a teenage runaway, and convinces her that he can help her break into the modeling world by shooting her a portfolio. In 1971 New York, a flight attendant, Charlie (Katherine Gallagher), is walking in when she sees Alcala taking photographs across the street. She asks him to help her move forward, which he does, before she attacks and kills him.

Tony Hale, from left, Anna Kendrick, and Daniel Zovatto in a scene from ‘Woman of the Hour’ | Photo Credit: Leah Gallo

The year is now 1978, and Sheryl is auditioning with no luck when her agent urges her to get on the dating game, convincing her that this gig will be good for her, telling her how the other guys on the show Great acts include actor Helen Hunt.

Sheryl is frustrated by the sexist attitudes shown regarding her appearance and the questions asked of the bachelor. The show’s host Ed (Tony Hale), as well as Bachelors 1 (Matt Visser) and 2 (Jedediah Goodacre) are equally misogynistic. It is the ultimate irony that the most sensitive bachelor, number 3, Alcala, is a serial killer! Inspired by an awesome makeup lady, Sheryl goes off script with questions on the theory of relativity and Immanuel Kant.

One of the spectators, Laura (Nicolette Robinson), recognizes Alcala as being around her friend who was murdered but no one is willing to listen to her.

Despite knowing how the story ends, lady of time Maintains tension. It works both as a thriller and as a sharp critique of the times. Sheryl’s casual gender discrimination during one of her auditions, where men disparagingly discuss her in front of her, saying, “She looks like a girl in that thing,” is remarkable. At the studio, the executives saying, “He’s got the body, let’s use it,” is another nerve-wracking moment. Even Sheryl’s neighbor Terry (Pete Holmes) is patronizing.

While changes have been made to dating game The parts (Sheryl goes out for drinks with Alcala, which the actual contestant did not do), the parts about Alcala’s murders are fairly accurate. By not trying to escape Hollywood-style from the clutches of a serial killer, Kendrick shows sensitivity to other victims as well as realism – there are no happy endings in life, only small victories. The attacks are also presented sensitively – neither gratuitous nor pretentious.

lady of time Well acted (Zovatto is scary as Alcala, and Kendrick knocks it out of the park as Sherrill) and designed (perfect period details from the music and costumes to the props and viewpoints ) But the true slice of life is the thriller.

Woman of the Hour is currently streaming on Lionsgate Play