Woman of the Hour

This film does a good job of revealing the ways psychopaths often use charm to lure their victims. I appreciate the fact that the film is by no means a typical horror film or a typical psychological thriller. Most of the violent acts in this film are only portrayed via the events leading up to them (or after them), and so much of the actual violence is indirectly portrayed rather than actually being shown. It keeps things light enough -- and doesn't show enough actual violence -- in order for the film to remain watchable but at the same time, it is often very unsettling and disturbing. The scene in the parking lot after the taping of the Dating Game really perfectly conveyed the same feeling that the character played by Anna would be feeling at the time. It's as though I could literally feel her own fear and uneasiness. I think Anna's acting and directing in this film were superb, as was all of the acting in general. What I appreciate most about this film is its underlying message(s) or themes regarding how women can so easily fall prey to the darker side of the male ego and how manipulative some men can be when it comes to women, such as exploiting the innocence or vulnerability of women for their own selfish gain. I also appreciate how it shoes that society in general (and especially back then) actually encourages and often condones this kind of treatment toward women -- dehumanizing and objectifying them. And as the film shows, even intelligent women are susceptible to the charm of the psychopath -- and society alone can render them vulnerable. This message was not only delivered via the behavior and violence of "Rodney" but also via the behavior of a few other male characters in the film. Anyone hoping for a typical serial killer film is going to be disappointed with this one. But anyone hoping for something with more underlying depth will hopefully appreciate it.

Woman of the Hour follows the story of serial killer Rodney Alcala along with his appearance he made on the game show, The Dating Game. If you're like me, I didn't know anything about this story at all going into the film, so it was a really interesting watch. This is a good not great movie, but Anna Kendrick did a great job in her directorial debut. I really like what she did with this film, it just felt like it was missing something though. Aside from a couple scenes, it lacks the suspense that could've made this a really great thriller. Regardless, this is a solid movie that I would recommend giving a watch once and I hope we see more of Anna Kendrick directing in the future!

Sheryl (Anna Kendrick) is a struggling actress in Hollywood in the 1970's. Ready to give up and move back home, her agent books her on The Dating Game, where she can pick from 3 bachelors to go on a date. Among the gentlemen suitors to be is Rodney (Daniel Zovatto), a serial rapist and killer, who wants Sheryl to be the 'Woman of the Hour'.

The film is decently acted and shot; reminiscent of the '70's, where everything is a hue of brown and orange. The fault is the script. Most of the film revolves around Sheryl, but the other various crimes that Rodney commits are far more interesting. The climax of the film is lackluster and may leave the viewer less than satisfied.

Might be worth a watch. Don't expect much.

Aspiring actress Sheryl Bradshaw struggles to land her big break, to get her face seen, she agrees to go on a dating show, where she meets Rodney Alcala, unaware that she's interacting with a serial killer.

It's a good film, definitely well made and well acted, it's almost shocking to discover that the film is based on actual, real life events. A little research will detail just how monstrous Alcala was, he clearly committed multiple murders, and got away with it for years.

It's well paced and even though it jumps around the timeline a little, it's easy to follow. It's done in a way to show just how dangerous Alcala was, and how much danger Sheryl, our central character is in.

I'm a big fan of Anna Kendrick, and she did such a good job as Sheryl, she's great, Daniel Zovatto perhaps steals it, he's excellent as Alcala.

One scene that did confuse me a little, were they implying that Alcala was flirting with a guy, and trying to lure him to his death? It felt a little bizarre.

7/10.

This film spoke to me for a couple of reasons. I was a college student during the time depicted in this film, and I remember very well how naïve many young women were about how manipulative, conniving, and dangerous some men could be. I'm fortunate that nothing happened to me, because I certainly took some risks in situations where I should have known better. And then when something like a sexual crime did happen to a young woman, law enforcement didn't always take it seriously. They often thought the girl was asking for it because, for example, she was wearing a short skirt and walking alone at night.

The pacing of this film is deliberate and intense, and it switches back and forth between time frames and victims. I found it a little annoying at first, but it all made sense at the end. I thought Anna Kendrick and Daniel Zovatto played their roles extremely well. Zovatto came across as creepy AF. A few points are fictionalized, of course, and I'm not sure how much. I did some reading about Rodney Alcala, and the way he was apprehended is essentially accurate. If you can deal with the slow pace of this film, it's well worth the watch.