Woman of the Hour (Anna Kendrick, 2023, USA)

Woman of the Hour is the directorial debut of actress Anna Kendrick. Ian McDonald's script is based on the actual case of Rodney Alcala, an American serial killer who ended up as a contestant on the popular 1970s TV show The Dating Game before being captured in 1979. This story alone is worthy of a script, so, remarkably, it took this long for the Alcala case to hit the big screen. Aside from the fundamental premise, McDonald's script mostly takes many liberties with the actual events in the service of the narrative.

McDonald's script on the one hand is largely uninterested in the internal motivations. This does present something of a contradiction, as the film opens with Alcala and we are witness to some of his murders. But he is not the portal through which the story opens. Aspiring actress Sheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick), who lands a role as a contestant on The Dating Game, becomes our narrative window. In a multitude of ways, some clumsier than others, Kendrick attempts to show how attitudes toward women can create a climate that leads to violence.

The Dating Game portion of the film is largely fictionalized, even going so far as to replace the actual host of the show with a fictional character. Those seeking a more traditional serial killer thriller will likely be disappointed by Woman of the Hour, but those seeking more of a period piece with a serial killer element thrown in will likely appreciate the film. In turning away the focus from Alcala, the film surprises us. That being said, there is probably a better film to be made about the Alcala case. This script largely uses the Alcala case to explore other themes. In this sense, the film is far from the typical true crime fare we have grown to expect.

6/10