Woman of the Hour: Is Anna Kendrick's Directorial Debut Worth Watching?
Despite her comedy background, Kendrick made a very disturbing crime movie.
In September, Zoë Kravitz's directorial debut Blink Twice was released, and in October, Anna Kendrick, an equally popular actress with a passion for comedy, took Kravitz's place with Woman of the Hour.
It is all the more surprising that Kendrick, having found herself behind the camera, has made a movie that is not light-hearted and funny, but disturbing, realistic and frightening.
Woman of the Hour Is Based on Real Events
The plot of Woman of the Hour is based on real events that took place in the late 70s. At that time, amateur photographer and serial killer Rodney Alcala killed at least 170 young women and girls – new information about his alleged victims continues to emerge.
Alcala differed from the infamous Ted Bundy, who was active at about the same time but in a different part of the country, in one notable detail of his biography.
In 1978, he became a contestant and then winner of the popular TV show The Dating Game, in which a woman chooses one of three guys. Only by a miracle did the contestant escape death at the hands of Alcala. This story is dedicated to her.
What Is Woman of the Hour About?
The main character is an aspiring actress, Cheryl, who unsuccessfully tries to build a career in show business. But instead of getting the roles she wants, she gets ridiculed. After another unsuccessful casting, she receives a call from an agent offering her the chance to take part in a popular TV show.
No special acting talent is required, just a big smile and pre-written questions. When Cheryl finds herself in front of the cameras, she suddenly decides to deviate from the script, which confuses the producers but pleases the viewers, who are tired of the same type of plot.
And everything would be fine, but after the shoot, one of the participants – photographer Rodney Alcala – persistently invites Cheryl to dinner, but she doesn't really want to be alone with him.
Anna Kendrick Is Careful to Keep the True Story Both Starring and Directing
The script of Woman of the Hour goes far beyond the TV screen, jumping back and forth in time to capture as many details of the madman's dark past as possible.
An intelligent and charismatic man, Alcala lured women with deceptively kind words and seemingly noble deeds – he seemed perfectly normal until the moment he decided to strike the first blow.
Woman of the Hour goes through the chronology of Alcala's crimes: each scene of the attack, filmed in close-up and emphatically realistic, is morally difficult to watch. Kendrick consciously avoids the exploitation of graphic violence and masterfully recreates the feeling of paralyzing fear on screen – both as an actress and as a director.
Where to Watch Woman of the Hour?
Woman of the Hour is available to stream on Netflix.