By Elliot Lines - October 18, 2024
On September 13, 1978, Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) showed his face to thousands of households in an attempt to woo Cheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick) on The Dating Game. Little did they know at the time (maybe they should've) that by this point Alcala had already killed and raped several women and girls. Anna Kendricks directorial debut Woman of the Hour shines a light on this story, however it never frames Alcala, as so many of these types of films do, instead she chooses to focus on the victims of his heinous crimes, a welcome choice in the true crime serial killer genre that is so often on our screens.
With the focus being on the victims, Kendrick's impressive directorial debut is sensitive towards the true crime and rarely gives Alcala its main focus. The choice to present his crimes off screen help the film create a sense of fear, but that fear comes from the unknown, much like his victims felt.
Woman of the Hour embodies the trusting 70's nature, where inviting someone into your house or jumping in a car with a stranger was far more plausible. Alcala's victims never feel like they are walking into his trap, making this sensitive towards his victims, never allowing you to judge or criticise the choices these women make.
Kendrick stars as Cheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress in Hollywood. From the start there is emphasis on misogyny of this time (which still factors today), and through this character she portrays that in leaps and bounds. From a neighbour guilt tripping her into bed; to a TV host telling her to dumb it down for the men, this message is key to the story and explains how the constant back-turning may have allowed Alcala to get away with his crimes.
From a technical perspective, Woman of the Hour uses a array of flash backs to unravel its story. While this approach helped in the sense of the fear surrounding Alcala, it occasionally made the film somewhat disjointed. The frequent shifts in time, which spans several years, leave a constant need to work out where you are in the timeline, making it at times a little challenging to keep track.
Woman of the Hour takes a thoughtful approach to a true crime story by centering on the victims rather than the killer, a fresh take on a genre that often glorifies the criminal. Despite some narrative choppiness, Kendrick's directorial debut is a powerful and sensitive exploration of a notorious case.
WOMAN OF THE HOUR IS STREAMING NOW ON NETFLIX
Comments