WOMAN OF THE HOUR – Review by Liz Whittemore
Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut taps into every female’s greatest fears. Woman Of The Hour tells the true story of Cheryl Bradshaw as she appeared opposite a serial killer on The Dating Game. Struggling actress Cheryl accepts a reluctant gig on the famous 1970s game show. Sick and tired of the typical dumbed-down fare, Cheryl takes control of the episode with rewritten, quick-witted questions. But someone in the audience recognizes contestant Number Three for all the wrong reasons.
Alongside Cheryl’s journey, the film includes vignettes of Rodney Alcala’s other victims through the years. Each encounter is slightly different, but the consequences are equally horrific. Alcala’s methods are slick and sadistic. Reeling women into the desert with his promises of photography and flattering words, he is a perfect predator. Rejection serves as his trigger.
Daniel Zovatto is phenomenal as Alcala. He is undeniably charming, confident, intelligent, and incredibly frightening. Kendrick gives Cheryl Bradshaw a remarkable and relatable strength. Her tenacity and sass, definitely mirroring her personality in real life, make her performance undeniably watchable. Their chemistry is electric.
Writer Ian McDonald provides the audience with some genuinely stomach-churning moments, some so subtle I wonder if only women viewers will catch them. It’s such a fantastic representation of men being clueless about boundaries and how women tend to acquiesce to remain people pleasers. It is misogyny on full display, and not just from a Hollywood perspective but as daily behavior. Woman of the Hour highlights the idiotic question, “Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Welcome to Gaslighting 101.
Kendrick has a keen eye behind the camera. Her years of experience on screen have made her a quick study, and the results are remarkable. The scenes between Daniel Zovatto and Anna Kendrick are so intense you may find yourself biting your nails and not even realize you’re doing it. Woman of the Hour is a heart-racing watch that digs at the psyche of every woman watching.
