A review of Woman of the Hour

Spoiler Alert: This Review Contains Plot Details

Woman of the Hour recently hit Netflix, marking Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut. Yes, the same Anna Kendrick from Pitch Perfect—and honestly, she brought a unique edge to this project.

You know, I’m knee-deep into crime movies and documentaries, especially anything involving serial killers (I know, I’m dumbfounded AF at myself). This movie hits differently. It doesn’t throw brutality in your face—it’s all about subtle, understated tension that somehow makes the chills creep up your spine.

The film is based on a real-life event that happened in 1978. Rodney Alcala, a serial killer already on the loose, appeared as a contestant on The Dating Game. And, shockingly, he won. Yep, right in the middle of his killing spree. Alcala is now believed to have murdered as many as 130 people, though he was officially convicted for only seven murders. The dude had a chilling MO—he’d lure his victims by pretending to be a photographer, offering to take their photos. He was finally captured in 1979 and sentenced to death, but it took decades of trials and appeals before he was locked away for good. He died of natural causes in 2021, still behind bars.

Daniel Zovatto was insanely convincing as Alcala in the film. The way he nailed the quiet menace of the character—those unsettling eyes alone gave me the creeps. It wasn’t over-the-top; it was the kind of cold performance that sneaks up on you and leaves you uneasy.

As for Anna Kendrick, she kept her usual nonchalant style, almost like her Beca character from Pitch Perfect, doing things her way, not caring what others think. But in this role as Sheryl Bradshaw, the woman who picked Alcala on The Dating Game, there was something more profound. Her fear was quiet but powerful—just a look or a tiny movement, and you could feel her discomfort.

One scene that really stuck with me was when Rodney asked Sheryl to recite the phone number she had written down.

My brain went into panic mode. I thought, “She’s going to fake the number!” I’ve done the same—changing the last digit of my number when I can’t refuse someone—but then it hit me: What if the guy notices? The way the movie framed that moment was pure tension, and I froze along with her. It was unsettling AF.

In real life, Sheryl dodged a bullet—literally. After winning the date with Alcala, she later backed out, telling producers she felt uncomfortable around him. Thank God for her instincts. She likely avoided becoming one of his victims.

If you’re into serial killer stories or true crime, this film is right up your alley. Not that I’m encouraging it or anything… Lol.