In her directorial debut, “Woman of the Hour,” Anna Kendrick skillfully tackles a chilling true-crime narrative with a sharp eye for social commentary. Inspired by real events, the thriller follows a woman whose appearance on a dating show leads her into the deadly orbit of a prolific serial killer. While rooted in fact, Kendrick takes creative liberties to explore deeper issues of the exploitation, manipulation and commodification of women, both within the entertainment industry and in society at large. The film taps into the collective fears and dangers that women often face, offering a haunting reflection on how they are systematically exploited and disregarded.
“Woman of the Hour” unfolds around the true-crime case of Rodney Alcala, a notorious serial killer who appeared as a contestant on “The Dating Game” in 1970s Los Angeles. Masquerading as a chivalrous photographer, Alcala reels in his victims with flattery and charm, coaxing personal stories out of the subjects he captures and preying on their vulnerabilities. On a live airing of the show, he crosses paths with Cheryl Bradshaw, portrayed by Kendrick, and their interaction sets the stage for an unnerving encounter.
Initially charmed by Alcala’s wit and laid-back demeanor, Bradshaw chooses him as her date. However, as the excitement of the televised spectacle settles, the sinister truth behind Alcala’s intentions surfaces. Kendrick, both director and lead actress, anchors the film with a restrained yet powerful performance, capturing Bradshaw’s internal conflict as she navigates the facades of reality TV and Alcala’s motives. As the narrative progresses, the story becomes less about Alcala’s specific crimes and more about the larger, more insidious ways in which women are manipulated, objectified and disregarded.
Kendrick brings a sense of unapologetic authenticity to “Woman of the Hour” that is deeply rooted in her experiences in the entertainment industry. Through her lens, the film reaches far beyond the true crime genre, with a profound exploration of the subtle yet pervasive exploitation women face in Hollywood. Kendrick has been outspoken about the industry’s pressures and demands and infuses the story with a rawness that underscores the precarious nature of an actress’ survival in a world where fame and attention are fleeting.
She embodies Bradshaw’s experiences to peel back the layers of a metaphor that reflects the larger, often unseen struggles of women who are discarded once they’re no longer deemed useful. Like many women in the entertainment world, Bradshaw is constantly objectified, undermined and shamed for setting boundaries and expressing discomfort. In portraying Bradshaw’s journey, Kendrick taps into her struggles as an actress working to maintain relevance in an industry that too often values youth and beauty over talent and agency. The film’s nuanced social commentary draws upon Kendrick’s years of experience, offering a sharp critique of how women are sidelined once they fade from the spotlight or fail to meet society’s rigid expectations of how they should behave and navigate their lives.
Daniel Zovatto’s portrayal of Rodney Alcala is simultaneously unsettling and hypnotic, perfectly illustrating the eerie duality of his character – a charismatic photographer concealing a predatory nature. His role as a photographer adds an ominous layer to the narrative, as Alcala’s obsession with “capturing” women on film parallels its broader themes of exploitation. Behind the camera, he lures vulnerable women in by leveraging his knack for manipulation and control, reducing them to mere objects that are discarded once they’re no longer of interest. This cycle of capture and abandonment mirrors the exploitative nature of the entertainment industry, where women are consumed by their image and then quickly replaced. Alcala’s habit of killing his victims after photographing them underscores the horrifying finality of this process, reinforcing the film’s critique of how society and media discard women when they no longer serve a purpose.
Kendrick opted to donate her share of the film’s proceeds to anti-sexual violence charities, including RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) and the National Center for Victims of Violent Crime, highlighting her desire to contribute to a larger social cause beyond her success. Kendrick’s donation was not just a financial gesture, but a reflection of her ongoing commitment to using her platform to raise awareness, leveraging visibility as a tool for advocacy and support.
