Woman of the Hour

"WOMAN OF THE HOUR is #creepy as hell and darkly #unsettling. How do you even rate a movie like this? I mostly wanted to check it out since it’s Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut and I was familiar with the story, but the subject matter is undeniably grim😫 ▪️This #truecrime #psychological #thriller has a disturbing, horror-like vibe (well, maybe just a horrifying vibe)—probably why #Netflix saved it for an October release. It centers on a #serialkiller who once appeared on The Dating Game in the #1970s. The retro setting, combined with the eerie mood and Kendrick’s direction, perfectly amplifies the discomfort and tension, if that’s what you’re looking for in a thriller. But it’s one of those films that left me feeling icky, and the chilling facts revealed at the end just made it worse, leaving me feeling hopeless and weighed down by the horrifying reality behind this real-life story. ▪️Oh, but I did enjoy young newcomer, Autumn Best’s performance, so there’s that!😉🤷‍♀️ "

"4⭐️ Whew this movie hit me .. WAY more than I thought it would. The mark of a good film, when it’s that emotionally affecting. Anna Kendrick took the subject, and the subject matter, very seriously. Given The Dating Game context and the 70s time period, I think I expected a lighter treatment, maybe a bit of camp or a winky smirk. It absolutely does NOT do that. Instead this film takes a deep dark look at victimization, manipulation, power dynamics, and the ways women inherently learn to survive a world that, at best works to enforce control and at worst to kill. Literally. To kill us. To my perspective it was an ingenious method of exploring this topic. There were moments that generated the type of chill that as women, can be an underlying theme to our lives. More likely, *the* underlying theme. This film so effectively highlights the trust we must constantly yield when trusting is such a dangerous thing for us, in too many ways. Despite having a lot to say, it isn’t perfect. Pacing can be off and some scenes are disjointed here and there. Despite feeling slow at times, for the most part it was very deliberate about how and what it showed the viewer. By the conclusion I was completely engrossed, maybe a bit sickened, but, important to note, not devastated. Kendrick suffuses the film with the steel of fem fortitude which outbalances the helplessness of victimhood. I think that was her point all along. All in all a pretty decent directorial debut and though not generally a huge fan prior to this, I feel increased respect for her talent as well as her personal character, in examining some disturbing, bottled up themes. And to successfully accomplish it so non-gratuitously, not resorting to any salacious means of intent or execution. And since it’s currently No.1 on Netflix, to still do it in a way that people want to see it. I’m a 👍 on this one. With only a few caveats. "

"Anna Kendrick has done a commendable job in her directorial debut while also starring in this movie. She was able to create an eerie mood throughout the film and an ever present feeling of impending doom. But, although she represented how women were viewed during the 70s, I felt that she went with a light touch as it pertains to the genuinely horrendous true life crimes of Rodney Alcala. If you were to Google the crimes of Rodney Alcala, you will find how insanely gruesome his actions were. On a separate note, I find it defeating that the criminal justice system can convict and sentence someone to death for their crimes and then they just sit there on death row for years and years, only to die at a ripe old age of natural causes, as Alcala did. How is that justice for all his victims? But as it pertains to this film, I understand the vibe she was going for and it works. All his attacks on his victims portrayed in the movie were mostly implied and very little violence was actually on screen. So I wouldn't classify this as a horror movie, but more as a tense and creepy thriller. But well done nonetheless. 8/10"

"Don't think I loved it, but I did really like it. The different angles of the story were a cool surprise, since the description made the plot seem more linear, but I'm really bad at following multiple time jumps so it was hard to remember when things were happening relative to each other. Based on the title (and description) I also expected Anna Kendrick's character to be more at the front of what was happening, but in the end she felt more like the face of the movie, which I think goes against the character's principles and is a shame cause I loved AK's portrayal of her. I think it would've been better to keep the focus on the three main women - two of which were in the same space and time - instead of moving so much between stories, but I understand that the way the movie was made provided a lot of insight to how awful this guy was. I would still recommend, despite my complaints, it really was an enjoyable movie with great acting from the cast. 8.5/10 📸"

"This weird story is based on a true story of a serial rapist and murderer who appeared on the Dating Game tv show in the 1970’s and was chosen as the guy. This epic show is re- created with scenes from his kills interspersed with the show. Perhaps the warning is this guy seems quite average but knows how to not creep out a woman. Dating = women avoiding death and assault and men seeking an object for their desire- what could go wrong?"

"Day 15 of #Spooktober and finally after much anticipation I watched Anna Kendrick debut directorial WOMEN OF THE HOUR. I just knew from the 60 sec teaser trailer I saw a month ago this was be a good one. It’s a thriller which juggles a little #horror, #truecrime, #popculture,#periodpiece all into one. I’m not a women but I’m 1000% every women on this earth has encountered guys like Rodney Alacala at some point of there life. Ana is good at giving you a women’s perspective and how it’s probably like walking on eggshells to talk to some of you weirdos. As crazy as the story is I just knew it would end up being true. Still I was shocked to find out Rodney Alacala really was selected as a contestant on “The Dating Game.” What’s worse is he was already on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list when he was chosen, and had served time in prison for raping and physically abusing an 8-year-old girl. He had also killed several women at this point. Tbh Anna went kind of light when it comes to how gruesome this guy actually was. But she still delivered a project that probably deserved more than a straight to #Netlfix. #recommendation moon"

"This movie has parts that makes you uncomfortable you feel that pit in your stomach the movie provides an intimate lens on the killer Rodney Acala you get different perspectives the performances were beyond five stars for Anna kendricks directing debut this a sophisticated and perverse depiction of the dating game killer highly recommend to watch "

"It kept my interest throughout. Nothing groundbreaking but it is based on true events (I think they should have included real footage). "

"Good movie that obviously isn't completely factual, including saying that "Cheryl Bradshaw left California to live a private life and raise a family." No one seems to actually know what happened to her or where she ended up, although Anna Kendrick claims she has since passed away. Perhaps Anna knows more about her than anyone else in the world because no one else seems to have any idea what became of her. I have always adored Anna Kendrick and now I just love her more. I found her direction to be impeccable and her acting, as usual, superb. She took liberties with the truth to tell a mostly true story of a real life serial killer. Almost every name was fictionalized except Rodney Alcala's and Cheryl Bradshaws, although she did change her first name to Sheryl. Here is a list of the names of his victims on the movie alongside the actual names of the victims. Sarah in Wyoming (1977) is Christine Ruth Thornton. Amy in San Gabriel, California (1979) is Monique Hoyt. Charlie in NYC (1971) is Cornelia Crilley. Alison in Malibu, California is Georgia Marie Wixted. Here is a good article that gives the facts vs fiction in the movie. https://slate.com/culture/2024/10/woman-of-the-hour-true-story-rodney-alcala-dating-game-netflix.html See comments for the rest of my review. "

"I gave this 3.5 stars on Letterboxd but I can’t round it up to 4 stars, even tho I think it’s a very solid crime-based drama… so, 3 stars it is."