You’d think a straightforward thriller like this wouldn’t stir up so much controversy. And you’d be wrong. We’ll get to all that later, but first, let’s cover the basics. Woman of the Hour is an incredibly intense and unnerving thriller about a vicious serial killer searching for his next victim in the most bizarre way imaginable. Based on the true story of Rodney Alcala, a charming yet monstrous man, it also focuses on Sheryl Bradshaw, played by Anna Kendrick. This marks Kendrick’s directorial debut, and she did a terrific job, especially with the help of cinematographer Zach Kuperstein.
The story takes us back to the 1970s, complete with excellent costumes, sets, and meticulous attention to detail. Most of the narrative unfolds in real-time, centered on a single event, with flashbacks filling in the background. However, that’s just the surface. Woman of the Hour delves deeper, examining culture and society, with a particular focus on gender dynamics. It’s so fascinating to look at this time and this particular case and see how we changed over the following fifty years. And I guess this brings us to the topic of the day and, that is, you guessed it: The Tribal System of Values.
This time, we’re honing in on two of its most insidious offspring, patriarchy and misogyny. Naturally, as soon as you bring up these issues, some people are quick to get defensive, often launching into toxic rants. I’m specifically talking about the IMDb user reviews section, a public square notorious for such reactions. I’ll admit, some of the critiques were quite eloquent, but their underlying intentions were hard to miss. Take, for example, a review complaining that the story focused unjustly on only a few characters while neglecting the broader scope of the case. While this is partly true, the focus on a smaller cast is necessary for most films to avoid confusion.
Another frequent criticism was about the inclusion of fictional events or characters. But again, this is a common practice in movies based on true events. It’s done to streamline the narrative and heighten its impact. Moreover, you’ll often see a disclaimer in bold letters before the movie starts, acknowledging fictional elements. The transition from this acknowledgment to outright hatred in some reviews, particularly regarding the narrative that some cops failed to do their job, much of the judicial system was flawed, and women were often not believed, is both fascinating and troubling.
That said, I won’t delve too deeply into these reactions, as I want to focus on the movie itself. Woman of the Hour masterfully captures the visceral fear one would feel when confronted by a predator. These scenes are poignant and deeply emotional, making it easy to put yourself in these women’s shoes and imagine the sheer terror they endured. Imagine slowly coming to the terrifying realization that the next nightmarish sequence of events might be completely beyond your control and that the next few breaths could be your last. The kills in Woman of the Hour are visceral and spine-chilling, working seamlessly with brooding establishing shots.
These shots are visually stunning, showcasing breathtaking mountains, serene lakes, desolate deserts, and other secluded places Rodney used as his killing grounds. If I may be so bold, it seems that nature itself acts as a silent third party here, a detached observer, indifferent to our human suffering. While some of the film’s points occasionally come across as a bit heavy-handed, this is a minor tonal issue compared to the overall quality of the movie. It’s an excellent study of both character and society.
Anna Kendrick delivers a strong performance as Sheryl, but Daniel Zovatto steals the show as Rodney. It took me almost thirty minutes to figure out where I’d seen him before, Fear the Walking Dead. While one could argue that the real Rodney was more conventionally attractive, that’s ultimately a matter of personal preference. What truly matters is that Zovatto perfectly captures the authoritative, offbeat charm that made this monster so dangerous. He plays a quirky photographer, always on the hunt for his next ‘muse’ and ‘inspiration,’ with chilling authenticity.
In real life, Rodney did graduate from the UCLA School of Fine Arts and even studied under Roman Polanski. Yes, the same Polanski you oftentimes hear about on the pages of this site. In 1977, Polanski drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl, Samantha Gailey. Disturbingly, this case shares unsettling similarities with Woman of the Hour. Polanski lured Samantha to his friend Jack Nicholson’s mansion under the pretense of a “‘”photoshoot”.
He convinced her mother to let her go with him, claiming it was an innocent opportunity. You can look up the full details of the case, but it’s crucial to understand how it nearly concluded: had Polanski not fled, his sentence might have ended with just a 90-day psychiatric evaluation. Yes, you read that correctly. While discussing similar cases, I have to mention Larry Nassar, the former doctor who molested young athletes on the US Olympic team for nearly three decades. He managed to carry out these heinous acts despite numerous complaints against him, which were repeatedly dismissed.
I’m currently watching a documentary about him, and his case fits disturbingly well with the themes explored in Woman of the Hour. Moving on, I also want to mention Autumn Best who plays Amy, a cute runaway with curly hair. Her performance was excellent and heartfelt. I think she has a bright future ahead of her. Finally, if you’re looking for something like Woman of the Hour, I recommend The Royal Hotel. It’s a slow-burning but intense Aussie thriller examining gender dynamics.
Director: Anna Kendrick
Writer: Ian McDonald
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Daniel Zovatto, Nicolette Robinson, Pete Holmes, Autumn Best, Tony Hale
Fun Facts: Anna Kendrick donated all the money she received from the movie to RAINN. And some of the money also went to National Center for Victims of Violent Crime.
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IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7737800/
