As a film enthusiast with a keen interest in stories that resonate deeply, I must say that “Woman of the Hour” is a breath of fresh air in the genre of serial killer movies. Unlike many of its counterparts, this movie doesn’t dwell on the psychopath but rather focuses on the lives of his victims, which I find incredibly refreshing.
After making its debut during various film festivals more than a year back, the directorial first attempt by Anna Kendrick has now found a platform on Netflix. The true crime drama primarily revolves around the notorious ‘Dating Game’ murderer, Rodney Alcala, portrayed exceptionally well by Daniel Zovatto. In the 70s, ‘The Dating Game’ was a widely-watched ABC reality show where each episode featured a different woman contestant asking a series of questions to three unidentified bachelors before choosing one for a date.
Alcala is notoriously linked to an episode from 1978, during which he was engaged in a series of grisly murders. Woman of the Hour narrates this tale in an unconventional manner, exploring the periods before and after his stint as a show contestant, rather than just focusing on that timeframe.
Explore Our ReviewWoman of the Hour: Despite having potential for sensationalism, this film delicately tackles challenging themes with compassion and finesse, thanks to Kendrick’s skillful direction. The lives of these actual victims are portrayed with sensitivity and authenticity, enabling viewers to develop empathy towards them while remaining troubled by Alcala’s hidden aggression beneath his charming persona.
Kendrick skillfully highlights the misogyny prevalent during those times using clever wit and bold comments that were anything but veiled. Her ability as a director was undeniable, and she tackled the challenging narrative with grace.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Woman of the Hour
The Camera Moves Away When the Violence Is at Its Worst
On this unconventional sequence of events, we observe a blend of Alcala’s interactions with past and future victims, occurring during his stint on The Dating Game. In every encounter, Alcala presents himself as courteous, captivating, and even chivalrous towards the female victims. He consistently finds ways to discuss photography, enabling him to capture photos of his victims for his album, which he occasionally shares with others.
Regardless of the discussion, there comes a time when his suppressed anger takes control, leading him to lash out. The scene will capture the start of these outbursts, but gradually pull back, sparing us from witnessing the outcome of the violence. We might hear the scuffle, but we’ll never see how it concludes.
In a more simplified manner, it’s clear that Kendrick’s choice to avoid depicting violence serves as a smart creative move for numerous reasons. It’s well established that Alcala is a serial killer and his method of operation is to kill. Showing the gruesome details of each murder isn’t necessary because we already understand the end result. By not showing the full attacks, we also honor the real-life victims and their families who have been impacted by these tragedies for many years.
When turning a real-life crime incident into a movie or series, there’s a danger it may come off as insensitive or sensationalistic. However, Kendrick avoids such issues by letting viewers draw their own conclusions and by giving due respect to the actual lives of Alcala’s victims.
Using Humor to Call Out the Misogyny of the Time
Kendrick is primarily known for her comedic roles, although she has ventured into other genres. However, Woman of the Hour isn’t a comedy per se, yet it includes humorous elements, particularly during the scenes depicting Cheryl Bradshaw’s (Kendrick) episode on The Dating Game.
On set, it’s evident that Cheryl feels uneasy due to the sexism coming from both host Ed Burke (Tony Hale) and one of the bachelors. Approaching the halfway point in filming, Cheryl decides to seize control of the game and rewrite all the subsequent questions she was meant to ask the bachelors. She poses these questions with a light touch but with the intention of catching them off guard, which leaves the audience roaring with laughter while also annoying Ed.
In playfully causing the gentlemen to stumble, Cheryl subtly exposes the underlying sexism and misogyny within the room using humor as her tool, ensuring no one is genuinely offended. Her final query to the bachelors was a witty, “What’s the purpose of women?”, a question that left two of them temporarily speechless. This moment effectively eliminated contestants one and two from the competition, but more importantly, it’s a question many men often struggle to answer correctly.
The Film Focuses on the Lives of the Victims, Not Rodney
From a passionate film aficionado’s perspective, it’s intriguing how many narratives revolving around serial killers delve deep into the perpetrators themselves, their twisted motivations, and the gruesome details of their crimes against their victims. However, Woman of the Hour takes a refreshing twist by shifting the spotlight from the offender to the women he harmed. We catch brief glimpses into the lives of four such women, including Cheryl and Amy (Autumn Best), who fell victim to the horrors of the ’70s. The narrative gives us insights into their personal stories, their aspirations, and in the cases of Cheryl and Amy, how they managed to escape his grasp. The film never centers on Alcala himself or portrays him as the protagonist. Although the story is based on his heinous acts, it’s not his tale. It belongs to his victims, shedding light on their lives, their struggles, and ultimately, their resilience.
As a passionate film enthusiast, I find it fascinating how Cheryl’s experience on The Dating Game and her chilling encounter with Alcala connect the dots between his past and future victims’ narratives. In this gripping tale, Sarah (Kelley Jackle) is the first victim we meet. She was left by her boyfriend upon discovering they were expecting a child. The weight of this unexpected news led her to confide in Alcala during their outdoor photoshoot in California’s picturesque valleys.
Additionally, we meet Charlie (Kathryn Gallagher), a creative flight attendant who recently moved into a Manhattan apartment. In her enthusiasm, she enlisted Alcala’s help in moving her new furniture upstairs and welcomed him inside. She shared her passion for her flight attendant role and globetrotting lifestyle. He casually mentioned attending a college class with Roman Polanski. Charlie expressed her lifelong dream to explore Egypt and lamented that she was supposed to embark on such a journey for work the very next week.
Following the introduction of Cheryl and her difficulties in securing acting jobs, we encounter Amy, a rebellious teenager who lives life spontaneously with little care for the future. Initially reluctant about spending time with Alcala, she is eventually captivated by his charm and joins him in the valley. The movie periodically revisits her story, revealing that she was the one responsible for arresting and putting Alcala on trial. We learn that she cleverly manipulated him by asking him to keep their encounter confidential after waking up injured and battered.
Highlighting these women instead of the serial killer fosters an emotional connection with the viewers, as they are actual individuals, not just characters on screen. By revealing aspects of their lives and personalities, we’re reminded that they had dreams, relationships, professions, and pastimes. Spending time with them enables us to hear their stories, making them more than just movie figures.
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Woman of the Hour
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2024-10-27 19:02