Woman of the Hour Parent Guide

In 1978, aspiring actress Sheryl (Anna Kendrick) is considering abandoning her dreams and leaving LA when her agent calls her with news: she’s landed a spot on the popular TV show “The Dating Game”. Though not all that interested in finding love, Sheryl agrees to the gig thinking that at least it will get her face out there.

Meanwhile, over the last decade Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) has been carrying out a gruesome murder spree against young women spread over multiple states. Although several women have filed police reports, he’s been able to continue his crimes while acting as a charming photographer in public. He’s even been able to land a spot as Bachelor No. 3 on “The Dating Game”. With his charming banter and quick wit, he’s sure to win the date, but that’s not all he’s after.

One area in which I do not relate to my fellow millennials is an obsession with true crime. I’ve never been interested in crime podcasts, shows, or books. I’ve poked around a Wikipedia page or two, but that’s the extent of it for me. Prior to Woman of the Hour, I had heard the legend of a serial killer on “The Dating Game”, but that was all I knew about the true story that inspired this film. Aside from not being terribly interested in true crime, I’m also not interested in scary movies. So, this show would never have appealed to me, and had I not been assigned to review it, I would never have considered watching it. But I’m glad I did.

Woman of the Hour is not trying to be a horror flick, nor is it occupied with portrayals of violence against women, as are many films in the genre. Yes, women are murdered, but the majority of the crimes happen off screen, or are portrayed in ways that don’t feel like they’re being glorified or used for shock value. Instead, this film is interested in the intersection of misogyny and violence, and how violent men are protected by misogynistic systems that refuse to believe women and provide escape hatches for charming men. And it’s not just the serial killer who expresses sexist views, it’s the other men around him too.

Kendrick’s directorial debut is well crafted, unnerving, and beautifully shot. The tensest scene in the film is expertly done, with complete silence instead of a score, and shots that keep the danger to the edges of the frame, almost out of view. Kendrick gives a stellar performance, but Zovatto’s subtle shifts between charming and murderous are expertly done, and worth watching.

Woman of the Hour is not my genre, but it’s a fantastically crafted film, with a lot to say underneath some expertly built tension. Yes, this is a film about a serial killer so obviously it’s going to have negative content, such as violence and language, that makes it unsuitable for many audiences. Personally, however, I found the violence done with purpose and restraint, unlike most similar productions. For those who are not averse to the mentioned content concerns, I think the messages around misogyny are powerful, yet subtle, and a fantastic starting point for reflection and discussion.