Anna Kendrick’s Perfect, IR-Kalwe Netflix Thriller Turns a Celebrity’s Dream into a Nightmare
Written by Robert Scucci | Published
Most serial killers in film tend to resemble detectives or crime procedurals, leaving very little to the imagination when it comes to narrative structure. Usually, you get a killer whose crimes slowly escalate, a damsel in distress who becomes one of many victims or the last damsel, and an ending where good triumphs over evil and everyone goes home saying, “It’s just what I expected.” I’m not knocking slashers or procedurals because they’re still fun and, when done right, make for a great viewing experience.
in 2023 Woman of the Houron the other hand, it ignores those familiar beats and tells its story through multiple timelines that converge at the right time. The audience understands how everything connects while the characters take a long time to reach their different points, making the payoff even more satisfying.
Even if you’re familiar with the true-crime story involving real-life murderer Rodney Alcala that the film is based on, Woman of the Hour it reshapes those events into something so uniquely structured that you’ll wish more stories were told this way. As a viewer, you feel like you know everything. The fun comes from waiting for the characters to see what you already know.
Set Game Show Lot, But So Much More Than That
Organized between 1971 and 1979, Woman of the Hour introduced Rodney Alcala, who was shown strangling a woman in 1977 after luring her to a remote location to take a photo. The film then shifts to 1978 Los Angeles, where we meet our main character, struggling actress Sheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick), whose agent convinces her to appear as a contestant. The Dating Game.
Reluctant because she believes the gig is beneath her, Sheryl shows up to the taping and turns on the charm with Bachelor #1 (Matt Visser), Bachelor #2 (Jedidiah Goodacre), and Bachelor #3 (Daniel Zovatto), who just happens to be Rodney Alcala. At this point, Woman of the Hour has already shown Rodney killing a flight attendant named Charlie (Kathryn Gallagher) in 1971 New York City, and the woman from the opening sequence. Now dialing up the charm of the TV lights, Rodney is gaining ground quickly The Dating Gamefor a chance to win a weekend getaway to Carmel-by-the-Sea with Sheryl.
During the taping, a member of the studio audience named Laura (Nicolette Robinson) recognizes Rodney as the man who killed her friend, but he was never found by the police. Panicked, he runs away from the production area and hits the camera just in time. Her boyfriend dismisses her allegations, and the guards dismiss her.
Before we learn Sheryl’s immediate fate, the film jumps to 1979, when a woman named Amy (Autumn Best) meets Rodney under the same circumstances as his previous victims. He asks to take pictures of her in a remote location, her violent side starts to show, and the scene is cut short Woman of the Hour changes back to the game show. There, Sheryl takes creative liberties with her love questions, winning over the audience, and ultimately choosing Bachelor #3 as the winner.
Suspicion Comes from Knowledge
Even if you’re not familiar with the actual murder of Rodney Alcala in the 70s, which eventually led to his capture and imprisonment, Woman of the Hour it still creates constant tension. When Sheryl met Rodney The Dating Gamewe already know exactly what he can do. No one else.
Laura’s suspicions are met with condescension. Her boyfriend assures her that game show producers vet contestants and do background checks before allowing them to participate. They don’t. To make matters worse, Rodney is a serial killer who has been active in multiple states over several years and has yet to be clearly identified by authorities.
We see Rodney’s crimes at different times and see how easily he escapes the consequences. We see glimpses of his attitude when he commits violence and when he is questioned by the authorities, slowly slipping through their fingers before moving on. We see how cunning and lovable he can be before he grows up, which makes his presence a reality The Dating Game everything that scares me. He’s likable enough to attract victims, but that front of the field drops as soon as he feels control slipping.
The result is a nail-biting thriller where you know the killer from the moment he appears in the opening scene. The tension doesn’t come from guessing who did it. It comes from a blank stare from Sheryl, who is blissfully ignorant and just trying to make a career in Hollywood, while Laura tries to convince anyone to listen.
Woman of the Hour is streaming on Netflix.
