It’s hard to believe that Anna Kendrick would choose an unlikely subject to jumpstart her directorial career. That subject in question turns out to be a true-crime thriller based on the notorious serial killer Rodney Alcala, who appeared on an episode of The Dating Game in 1978 and Cheryl Bradshaw, the participating woman ended up choosing him. I figure Kendrick would go for something light and frothy, say a romantic comedy or a feel-good drama. Besides, from the time she rose to prominence playing Jessica in the Twilight Saga, she may act in different genres including gritty cop drama End of Watch and crime thriller The Accountant. But to me, she always reminds me of Pitch Perfect and Trolls – both movies that were best described as fun.
However, Kendrick’s directorial debut Woman of the Hour is anything but fun. Right from the opening scene, Kendrick has firmly established the ominous tone with the story taking place in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming in 1977. Rodney (Daniel Zovatto) is seen photographing a woman named Sarah (Kelley Jakle). It all started as a get-to-know-each-other moment and then comes the flirting before it slowly escalates into a terrifying assault. Kendrick favors the less-is-more approach and above all, the power of suggestion to depict the horror that Rodney murders his victim, even when it is shown offscreen.
Fast-forward to a year later, we met Cheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick), an aspiring actor looking for a big break but she failed her latest audition. Her neighbor (Pete Holmes), in the meantime, tries to make advances on her while they are having a drink in the bar but Cheryl rejects him. It seems that all she cares about is winning an audition and landing an acting gig.
She finally gets her chance but not the one she’s been expecting: Her agent has secured a spot for her to appear as a bachelorette participant in the television show The Dating Game episode, which at least gives her much-needed media exposure. Although Cheryl is initially reluctant with the idea, she manages to turn it to her advantage. Rodney, who happens to be one of the potential suitors vowing to get her girl, impresses her with his charm and well-curated answers throughout the show.
From here, Kendrick utilizes the non-linear narrative to go back and forth between the TV game show and Rodney’s calculated murder spree meeting different women. I was worried this might get confusing, especially if it falls under the hands of a lesser director but Kendrick proves to be adept in keeping the story taut and largely in focus. I love how she incorporates the deliberate way of building up the tension layer by layer. There’s a lingering sense of dread and discomfort upon watching Rodney in the TV game show has everything under control to get what he wants. Rodney, of course, eventually wins over Cheryl and they seem to be hitting it off with each other well.
It helps that Kendrick brings out the best in her cast, notably Daniel Zovatto who pulls off a disturbingly creepy turn beneath his charming appearance as the serial killer Rodney Alcala. I’m glad he doesn’t fall prey to chewing the scenery, which also further proved how skillfully Kendrick directed her actor. As Kendrick the actress, she does a good job playing a desperate but level-headed Cheryl Bradshaw.
While Woman of the Hour could have zeroed in on Cheryl being the intelligent one who manages to outsmart someone as sneaky as Rodney Alcala, this isn’t the type of last-woman-standing-against-the-perpetrator crime thriller. Interestingly, Kendrick also opens up for other women to shine (i.e. attempt to bring down the serial killer). Such is the case for Laura (Nicolette Robinson), the nervous audience who happens to be in the TV game show at the time when Rodney is there. She immediately recognizes him as the one who murdered her friend, prompting her to take action by trying to reach out and warn the show’s producer about his presence. Then, there’s another one named Amy (Autumn Best) in her solid supporting turn), a runaway rebellious teen who meets Rodney and their eventual journey together leads to one of the best scenes in the movie.
Speaking of the best scenes, it’s worth noting Kendrick’s impressive staging of a nerve-racking moment that takes place during the nighttime in a quiet parking lot. After Cheryl and Rodney’s unofficial first date following the TV game show, Cheryl begins to sense something is not right. Her strong intuition leads her to believe that Rodney isn’t what he seems to be and the subsequent scene that follows is a masterstroke of suspense. Anna Kendrick is undoubtedly a director to watch for and I’m curious to see what she’s up to next in her filmmaking journey.
