Woman of the Hour - Movie Review HD Online

One year has passed since I saw Anna Kendrick's directorial debut, Woman of the Hour, at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023. I'm still troubled by it. The movie, which was written by Ian McDonald, is based on the real-life events surrounding Rodney Alcala's 1978 appearance on The Dating Game, where he was a serial rapist and murderer. As Sheryl, a budding actress, and rival who paired with him on that fatal day, Kendrick not only delivers a typically witty and clever performance, but she also demonstrates as a director a deep interest in the power of the gaze, both human and cinematic. Stream the movie online on Soap2 Day HD.

Alcala reminds all of his victims mostly disadvantaged women—that they are lovely. He works as a photographer. He knows of the power of his camera and his focus. Kendrick starts her movie with a 1977 murder victim. Before we see her, we hear her off-screen. Alcala's lens frames the first picture of her. He encourages her to try to forget that there is a camera present. The actor Daniel Zovatto's eyes, which are used to trick women into feeling safe, are shown by Kendrick as open rivers of empathy in Alcala's face. His eyes take on an overwhelming brutality as he switches to predator mode. Holding his face, Kendrick lets the transition occur first.

Alcala and Sheryl go out for drinks later in the movie. It's not going well on the date. The charming bachelor has changed as a result of Sheryl's laughing. She claims she doesn't date much while she's in rehab. The irrationality of her being on a dating show is something he observes. It will get me seen, she says, quoting her agent. He says, Did you feel seen?" The dialogue is framed as a battle by the camera's close-ups of both. She acknowledges, "I felt looked at. How are you feeling at the moment? he presses. Fine, she says, clearly uncomfortable. All right, he responds gleefully. A threatening pause occurs. "You know, most people don't like to be seen, he goes on.