Woman of the hour

Year of release : 2023

 

Run time : 1h36min

 

Genre : Thriller / Crime

 

Cast : Anna Kendrick, Tony Hale

 

 

The movie is based on the true story of serial k1ller Rodney Alcala and his appearance on the 1978 tv show The Dating Game, while he was k1lling women. At the time the show was aired, Alcala already had murd3red at least 5 women, and his appearance in the episode earned him the nickname "The Dating Game K1ller".

 

The movie opens in 1977, Wyoming, when a photographer,Alcala, takes the model to a secluded place, and after she opens up about her life, he strangles her only to revive her right after.

 

We then see aspiring actress Sheryl, in 1978, auditioning for a part she doesn't get. We see her going out with her acting coach and neighbor, and she is offered a part in The Dating Game show by her agent, hoping after, she'll get recognition and get roles.

 

In 1979,San Gabriel, California, the serial k1ller strikes again, getting a runaway to go out with him in the wilderness to pose for him,as he's lying to all the women,and not only, he's a photographer.

In 1971 a stewardess asks Rodney, the serial, to help her move the furniture inside the house.

 

In 1978 Sheryl is getting ready to appear on the tv show, as the single woman looking for a bachelor. Rodney is bachelor number 3!

Laura, a woman who came with her boyfriend to see the show live,in the audience, recognizes bachelor number 3 as the man she last saw with her friend, who was found r@ped and k1lled the next morning. She wants to tell the producers of the show but she's fooled by the security guard into waiting for the janitor (I didn't understand why didn't she call the police!).Later on, she goes to the police and they don't care!

 

I liked the way the movie was directed, the landscapes shots were beautiful. One thing I didn't like about the movie was, it starts in 1977,then goes to 1978, and 1979,then goes back to 1971,and to when the tv show was filmed, it doesn't happen chronologically. At one point I didn't even know if the tv show was in 1978 or 1979,because I think it was 1979! It just felt convoluted!

 

To be honest, I was not impressed by the movie, I wouldn't want to watch it again. Ironically, the writer Ian McDonald's script,titled 'Rodney and Sheryl' (but we don't know how much of it remained the same and how much was changed), was featured on the Black List, an annual survey of the best or most popular scripts yet to be produced.

 

The acting was good,but not impressive. The whole time I was thinking the actress who played in 'Blood on her name', Bethany Anne Lind, should have played the friend who recognizes the serial k1ller,because she goes better through the motions.

 

The soundtrack was fine.

 

The movie is a Netflix production and can be found on the platform. The movie is also on AppleTv+ for 7 days free, and you can buy cinema tickets from Fandango.

 

Rating : Could have been a contender !