Written by Ian McDonald and directed by Anna Kendrick, “Woman of the Hour” was released on Netflix on Oct. 18.

The film depicts the true story of Rodney Alcala, who was a serial killer convicted of his crimes back in 1979. As the movie explains in its conclusion, Alcala was found guilty of the murders of five women, but his victim count is estimated to be as high as 130 individuals. Many scenes throughout the movie portray some of the murders Alcala was responsible for, which sets an eerie tone for the film.

The film also follows the story of Sheryl Bradshaw, played by Kendrick, as she participates in the popular 1970s game show, “The Dating Game.” Bradshaw unknowingly chooses Alcala as the “winner,” and they go on an uncomfortable date after the show.

As the story unfolds, scenes from the murders alternate with scenes from Sheryl’s experience on the show to create a stark contrast of humor and disturbance. Both Kendrick and Daniel Zovatto, who plays Alcala, do a great job of depicting their characters. Zovatto portrays an almost charismatic quality when viewers meet him, but then he shifts to having sinister qualities, which largely contributes to the eerie feeling of the film. Kendrick also portrays charm, but slowly grows uneasy with her circumstances, which keeps viewers on their toes, anticipating what will come next.

Overall, I really enjoyed the way the story was told and thought every character was cast well. I liked the back-and-forth scenes and felt entertained throughout the entire movie. Overall, I would give this film a 7.5/10.

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