Rating: 4/5 stars

“Woman of the Hour,” is a bone-chilling and gut-wrenching new Netflix movie, that follows an aspiring actor and her just-missed date with death—starring Anna Kendrick (“Self Reliance”) as Cheryl Bradshaw and Daniel Zovatto (“The Pope’s Exorcist”), as the infamous serial killer, Rodney Alaca. This movie is so intriguing because it is solely based on a true story. Back in the late 1970s, Rodney Alaca was arrested for the murders of multiple, speculated to be hundreds, young girls and women. 

As Bradshaw engages in her acting career, we follow her as she receives a job that makes it seem self-deprecating, in a way showing that women are only ditzy and flirty, still, she takes it. There she meets Alaca and the story begins. For those who enjoy true crime, documentaries and serial killers as a whole subject will enjoy this retelling of true events. Although the film is based on true events, some areas of the movie are added for a dramatic flair, but the majority of the movie is true. 

The movie does a superb job retelling the horrific nature of Alaca and his infamous personality. His character makes Bradshaw and the other contestants uncomfortable. Kendrick does an amazing job bringing Bradshaw to life and retelling her encounter. As well as Zovatto, he embodies Alaca and his quirks too well. Viewers can feel the fear and anxiety through the screen, once again her acting does not disappoint. Giving a viewer goosebumps and anxious feelings, as running into someone like Alaca is not so uncommon, Kendrick tells a story for all women who have encountered, or almost, ran into someone as dangerous as Alaca. 

Not only does it follow the main character Bradshaw and the dating show, but the film itself shows a glimpse of Alaca’s horrific past and what murders and assaults he was able to get away with. As well as what he was not able to get away with, hence his arrest in the late 1970s.

As the film progresses, one starts to understand and see when his first victims started, how young they were and why he does what he does. The film does not take you into Alaca’s childhood, but it does show him as an adult and focuses more on the dating show. His character is prompted to be intellectual and calculated but masked with charisma. He knows who his next victim will be, as ventures and lures out lonely, sad and vulnerable young and older women. 

Sickening as it was when the story first broke headlines, the actors do an amazing job recreating that eerie and stomach-churning feeling all over again. In addition to the acting, the storytelling and writing did not disappoint. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats, anxiously awaiting the ending. Those who heavily enjoy true crime and movies that leave you with goosebumps and a pit in your stomach will love “Woman of the Hour”.

Image by Netflix from Youtube