The time is 1 a.m. I'm sitting across from my laptop—in a dark apartment that's way too quiet—as the credits roll for Netflix's Woman of the Hour and I feel terrified. An intense soundtrack is blasting from my headphones as my mind goes straight back to the most terrifying scenes from the film. And even now, as I write this, certain parts still haunt me. But beyond telling a seriously creepy tale that gets under people's skin, I get the feeling that Anna Kendrick—who made her directorial debut with this incredible true-crime thriller—is trying to make an even bigger statement with her approach to the genre.
In case you're unfamiliar with the plot, it follows Sheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress who lands a gig on the television show The Dating Game. But unbeknownst to her, the winning contestant is a serial killer. The movie is based on the true story of Rodney Alcala, a convicted sex offender and killer who appeared on the show during his murder spree in 1978.
Now, when it comes to most serial killer movies and shows I've seen, the focus is typically on the criminal (like Dahmer, The Little Things, American Murderer, etc.). However, Kendrick takes a refreshing approach by exploring the lives of the victims, which easily makes this one of the best true-crime movies I've ever seen. Let me explain.
