Woman of the Hour
Directed by Anna Kendrick
- crime
- drama
- thriller
The story
An aspiring actress crosses paths with a prolific serial killer in '70s LA when they're cast on an episode of "The Dating Game."
What it’s like
Warm, sun-faded 1970s Los Angeles, all dusty afternoon light, avocado and ochre tones, and the hard glare of a television studio set against the softer rooms of a city that seems pleasant until it isn't. The score and sound design lean on unease rather than release, with quiet stretches that let dread gather. The pacing is patient and steadily tightening, following an aspiring actress whose ambition pulls her toward a charming man she cannot yet read, and whose growing unease is treated seriously rather than as spectacle. Its intensity is serious: there is sexual violence and murder, shown with restraint and mostly off-screen or implied, but the threat lands heavily and the story stays with the aftermath and the people it touches. It suits a late, alone viewing when you want tension and a sober, unsentimental look at how a predator hid in plain sight. It is for viewers drawn to true-crime dramas with a period texture who can handle grim material and do not need a comfort watch.
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