Imagine a scenario straight out of a low-budget thriller: what if the man you were matched with on a quirky 1970s dating show turned out to be a serial killer? But in reality, Anna Kendrick’s feature directorial debut, Woman Of The Hour, is rooted in a mix of emotional and factual truths. Set in 1978, the film casts Kendrick as Cheryl Bradshaw, who appears on The Dating Game and ends up with a date with Daniel Zovatto’s Rodney Alcala. Unbeknownst to her, Alcala is a serial killer responsible for several murders in the late 1970s.
For Kendrick, Woman Of The Hour provided a thematic exploration she was eager to delve into, drawing from her own experience in an emotionally abusive relationship. “With this movie, the screenplay naturally delved into the dilemma of, ‘How do you know you’ve chosen a safe person?’,” she explains to Empire. “That was a focus for me.” This feeling intensifies as Cheryl slowly uncovers Alcala’s true nature. “It’s a delicate balance of trying to determine if this person you trusted is dangerous, all while not letting them know you’re on to them,” she describes. “It’s a terrible paradox.”
The project also gave Kendrick an opportunity to confront her own fears as a first-time director, especially after Chloe Okuno left the project. “There was this persistent thought I kept pushing down: ‘I think I want to do it, and I think I’m going to pitch myself,’” Kendrick recalls. It was the perfect moment for her to step into the directing arena.
Read Empire’s full story on Woman Of The Hour in the 40 Years Of The Terminator issue, available now. Order your copy online here. Woman Of The Hour premieres on Netflix from October 18.
