Anna Kendrick’s striking directorial debut: Woman of the Hour (2023).

The film is based on the true story of notorious serial killer Rodney Alcala, who was featured on The Dating Game, an iconic dating show in the late ’70s. The film does a fantastic job of not focusing on the sinister Alcala as the main character, but instead Cheryl Bradshaw, the woman who encountered him on air. Kendrick both directed and starred in this suspenseful thriller, alongside Daniel Zovatto, who plays Alcala.

Rodney Alcala was a serial killer who appeared on the show The Dating Game in 1987, in the midst of his rape and murder spree. He was reported numerous times by various survivors and community members, and despite numerous arrests from 1979 to 2003, his cases were repeatedly overturned.

Kendrick plays with the truth in an overwhelmingly constructive manner, showing a refreshing respect for the victims and very carefully ensuring not to glorify the killer, instead depicting him as squeamish and almost pathetic when in reality he was considered incredibly charming. Despite the incredibly dark source material and disturbing nature of Alcala’s crimes, the film is far from graphic, and all disturbing content is skillfully alluded to but never shown. The film is perfectly paced, and consistently keeps your eyes glued and heart pounding. The cinematography and production design is deeply intentional, towing the line between nostalgia and discomfort, with masterful performances from many actors—new and old.

This film is a must-watch for anyone who has an hour and a half to spare, and is available on Netflix now.