Woman of the Hour

Woman of the Hour (2024) is a true-crime thriller you can watch online on iFILM, marking Anna Kendrick's debut behind the camera. It pulls from a real 1978 case: aspiring actress Cheryl Bradshaw picks a date on the TV game show The Dating Game, never guessing that one of the hidden bachelors has already killed several women.

That bachelor was Rodney Alcala. The film cuts between the studio, where he charms a live audience with quick one-liners, and scenes that quietly reveal who he is offstage. Kendrick plays Cheryl and directs with a steady hand, building dread out of an awkward date rather than gore, knowing any moment could be the last. Daniel Zovatto plays Alcala, and Tony Hale shows up in a small role.

The movie cares less about the killer than about how women were trained for years to smile and second-guess their own instincts. It runs a tight 95 minutes with nothing wasted. A strong pick if you want true crime with a point of view instead of a parade of violence. Stream Woman of the Hour online on iFILM.