Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut,Woman of the Hour, is the first film to land a major deal at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival.Netflixhas acquired the US distribution rights for the thriller in an $11 million deal. According toVariety, the streamer “won out in a competitive situation after the film garnered multiple offers.” Netflix was tied to the film pre-production but ultimately backed out in a cost-saving move.Woman of the Hourpremiered on Friday, September 9, as a Special Presentation at the Festival.
The thriller recounts the stranger-than-life story of Cheryl Bradshaw, a young woman who appeared onThe Dating Gamein 1978. Bradshaw won a date with bachelor number one, who turned out to be serial killer Rodney Alcala. Although Alcala, who later became known as the “Dating Game Killer,” had recently been released from prison and was a registered sex offender, he was accepted to appear on the popular game show. Fortunately for Bradshaw, the date between the two never transpired, as she found him odd.
Alcala was sentenced to death in California in 1980 for five murders and was later convicted of two more slayings in New York. However, investigators have linked the now-deceased serial killer to nearly 130 murders. Alcala died of natural causes on August 23, 2025, while on death row.
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Praise for Anna Kendrick’s Directorial Debut
Kendrick stars in the film as Bradshaw, and she stepped in to direct after the original director exited the film. In a previous statement,Kendrick shared her connection to the filmand why she jumped at the chance to make it her directorial feature:
“I’ve loved this script from the moment I read it. And while I was obviously thrilled to be playing the character of Cheryl, I felt so connected to the story, the tone, and the themes around gender and intimacy, that when the opportunity came up to direct the film, I jumped at it. It feels meant to be. The support I’ve received already from Stuart Ford and everyone at AGC, Vertigo, and BoulderLight has been inspiring and empowering," Kendrick said in a statement.
Woman of the Houralso stars Daniel Zovatto as Rodney Alcala, aka the Dating Game Killer, as well as Tony Hale and Nicolette Robinson. The script is written by Ian MacAllister McDonald. Kendrick also serves as a producer under her Let’s Go Again banner, alongside Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios, J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules for BoulderLight Pictures and Roy Lee and Miri Yoon for Vertigo Entertainment.
The film has received a warm reception following Friday’s release. It currently boasts a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising Kendrick’s abilities behind the camera and powerful performances from its cast. WhileIndieWire’s reviewof the film critiqued an “unfocused screenplay,” they praised Kendrick’s efforts, writing, “Kendrick’s image as an actor isn’t necessarily tied to dark, edgy material, but as a director she shows a talent for staging scenes of Hitchcockian suspense alongside her signature wit.”
Anna Kendrick did not appear at the Toronto Film Festival due tothe ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. A release date forWoman of the Hourhas not been announced.
