Woman of the Hour is Not for Me—At Least at 5:40 AM

Woman of the Hour: Why I’m Over True Crime at 5:40 AM

Woman of the Hour on Netflix was trending, and I thought, “Why not?” Anna Kendrick is in it, and I’ve liked her since watching Trolls with my kids. But there’s something about starting my day with a crime thriller that didn’t quite sit right. At 5:40 AM, when I’m just trying to get some cardio in at the YMCA, I didn’t expect to be greeted by dark, unsettling scenes, so I cut it short and decided to find out what happens in the movie without watching it all.

Let’s just say, by the time I looked up the full plot, I realized I made the right call.

Woman of the Hour: A Dark Glimpse into the 1970s

Woman of the Hour is a thriller based on the real-life appearance of serial killer Rodney Alcala on The Dating Game, a popular TV show back in 1978. Directed by and starring Anna Kendrick as Cheryl Bradshaw, a contestant on the show, the movie dives into Alcala’s chilling story. Alcala, portrayed by Daniel Zovatto, had already committed a series of murders by the time he appeared on TV. Yet somehow, his charisma was enough to land him a spot on The Dating Game, leading to a tense and eerie storyline. Kendrick’s directorial debut captures the unsettling contrast between Alcala’s on-screen charm and the terrifying reality lurking beneath the surface.

Throughout the film, Kendrick adds artistic embellishments that heighten the tension, such as a hypothetical date between Alcala and Cheryl Bradshaw. While this didn’t happen in real life, it provides an uncomfortable view of how Alcala’s behavior triggered subtle but uneasy reactions, especially from women who sensed something “off” about him. The 1970s setting also emphasizes how societal attitudes toward women allowed these instincts to be ignored—a factor that tragically enabled men like Alcala to operate freely.

True Crime Overload on Netflix

True crime has surged in popularity on streaming platforms, and Netflix is at the forefront of this trend. In fact, Netflix doubled its true crime offerings between 2017 and 2021, and by 2023, almost half of U.S. viewers reported watching true crime regularly, with Netflix leading the pack, followed by Amazon Prime and Hulu. This growth continued into 2024, with over 30 new true crime series on Netflix alone, including Homicide: New York and This is the Zodiac Speaking.

The sheer volume of content available can make it feel like true crime has taken over. I get the appeal—curiosity drives many viewers, and women especially often watch true crime to stay informed about potential dangers, with some even taking personal safety steps after watching. True crime holds a particular allure, and I can understand why so many are drawn to it. But for me, there’s a time and place for diving into these dark stories, and 5:40 in the morning at the gym isn’t one of them.

Woman of the Hour: Why I Couldn’t Finish It

The opening scene alone was enough to make me realize that Woman of the Hour wasn’t the right choice for my morning routine. I saw a woman who wasn’t Anna Kendrick’s character meeting a man whose demeanor instantly seemed sinister. It didn’t take long to sense where the scene was headed, and sure enough, he grabbed her by the neck as she tried to pull away. That’s when I paused the movie, feeling a mix of shock and a strange reminder of the darkness that sometimes hides in plain sight.

Seeing such scenes unfold can be powerful, especially as a parent. I immediately thought about my daughter and how she’ll have to navigate a world where people like this exist. But it hit me that starting my day with heavy, unsettling content wasn’t putting me in the right mindset to be productive or positive. It’s one thing to process this kind of content in the evening, but at dawn, it just didn’t feel right.

After pausing, I headed back to the “New & Hot” section of Netflix, hoping to find something lighter. But true crime was everywhere—American Nightmare, Worst Ex Ever, Escape at Dannemora, I Am a Killer, Monsters, and even The Menendez Brothers. I wondered, is this what streaming has become? True crime after true crime, each story darker than the last. I finally spotted a Korean cooking show and thought, “Maybe I’ll try that next time,” because honestly, I needed a break from the weighty content.

Why True Crime Isn’t for Me at 5:40 AM

True crime might always have a place in entertainment, but for me, there are times when it just feels like too much. My recent dive back into streaming, after a few years off, was supposed to be about motivation—something to look forward to while I do cardio. I even set a personal rule: I only indulge in new shows when I’m at the gym, which keeps me moving and makes workouts feel like a treat.

Yet somehow, all I’m finding is content that’s dark, intense, and emotionally heavy. I’m not knocking the genre; I understand why people gravitate toward true crime. It’s a powerful way to learn about the world’s dangers, and, in a way, it gives viewers a sense of preparedness. But at the end of the day, I need my workouts to be an escape, not a reminder of society’s darkest corners.

So there you have it. Woman of the Hour might be a strong, engaging film for true crime fans and a successful directorial debut for Anna Kendrick. But for me, at 5:40 in the morning, it’s just not the right fit. I’ll be on the lookout for something a little more uplifting next time.

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