21 Oct Woman of the 2023 Hour 10Bit.BRRip Torrent
21/11
Greetings from the dark once again
Narrative
Sheryl Bradshaw, a single woman looking for a suitor on the hit TV show of the 1970s, chooses charming bachelor Rodney Alcala, unaware that behind the man’s suave facade hides a deadly secret. Some of Sheryl’s bad experiences as an aspiring actress mirror Anna’s own. The comment about Sheryl’s breasts was “literally pulled from something that happened to me when I was 19.” Referenced in CTV News at Six Toronto: September 8, 2023 episode (2023). As a single woman, being told you look like a model is a welcome compliment. As a runaway living on the streets, it’s a welcome development when a young man shows interest in you.
What do all these situations have in common?
As a single woman, moving into an apartment and having a charming young man helping you move the furniture is a welcome sight. As a struggling actress, landing a role in a hit series is a welcome gig. They feature vulnerable women who encountered Rodney Alcalo, the infamous serial rapist and murderer. This is the first feature film directed by the uber-talented Anna Kendrick and it’s crazy. Director Kendrick also stars Cheryl Bradshaw, a struggling actress who we first meet in one of her endless rounds of auditions where she doesn't.
he doesn’t get cast because of his physical appearance
It’s one of a series of misogynistic scenarios that unfold in this film written by Ian MacDonald and based on the true story of the evil Rodney Alcala (played by Daniel Zovatto). The film is mostly set in the late 1970s, although it jumps around a bit. We first see Alcala charm a woman in 1977 Wyoming, using his camera and photography skills to instill her comfort level and lure her into his car. Very little violence is shown on screen, but the consequences are – they leave no doubt that Alcala is a monster. Aside from the murders, what made Rodney Alcala famous was his 1978 appearance on "The Dating Game," a very popular TV show.
This sequence alone proves Ms
show at the time (only we don’t get to hear the iconic theme song and there’s no kiss at the end). By sheer coincidence, the bachelorette who questioned the three bachelorettes that day was Cheryl Bradshaw. As host, Ed Burke (not Jim Lange, played by Tony Hale) contributes to the misogyny of the times, as the hair and make-up artists quietly cheer for Cheryl as she rewrites the questions for the second half, revealing the level of frustration at playing the coveted item for the three men. With no shortage of creepy or horrifying moments, the film’s best sequence involves Cheryl and Alcala walking through a dimly lit parking lot after an overly awkward post-show drink. Kendrick’s prowess as a director—the tension is almost unbearable.
Check out our October calendar for more!
Rather than a straight retelling of the psychopathic stories of the 1970s, the film adds layers by reminding us of what women faced during that period – from a subtle lack of value to outright abuse and constant concern for their safety. Even Cheryl’s interaction with her neighbor (Pete Holmes) shows the challenges she faces in ordinary settings. The 1979 San Gabriel segment with the fugitive (The Best Fall) is both true and chilling, but further proof of how much leeway an educated white man like Alcala can get away with. If you somehow get to the end of the movie and Rodney Alcala isn’t completely sick of you, just try to stay composed as you read the last few slides regarding his trail of destruction – and how brave that final escape turned out to be. Premiering on Netflix October 18, 2024 The final season of "What We Do in the Shadows" is one of the biggest TV and streaming premieres this month.