So far, we've been very disappointed with Netflix's new 2024 movies

The streaming service has offered subscribers a variety of films, ranging from the unbearably cheesy (“Irish Wishes” and “Family Affair”) to the truly painful (“Rebel Moon - Part 2”), and for the past eight months Netflix's seal of approval has been virtually non-existent and average quality levels have been disappointingly low

Fortunately, this string of duds may be coming to an end, as Netflix's lineup for the rest of the year looks to be much improved Not only does this thriller star the always wonderful Anna Kendrick, but it is also her directorial debut, and from early reviews, it appears that she has crafted something very special

This crime thriller is particularly intriguing because it is based on a true story So here's what we currently know about “Woman of the Hour,” including streaming release dates

Inspired by an incredible true story, “Woman of the Hour” stars Cheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick), a single woman who appeared on the popular game show “The Dating Game” in 1978 She tries to gain public recognition in the hopes of meeting an attractive single man, but instead comes face to face with a killer

One might think that a serial killer would be desperate to keep a low profile, but Rodney Alcala (here played by Daniel Zovatto) instead makes the bizarre decision to appear on national television as a contestant on a dating show Indeed, his bizarre demeanor and behavior during the recording led to the nickname “The Dating Game Killer” when a brutal murder was later uncovered

Anna Kendrick directed “Woman of the Hour,” a film that mixes elements of true crime with traditional mystery thriller techniques to create a film that grips and shocks the viewer

The Woman of the Hour will be available on Netflix later this year, but its premiere was almost a year ago; it was unveiled at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023 and the lucky audience in attendance was clearly impressed

The Netflix thriller currently holds a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and that's also due to a significant number of 51 reviews, with RT's “Critics Consensus” noting that “star Anna Kendrick's skillfully directed 'Woman of the Hour Woman of the Hour' is a powerful examination of the intersection of institutional misogyny and violence, based on an incredible true story”

Brian Talerico of RogerEbertcom was impressed with the film, calling it “not just a true crime story, but a confident thriller that unravels systemic misogyny and how it fuels violence” The Hollywood Reporter's Robia Gyalkey was also a fan, noting that “its story is undeniably powerful” but that it succeeds despite its “sometimes erratic direction”

TheWrap's Steve Pond said, “‘Woman of the Hour’ can be light on the footwork, but it also digs in and stomps hard,” and The Guardian's Benjamin Lee said, “A fascinating and terrifying stranger-than-fiction story ” but also described it as ”an unusual choice for Kendrick's directorial debut”

Meanwhile, a more negative review came from Shar Bramesco of Little White Rice, who said that “Anna Kendrick's directorial debut about an abused budding actress and the serial killer inside her says all the right things but is too loud and too frequent”

At this point, you may have totally loved “Woman of the Hour” (and so have I) and are curious to know when you can stream this thriller on Netflix This week, Netflix announced that “Woman of the Hour” will be available on Friday, October 18

Based on the initial trailer and early reviews after the film's festival premiere, “Woman of the Hour” looks to be a strong case for a place on Netflix's best films list Furthermore, it may confirm that Anna Kendrick is not only a top-notch performer, but also a talented one behind the camera We can't wait to see if the film lives up to the massive pre-release hype

Unfortunately, we still have to wait a few more weeks for “Woman of the Hour” to hit Netflix, but in the meantime, here's a roundup of what's new on Netflix this week