There is something fascinating about the world of Primetime. On the surface, it is a film about catching online predators and exposing their behaviour to the world. However, director Lance Oppenheim is much more interested in exploring the people behind the operation and the television industry that turns these confrontations into entertainment. The result is an occasionally entertaining, often uncomfortable film that has some interesting things to say, even if it does not always know exactly what it wants to be.
Starring Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen, Primetime takes a closer look at the controversial world of To Catch a Predator. It is a film that understands the uncomfortable nature of its subject matter, but its approach also comes with a few problems.
Primetime Explores the Uncomfortable World of To Catch a Predator
One of the more interesting aspects of Primetime is the way it shows that the men who fall into these sting operations are not the only predators in the room. The people responsible for creating and producing the television programme are also hunting for something. They might not be hunting for the same things, but they are certainly just as hungry for attention, success, money, and television ratings.
This actually helps explain why Chris Hansen's original To Catch a Predator programmes were always somewhat uncomfortable to watch, and not necessarily just because of the subject matter. There was something deeply unsettling about watching these men being confronted on camera, but there was also something uncomfortable about the way the entire operation was turned into television entertainment.
Everybody involved seems to be looking for something, and almost everybody has their own agenda.
That is also what makes Primetime an uncomfortable viewing experience. There are moments when the film almost makes you question why you are watching these events in the first place. In that sense, the film is effective. It understands that the uncomfortable feeling associated with these programmes was never exclusively about the men being exposed.
A Lighter Approach Keeps Primetime Entertaining
Despite its rather disturbing subject matter, Primetime also makes some interesting choices regarding its tone. Rather than approaching everything as an extremely serious and heavy drama, the film regularly incorporates humour and a somewhat lighter approach to its entertainment.
This is probably a good decision. The subject matter is already uncomfortable enough, and a completely serious approach might have made the film rather exhausting to watch. The comedy provides some welcome relief without entirely removing the darker elements of the story.
For fans of the original Chris Hansen programmes, there is also plenty to enjoy. The film includes several references to typical and classic To Catch a Predator moments, and it clearly understands the particular appeal and awkwardness of those television confrontations.
There is a certain nostalgic entertainment value in seeing these familiar elements brought back to the screen, even if the film is ultimately interested in something considerably darker than simply recreating the original programmes.
Robert Pattinson Makes Chris Hansen a Compelling Villain
Perhaps the most interesting decision made by Primetime is its approach to Chris Hansen himself. The film works primarily because it presents him as something of a villain. Rather than simply portraying him as a journalist trying to expose dangerous individuals, the film increasingly focuses on his own ambitions, questionable decisions, and hunger for success.
Is that entirely fair to the real Chris Hansen? Probably not. It is important to remember that Primetime should not necessarily be viewed as an entirely truthful biographical account of Hansen or as a completely accurate representation of everything that happened during the original television programme.
The film takes considerable creative liberties with its subject matter, and its portrayal of certain people and events should be approached accordingly. It is more interested in exploring the darker side of reality television than in providing a definitive historical account.
Robert Pattinson is excellent in the role. He gives Hansen a particular combination of charm, ambition, confidence, and increasingly questionable behaviour. He is entertaining to watch, even when his character becomes rather unpleasant.
Merritt Wever is equally good as Andie Bender. She provides an excellent counterbalance to Pattinson and manages to hold her own whenever the two share the screen. Their interactions are among the more interesting elements of the film.
Bokeem Woodbine is also a welcome addition to the cast, bringing some additional personality to the proceedings.
Primetime Sometimes Loses Sight of Its Humanity
Unfortunately, the film's particular approach also creates some problems.
By presenting almost everybody as morally questionable, Primetime occasionally loses sight of the human side of its story. It creates a world in which nearly everyone seems to be motivated by selfishness, ambition, or some other questionable desire. While this certainly fits the cynical perspective the film wants to explore, it also makes the overall experience feel somewhat superficial and emotionally distant.
This becomes particularly noticeable when it comes to the main characters. At times, it is surprisingly difficult to connect with them or even find them particularly pleasant to follow.
And that creates something of a problem. Are we supposed to want these characters to succeed? Are we supposed to hope that they fail? The film itself does not always seem entirely sure.
There is certainly nothing wrong with having morally complicated characters, and a film does not necessarily need someone entirely sympathetic to keep an audience interested. However, Primetime sometimes seems so determined to expose the ugliness of its characters that it forgets to give them enough humanity to make their actions genuinely meaningful.
As a result, some of the more dramatic moments do not have quite the emotional impact they could have had.
A Distinctive Visual Style and Solid Direction
One area where Primetime certainly makes an impression is its visual presentation. The film has a distinctive visual style that gives it an identity of its own. The cinematography, compositions, and overall presentation help create an atmosphere that feels different from that of a more conventional drama about television journalism.
Director Lance Oppenheim clearly has a good understanding of how to present this particular world. The film is generally well directed, and there is a clear sense of style behind many of its creative decisions.
However, the execution is not always quite as consistent as the visual presentation might suggest. There are moments when the film feels somewhat messy and rushed, with certain developments happening a little too quickly. Some scenes and character interactions could have benefited from a bit more room to breathe.
It does not completely undermine the experience, but it does prevent the film from reaching its full potential.
Final Verdict: Is Primetime Worth Watching?
Primetime is an interesting and occasionally very entertaining film that takes a rather uncomfortable look at the world of To Catch a Predator and the people responsible for turning these controversial sting operations into television entertainment.
Its biggest strength is probably its willingness to make Chris Hansen and the people around him part of the problem. Combined with a lighter approach to its dark subject matter, some entertaining performances, and a distinctive visual style, this makes for a film that has plenty of interesting moments.
However, its cynical perspective also becomes something of a weakness. By making almost everyone morally questionable, the film sometimes loses its emotional connection and becomes more superficial than it probably intends to be. It is a film that has an interesting perspective, but does not always know what to do with it.
Robert Pattinson is very good, Merritt Wever provides excellent support, and there is enough here to make the film worth watching, particularly for fans of the original To Catch a Predator programmes.
Ultimately, Primetime is a solid but somewhat uneven film. It has an interesting story to tell and a distinctive way of telling it, but it could have benefited from a little more humanity and emotional depth.
Rating: 6/10
