In 2004, NBC debuted To Catch a Predator. It was a reality television show where NBC journalist and host Chris Hansen and a group of associates set up an undercover sting, in conjunction with local police, to catch sexual predators in the act of targeting minors. The show became a ratings success for the network, despite its entrapment issues, and became part of our country’s pop culture. Filmmaker Joshua Openheim makes his narrative feature debut with this movie, as he has previously made only documentary films. The result is a disturbing examination of our world and a character study of a man determined to stop predators at all costs.
Robert Pattinson stars as Chris Hansen. The movie, right away, immerses its audience within his show as Hansen and his crew target child predators seeking out minors for sexual favors. As the series grows in popularity, Hansen and his team try to aim higher, revealing that some government legislators may be guilty of this alarming behavior. While that motive might seem valiant and sincere, the audience is then called to question Hansen’s true motives and methods as the lines between right and wrong blur.
As someone who often watched To Catch a Predator on network television, I was definitely intrigued by the idea of this movie. Last year, I watched the documentary Predators, which dives deep into the morality and justice of this popular program that captivated its audiences during its run. Predators explores the program’s legal ramifications and its influence on our culture. This film never goes as deep, but it’s more of a character study of Chris Hansen himself. Ajon Singh’s impressive writing and Joshua Oppenheimer’s admirable direction make Primetime unforgettable.
The entire cast also performs exceptionally, with Pattinson delivering what may be an Oscar-winning turn. He is absolutely incredible, and sometimes uncanny, in his portrayal of Chris Hansen. I also marveled at the acting of Merritt Weaver, who stars as Andie Bender, the producer of Hansen’s program. I also loved Skyler Gisondo’s turn as Dan Plumb, a young aspiring actor who sees the opportunity to play a decoy minor as his golden ticket to success.
Oppenheim does a fantastic job of recreating the environment and atmosphere of the program, and also excels in presenting a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what may have actually happened. I highly recommend Primetime, but I’d be remiss not to suggest pairing it with David Osit’s Predators, which offers a more complete glimpse into the events surrounding this controversial television program.