Robert Pattinson reaches a new peak in his career with Primetime, a film that showcases his most daring and creative work to date. Playing real-life paedophile hunter Chris Hansen, a former Dateline NBC correspondent known for his To Catch a Predator show from 2004 to 2007, Pattinson takes significant risks, blending remarkable voice work that imitates Hansen with wild, unpredictable swings.
The film drops viewers directly into the scenario Hansen became famous for: preparing to confront a suspected online predator on camera as part of a sting organised by Perverted Justice, where an adult poses as a minor. The tension is immediate, with Pattinson's Hansen practising lines like 'I will undress you and you will undress me' and 'For a virgin to have sex, it hurts.'
A Bold and Unsettling Start
In the first sting, a veteran (Tony Revolori) is confronted after mentioning condoms to decoy Del Harvey, played by singer Phoebe Bridgers in her acting debut. Pattinson theatrically enters from behind a curtain and walks down the stairs, asking if his target has a 'big night planned'. This flamboyance breaks the tension and signals that Primetime is not what it initially appears to be.
The film also explores Hansen's showmanship as he becomes more accustomed to being an entertainment star rather than just a broadcaster. Writer Ajon Singh, director Lance Oppenheim, and Pattinson, who also produces, have fun with this: Hansen tells a fellow plane passenger how he singlehandedly convinced the network to commission the show, and wakes his young sons in the middle of the night to watch preview tapes.
Blurring Fiction and Reality
A memorable moment involves Hansen's giddy excitement when To Catch a Predator is pitted against Lost in its new slot. Former CEO of NBCU TV Jeff Zucker plays himself in this scene, further blurring the line between fiction and reality in what Oppenheim calls 'docufantasia'.
The emotional core of the film is Dan Plum (Skyler Gisondo), a fictionalised decoy seeking his big break who is thrust into a sting and faces a baptism of fire thanks to Crazyfrog73, played by former child star Jonathan Lipnicki from Stuart Little. Hansen is then dispatched to keep Dan in play after his emotional whiplash.
As the team seeks a 'whale' to sensationalise coverage and boost ratings, the film raises questions about To Catch a Predator's morality and grey areas, leaning into humour that is often pitch dark. Pattinson's highly charged performance, consistently dialled up to the maximum, drives the film, turning Hansen slightly delusional and crazed as pressure mounts.
A Complex Portrayal
The film may not be the most flattering portrayal of Hansen, who has criticised the production, showing him using his full onscreen credit when complaining about a broken vending machine. A scene with his wife Mary (Anna Faris) hints at a foot fetish, and the film also runs with the 2011 tabloid report of his alleged affair with a local TV journalist in Florida.
Despite this, Primetime leaves no doubt about how Hansen's qualities of tenacity, drive, and pizazz fed To Catch a Predator's success. Audacious, imaginative, and darkly funny, the film is not what one might expect, and Pattinson in predator-catching mode has to be seen to be understood.
Primetime premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 5 and was released in the US on September 25. It releases in UK and Irish cinemas on October 30.
