Movie Review: ‘Primetime’

The drama Primetime chronicles the rise and fall of the Dateline NBC segment To Catch a Predator, which ran for over three years starting in November 2004. Directed by Lance Oppenheim, the film adapts a 2007 Esquire magazine article by Luke Dittrich.

The story follows host Chris Hansen, played by Robert Pattinson, as he becomes increasingly obsessed with pursuing molesters. This obsession damages his professional relationships, specifically with his producer, Andie Bender, and a young aspiring actor named Dan Plum. Hansen mentors Plum, who eventually becomes the show's star decoy by posing as a teenage boy, though the film depicts this mentorship as emotionally unstable.

John Mulderig of the Catholic Review describes the film as a thought-provoking but arduous drama. He notes that the movie uses harsh visuals and an unsettling atmosphere to explore the volatile partnership between entertainers seeking high ratings and law enforcement.