Is Robert Pattinson out to “catch an Oscar” in Lance Oppenheim’s exploration of the rise of Dateline‘s To Catch A Predator?
It has been a busy 2026 for Pattinson. Only Anne Hathaway has had a busier release schedule this year… and with a baby on the way! With Dune Part Three on the horizon, he has already delivered strong turns in The Drama and The Odyssey. And yet, his turn as Chris Hansen, the real-life host of the controversial TV expose, is his most primetime yet… if you pardon the pun.
Ever since Pattinson threw away the Hollywood shackles attached to him during The Twilight Saga, he has made a name for himself as one of the most exciting and unpredictable actors working today. From his career-redefining role in The Safdie Brothers’ Good Time, through intense performances in High Life and The Lighthouse, to donning the cowl in Matt Reeves’ brooding, dark take on The Batman, he has thrown himself into every film… and often gives us a unique voice or two.
He delivers another outstanding performance as Chris Hansen, the face and mind of the controversial show. It is a wired and intense performance, one where he is not afraid to confront the dark and conflicting nature of this man. The standout moment by Pattinson is when he has a talk with “Decoy Dan”, an excellent Skylar Gisondo, about why he believes what they are doing. Recounting a story from when he was in India, where they talked of a malevolent evil that would prey on children. A figurative boogeyman that Hansen believed was his mission and purpose to rid the world of.
The film’s cold open shows the team preparing for the arrival of a man who has set up a meeting with a “13-year-old girl” online. The checking of the cameras, tracking the perpetrator’s movements, Chris rehearsing what he will say when he confronts them; It lays bare the level of detail and control over what is happening, but also the sensationalism. They all believe what they are doing is for the greater good… but if you can make it entertaining at the same time, why not?
Like the programme that it is based on, director Lance Oppenheim delivers a shocking but entertaining exposé that is impossible to peel your eyes away from. A lurid, grainy descent into the murky, morally grey waters that journalism would sink or swim in.
When they get a shot at a primetime slot against Lost, 9pm on Wednesdays, Chris and his producer (Merritt Weaver) have to raise their game and find new ways to increase the show’s impact. The tactics employed to ensnare their targets bring into question who is predator and who is prey in this scenario.
The pressure to deliver results and ratings, coupled with the potential disintegration of his personal life, leads Chris into a dangerous spiral when offered the chance to catch “a whale”. A term one of his team gave to someone potentially very high-profile within the world of government or law enforcement.
This leads to a nerve-shredding climax when they have to throw the script out the window and improvise to reel the whale in… even if it leads to potentially tragic consequences. This sequence is reminiscent of the equally morally questionable yet enthralling Nightcrawler, which swam in very similar waters. Whatever happens, keep the cameras rolling.
Immerse yourself in Primetime and you will need a good long shower afterwards to scrub yourself clean of the seedy grime that comes with this experience.
Primetime had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival
Rating: 
Director: Lance Oppenheim
Stars: Robert Pattinson, Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Matthew Maher
Runtime: 110 minutes
Country: USA
