(Photo Credit: A24)
(“Primetime” trailer courtesy of A24)
People of a certain age can vividly remember the shock and embarrassment on the faces of pedophiles as their planned hook-ups with minors ended in national shame and public arrest on the television program “To Catch a Predator”
Some had come from hundreds of miles away just to engage in statutory rape.
The mastermind behind the program Chris Hansen is portrayed in a tense, awkward and rigid way by Robert Pattinson (“The Odyssey”), which is appropriate for a serious movie and a serious subject matter.
True crime shows often happen in the past tense.
Many true crime shows are like mini documentaries in which viewers and producers try to solve an unsolved crime that has already occurred.
But with “To Catch a Predator,” the f0rmat shifted as Hansen and NBC’s “Dateline” program attempted to stop child molesters before they could commit a crime, airing their nasty secrets on national television as a hopeful deterrent to stop future child molestations and rapes.
In “Primetime,” Chris Hansen is not the big fish in NBC’s huge pond.
He is playing second fiddle to Stone Phillips.
In fact, “To Catch a Predator” is not even initially in the primetime slot.
His boss at the network does not believe in the show.
He does not even understand the show.
But for some reason, Americans are obsessed with catching sexual predators in the act.
The show has made Chris a celebrity, to the point of paparazzi trying to dig up dirt on him.
Fans are amazed when they see him on an airplane.
And some want to take pictures with him when they see him in the field doing a story.
Furthermore, other networks are even attempting to poach his producers away from him and create copycat shows.
That is the epitome of success.
But real arrival in the media business is receiving that primetime slot and going against a juggernaut like ABC’s late-night soap opera “Lost.”
For that type of competition, Chris is going to have to bring his A-game and bring it quickly.
Luckily, he has the right team around him behind and in front of the camera.
In “Primetime,” Xavier Von Erick (Matthew Maher, “The Bride”) is really the mastermind behind the entire operation.
He cultivates relationships with adults online who believe they are conversing with an underage boy or girl.
When he can get them to meet in person, the team behind the show sets their trap, with law enforcement hiding until they catch the pervert in the act of some weirdo foolishness.
On the outside looking in, Xavier would cause many people’s antennas to go up because he would be the stereotype of what people think a sexual deviant would look like.
But a wise person once said looks can be deceiving because the evilest criminals often look like the most normal people, which is why they can go undetected for so long, lurking in plain sight.
In “Primetime,” Xavier has been successful in getting some regular weirdos off the street.
But he believes he has begun entertaining a big whale because of the sophistication of one of his new online friends.
The person that he is talking to is so skilled that he/she knows how to say just enough to entice someone before pulling back as to not reveal their identity or position in society.
Xavier believes that the person could be CIA or someone as high up as the president.
If the team can reel him/her in, their primetime dominance might be solidified even against a behemoth of a show like “Lost.”
In “Primetime,” Chris, Xavier and the team know their purpose with their job.
However, actor Dan Plumb (Skyler Gisondo, “Superman”) does not know where he fits in on the show.
Dan is an actor by trade, with a love for musical theater.
He has even gotten a speaking role on a commercial.
However, when he auditions to be a part of Hansen’s show, he really does not know what he is even walking in to.
Dan just wants to get his Screen Actors Guild card, and he believes with more television appearances he can achieve his goal.
What makes Dan perfect for Chris’ show is that he has a youthful and innocent charm to himself.
Although Dan is really 23 years old, his babyface and acting skills make it easy to pretend to be a 13-year-old.
Nevertheless, he has some pause when he is barely featured on screen, and his screen appearances are limited to him being completely shocked when he turns around to see a man with his exposed penis covered in whip cream.
Even Dan’s acting buddies back home hate on him.
But when Chris explains to him the good that they are doing, Dan finishes the task at hand.
“Primetime” is a capsule of a different era.
The analog/VHS visual quality and music by Fergie will put moviegoers back in 2006.
At the time, Hansen’s program became one of the biggest deterrents to sexual abhorrent behavior.
Before social media and movie quality cameras on a cell phone, many sexual predators probably believed that they could get away with their deviant crimes.
If a child’s parent did not find out about their behavior, they could probably get away with their crimes.
But as Hansen entered the room, as the actor left, sexual offenders quickly realized that their dirty deeds could be seen one day by the entire country.
With such a serious job, Pattinson’s nerves and rigidity could be felt on camera.
He plays the perfectionist Hansen very well, showing how the need to succeed at all costs could cost a person in many avenues of life.
Although he has a small role, Bokeem Woodbine appears in “Primetime” as police officer Cortland Gunn.
In “Primetime,” Cortland is a no-nonsense law enforcement official who hates the Democrats as much as he hates crime.
And moviegoers will hate the pretend pedophiles greatly too, which is the sign of effective performances.
And although “Primetime” has an anticlimactic closing scene, the scene of a child being spared trauma because of the seriousness and dedication of a television personality is a reminder that fame is great when used as a voice for the most vulnerable of society.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
- Movie Review: ‘731’ Another Film That is a Warning - September 26, 2025
