Robert Pattinson plays a real guy playing a fake character, and his terrifying mid-scene switches will melt your brain. Primetime follows the story of Chris Hansen and his tv show.
Synopsis
This film tracks the chaotic behind-the-scenes creation of a high-stakes sting show designed to trap predators on national television.
Cast & Performances
Robert Pattinson is so good here that I had to physically adjust myself in my seat. He plays a real-life figure playing a scripted persona, and his instant gear shifts are brilliantly terrifying.
However, Dan Plum captured my attention far more than Hansen did. Watching such an innocent character take massive jumps into dark territory makes for the real heart of the film. Skyler Gisondo plays Dan fantastically as a struggling actor who becomes a famous face that nobody actually respects.
Equally compelling is Merritt Wever’s turn as Andie. Her deep internal moral conflict makes her character endlessly fascinating to watch.
Production
Visually, the film nails its aesthetic. The grainy picture style creates a distinct look that grounds everything firmly in its time period. Furthermore, the cinematography delivers the biggest surprise of the project, serving up several genuinely incredible shots.
Review
When Primetime hits, it really works. You get intense, highly memorable moments scattered throughout the runtime. Unfortunately, the overall narrative fails to come together smoothly as a complete package. Certain core relationships feel underdeveloped, making the film feel like several separate stories stitched together.
Crucially, the narrative drags through its middle section. The sudden shift into supernatural psychosis completely missed the mark for me. The real-world horror of these predators offered more than enough darkness without adding bizarre psychological gimmicks.
Additionally, the film misses a huge open goal. I desperately wanted to see more of how this explosive show actually impacted real American viewers.
Worst of all, the ending lands flat. It closes on a huge moral question that should have formed the main bulk of the script. The story follows a crew breaking their own ethics purely for ratings. Consequently, it poses a deeply uncomfortable dilemma: when does exposing evil cross into exploiting evil for profit? When fame and money drive the mission, are you serving the public or manufacturing spectacle? Focusing on that theme would have elevated this project from okay to exceptional but I also understand its a biopic and the story already exists.
Ultimately, I completely understand why Chris Hansen hates this depiction. The film paints him as an absolute prick, though only he knows the truth.
Should you watch it? You could catch it on the big screen purely for Pattinson’s brilliance. Otherwise, wait for streaming, because the disjointed storyline will leave you frustrated.
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