For a little over three years, beginning in November 2004, the weekly evening news magazine “Dateline NBC” featured a recurring segment called “To Catch a Predator.” The rise and fall of this once-popular example of gotcha journalism is chronicled in the thought-provoking but arduous drama “Primetime” (A24).
The story centers on “Predator’s” host, Chris Hansen (Robert Pattinson). As depicted in Ajon Singh’s script, Hansen — a somewhat bizarre individual who has sufficient ethical problems of his own to be targeted by the National Enquirer — becomes increasingly obsessive about his pursuit of molesters.
This has a negative effect on at least two of his professional relationships. The first is with his producer, Andie Bender (Merritt Wever), whose generally cautious advice Hansen increasingly ignores.
The other is with Dan Plum (Skyler Gisondo), a sensitive, callow 23-year-old aspiring actor for whom Hansen becomes a role model. Though Hansen’s mentoring of Plum — who eventually rises to the status of the show’s star decoy posing as a teen boy — is sincere, like much else in his life, it’s also emotionally off-kilter.
There’s a suitably ominous tone to director Lance Oppenheim’s adaptation of Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire magazine article “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die” in which intentionally harsh visuals are matched with oddly disconnected verbal exchanges. Amid this unsettling atmosphere, the movie takes on some weighty issues.
Can a partnership between entertainers seeking high ratings and law enforcement ever be anything less than volatile? Is the public shaming of criminals — which Hansen explicitly compares to exposure in a pillory — morally justified? Are even society’s worst offenders deserving of a modicum of compassion?
Overall, “Primetime” provides viewers with a well-crafted yet tense and necessarily seamy examination of a number of knotty problems. The grim aspect of life that forms the basis for its plot is, however, one on which many moviegoers may prefer not to dwell.
The film contains mature themes, including the sexual abuse of youngsters and adultery, brief violence with momentary harsh gore, full male nudity, fleeting sexual humor, a blasphemous expletive, a few instances each of profanity and milder swearing, pervasive rough language, numerous crude expressions and occasional crass dialogue. The OSV News classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
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