‘Primetime’ review: the consequences of performative justice

Primetime by Lance Oppenheim shows a different, dramatized glimpse of the classic television show, To Catch a Predator. The clash between vigilante justice, law enforcement, and network ratings created a perfect storm for Chris Hansen (Robert Pattinson). By the end, Hansen seemed lost in his obsession with being portrayed as a hero.

Hansen hosted Dateline NBC’s To Catch a Predator. Together with the anti-pedophile vigilante group Perverted-Justice, they lured potential child predators onto the television set with a decoy (an actor pretending to be a minor).

When these would-be predators took the bait, Hansen would appear on the set and confront them about their proclivities. Under the gaze of the cameras, Hansen would read the sickening messages the supposed predators sent to their decoy. Afterward, law enforcement would tackle these alleged predators, and the public would presume justice had been served.

Everyone at Primetime had different goals

Behind the scenes, Hansen is shown rehearsing lines obsessively, trying to perfect a character on screen. He has subtly been aiming for better ratings under the guise of justice, along with his producer, Andie Bender (Merritt Wever).

Beneath the blanket of perceived justice, everyone on set had different goals. Del (Phoebe Bridgers) and Xavier Von Erck (Matthew Maher) from Perverted-Justice collaborate with Hansen’s show for online vigilante justice and activism. Meanwhile, Dan Plumb (Skyler Gisondo), the new decoy, saw his role as a new acting gig. He hoped to earn an acting credit and his union card. These characters, including Bender, have been transparent with their professional endeavors.

Hansen is deliberately portrayed as a flawed man, and his extramarital affair would later be revealed in the film. While chasing supposed heroism and television stardom, Hansen would further spiral after a reporter from the National Enquirer threatened him over evidence of his affair. To Catch a Predator was later canceled after a big-fish assistant District Attorney, Bill Conradt, from Murphy, Texas, was caught in one of its exposés. In a shocking twist, Conradt died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the filming of the set.

Justice becomes performative

Unlike the other characters in Primetime, Hansen seemed tortured by his dishonesty and disconnection from himself. He told Plumb about the Emmy he won for exposing child labor in India. It was a victory Hansen fondly remembered. But in the same breath, he casually mentioned that his NBC show has yet to gain the same level of recognition. Regardless, he believes it is just as important to expose would-be predators on national television. While justice may have been his reason for filming To Catch a Predator, the gap between the performative man Hansen is and the hero he projects conflicts with his mission.

For instance, instead of working harder on his failing marriage, he met up with his affair partner in a fine dining restaurant. This meeting would later be used against him. Personal life aside, Hansen himself has pushed the notion that his television show is crucial in preventing crime. But just like Bender, he too was desperate to beat Lost, a show from ABC in the same timeslot. Whether sting operations should take place on national television is a debate in itself. However, when ratings and the sensationalism of each episode take precedence, justice becomes selective, if not hollowed out.

A brilliant anti-hero

Pattinson’s excellent accent work played a crucial role in his convincing portrayal of the famed ‘Predator Hunter.’ Even his delivery of Hansen’s “You see how this looks, right?” line has been a social media talking point. The film’s shots also perfectly replicate the aesthetics of the early 2000s without exaggeration. An important, yet overlooked point, is the film’s brilliant use of lighting, contrasts, and filters. The colors on Primetime popped, giving it a warm, vintage feel.

As a work of fiction, Primetime takes a classic early-2000s show and gives it a thriller spin. Moreover, the thought-provoking moral dilemma it presents and the stellar acting performances make it worth watching on the big screen.

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