‘PRIMETIME’ is a prime example of a hard-to-watch film

By Cadence Powers

Content Warning: This film contains brief explicit nudity, some violence and extremely dark subject matter. 

“You see how this looks, right?” Chris Hanson (Robert Pattinson) says, arms outstretched. There’s a good chance if you haven’t seen the image above, you’ve at least heard the audio. 

Robert Pattinson acting as “How to Catch a Predator,” host Chris Hanson in A24’s “PRIMETIME” has been an online sensation since the trailer was released. Praised for Pattinson’s realistic impressions and vocal mimicry, the film was set to be a success. However, with the thematically dark nature the film discusses, is hardly the stuff of Hollywood Blockbusters. 

The film’s primary focus revolves around two characters—Dan Plum (Skyler Gisondo) and Chris Hanson, with an additional focus on Merritt Weaver (Andie Bender). Hanson is, of course, the host of the television show, “How to Catch a Predator.’’ But while the film is marketed as a biopic of Hanson, it also explores other characters—like Merritt, the producer of the show, and Dan, who was an actor on the show. The story has a vested interest in telling Dan’s story, seeing as his treatment on set was unethical.

In terms of themes, the film covers some core question: What if you were doing an objectively good thing? But what if, in the process, you were actively causing harm? What if some of the people you arrested weren’t getting full sentences because of your actions? What if you were perpetuating a cycle of abuse, albeit in a different form than the kind you were trying to stop?

The film is incredibly uncomfortable. The cinematography was beautiful in a sickening way. The lighting of the film was well done from scene to scene, and helped to build tension throughout the film. In addition, the music aided in an uncomfortable feeling, as it creates this contrast of Hanson doing something good, while still using awful situations to perpetuate his own fame. 

As I watched the film, my theater was silent nearly the entire time, and the tension in the room was thick and heavy. As the credits rolled, the theater seemed to be in a state of shock, as people processed the dense themes the film covered. The group I attended the film with couldn’t manage to talk about what they had just witnessed, and when we did, it was to say we felt sick to our stomachs the entire time watching. 

The film handles what it sets out to rather well—to make you uncomfortable. Its goal is to explore the nuance that the figure Hanson was, and all of the bad that he did in addition to the good. It explores Hanson’s motivations, of genuinely wanting to do good, versus wanting to be famous. 

At the time of the TV show’s release, “How to Catch a Predator” went up against the hit television series, “Lost,” something the movie adaptation emphasized. This in turn brings into question Hanson’s motivation. Hanson has to keep the show “How to Catch a Predator” attractive to a network and to a large audience of people. Because of this, he becomes obsessed with keeping the audience engaged—which in turn calls into question what we, as the viewer and the audience of this movie, are willing to consider as entertainment. 

The film explores the other character’s motivations as well, looking for pure intentions in a place where there are none. Dan’s portrayal especially can be seen as a parallel of Hanson—as well as Dan being victimized, and treated poorly by the other members of the show’s staff. 

There aren’t really any easy questions that the movie asks. I will be thinking about this movie for a long time. I can’t say I liked it, or that I would want to watch it again. I can’t say I recommend it. What I can say is that it was a particularly well-made film, that set out with a goal and accomplished it. This is a heavy and hard watch—one that will force you to sit with it, and one that offers no easy solution. 

“PRIMETIME” is currently playing in theaters.

Cadence Powers is a senior Professional Writing and Information Design major. She has decided she needs to take a more normal movie from the A&E spreadsheet, since she has taken some interesting ones this year. Not that she doesn’t find them interesting; they’re just kind of insane.

Images Courtesy of A24