Primetime

A film about the pursuit of predators — and higher ratings.

In 2006, host Chris Hansen is one of the best-known faces on American television. With the reality series «To Catch a Predator», he has found a concept that draws millions of viewers: men seeking sexual encounters with minors online are lured to a house rigged with hidden cameras, where Hansen confronts them in front of TV audiences before the police take over. The show becomes a huge success, and Hansen gets a taste for both ratings and fame. And as the show grows, the boundaries between journalism, public service and entertainment become increasingly blurred.

Documentary filmmaker Lance Oppenheim (the HBO series «Ren Faire») makes his feature-film directorial debut with a nerve-racking drama based on the true story of Hansen and «To Catch a Predator». Robert Pattinson gives a formidable performance as the predator hunter, convinced he is doing the right thing, while his personal ambitions grow alongside the ratings. PRIMETIME is an intense film about what happens when journalism becomes sensationalism and public shaming becomes entertainment.

Review reprinted with permission from Bergen internasjonale filmfestival (https://www.biff.no/f/primetime/5971)