A24’s “Primetime,” starring Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen, is one of the most unsettlingly fantastic movies I’ve seen in a long time. As someone who used to not like going to movie theaters, this had me squirming.
Although it wasn’t necessarily marketed as such, this was definitely a psychological thriller. I saw it twice, with two separate people, and both times, leaving the theater, I had that “what did I just watch” kind of feeling.
The movie follows the story of the popular NBC show “To Catch a Predator,” a reality show in which Hansen confronted adult men after they arrived at houses under the presumption they were coming to see a minor. The show was meant to expose pedophiles through hidden camera footage and turn them in to the authorities.
The movie narrates the show’s move to 9 p.m. primetime and the events that led to the show’s eventual cancellation. It examines Hansen’s psyche and the moral dilemma that the show evoked among viewers.
Pattinson is fantastic in this movie. He is truly working overtime to try to make Gen Z forget his breakthrough role in “Twilight.” His voice, mannerisms and actions are spookily similar to Hansen’s and his uncanny stares directly into the camera will stick with me for a while.
This movie had a truly star-studded cast, including Phoebe Bridgers and Skyler Gisondo as two “decoys,” and I really enjoyed how the film features how the show affected other people, not just Hansen.
Gisondo played his character in such a stellar way and told a side story in a way that makes you feel more connected to “Decoy Dan” than Hansen. Bridgers was also fantastic, and though her role was quieter, her character’s impact was larger than I expected.
This movie also had some very quotable, meme-worthy scenes, some of which I’ve already seen floating around on TikTok. This has kind of become a quality of all A24 movies, which is honestly a brilliant marketing tactic.
The moments that make you laugh make the uncomfortable moments even more powerful. The duality of this movie creates a conflicting feeling that really makes you think more about the morality of the whole situation as you watch.
Here are some things to know about the movie before you go, with no spoilers:
This movie uses silence as a weapon of its own right. It’s one of the strongest tools that makes the movie so freaky. If you’re going to bring or buy snacks, open them before the movie starts. The silence is unexpected at times and used almost as a character of its own. The movie loses effect if the silence isn’t respected.
Bring a friend. This movie will make you feel slightly detached from reality, and if you don’t have someone to talk to, a slightly heavy topic falls entirely on you to try to understand and contemplate.
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They do show full nudity a couple of times in the movie. If that’s something you do not want to see, look it up and know when to close your eyes. Knowing that isn’t necessarily a spoiler, and I know several people who would probably like to know before being subjected to seeing that.
Most importantly, if you do see this — or have seen it already — my inbox is open, and I would love to unpack it all. Seeing it twice, I have a plethora of thoughts, and I want to hear how other people interpreted it.
A24 is continuously trying to prove themselves in the horror space, and I think this film absolutely reserves their spot at the table. The eerie vibes of this movie will make you think, and it’s one you won’t want to miss.
Elisa Rosenthal is a senior Spanish education major with a passion for writing and storytelling. She’s originally from Georgia and writes sports articles for The Student, honoring a long family love for college sports.
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