In 2006, To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen sets out to make television history.

In Primetime, Robert Pattinson gives one of the most unhinged performances I’ve ever seen here. Unfortunately, the movie is just a bit too unfocused to fully sustain the energy Pattinson brings. It does a great job at exploring the nuances of TCAP being a relatively noble idea that ultimately turns into a narcissistic vanity project for its seemingly sociopathic host and his co-producer, both of whom are desperate for ratings and award validation no matter the cost. 

With that said, the film paints Hansen more as an unstable psychopath than the shrewd opportunist he seems to be in reality. He feels far too cartoonish at times, which undercuts the film’s more serious exploration of how Hansen’s vanity sends TCAP careening out of control. It’s just occasionally hard to believe anyone would go along with him when he’s acting so outlandishly. 

Still, it’s an immensely effective cross between a nail-biting thriller and a pitch-black comedy. It’s an indictment of both the “vigilante justice as entertainment” genre and the post-9/11 media landscape as a whole, and a haunting exploration of the impact working on such a show might have on a person—exemplified by Skyler Gisondo’s breathtaking performance as one of TCAP’s decoys. It’s well worth a watch, just temper your expectations on exactly what this film’s aiming for. 

PS: This might have one of the most bizarre uses of “Seasons of Love” from the musical Rent that I’ve ever heard, and I can’t believe I got to witness it.

4 out of 5 wands.

Primetime is in theaters nationwide from A24 Films.