A24’s 'Primetime' Unleashes a Fever Dream of 'To Catch a Predator' Controversy
A24's new film 'Primetime' premieres in theaters, offering a stylized, satirical dramatization of the 2000s reality show 'To Catch a Predator.' Directed by Lance Oppenheim, the movie stars Robert Pattinson as host Chris Hansen and is based on a 2006 Esquire article by Luke Dittrich. The film explores the ethical controversies surrounding the show, culminating in the 2006 suicide of Texas prosecutor Bill Conradt. While the real Chris Hansen declined to view the film due to a nondisclosure agreement, the original journalist, Dittrich, praised the project despite having no creative input. Critics describe the film as a chaotic, heightened 'fever dream' that critiques the show's ethics but lacks deep social analysis.