‘Primetime’ Review: Robert Pattinson Is Even Creepier Than IRL Chris Hansen in a Bleakly Invigorating ‘To Catch a Predator’ Thriller

At the Venice International Film Festival, reviews of Robert Pattinson's portrayal of TV host Chris Hansen in Lance Oppenheim's new thriller Primetime suggest the performance is not entirely complimentary, with the word "unhinged" appearing frequently. However, Pattinson himself remains hopeful that Hansen may take the film well once he watches it without any NDAs from A24.

In a press conference, Pattinson expressed a strong desire for Hansen's approval, attributing the character's lasting impact to his own magnetic presence. He noted that Hansen's delivery made the original To Catch A Predator show compelling, even after watching thousands of hours of it. This unique alchemy was not solely due to the subject matter, but rather something special about Hansen's centering of it.

While Oppenheim drew inspiration for Primetime after purchasing a Cameo from Hansen for his wife, featuring pitches for his other projects, it seems Hansen may not share the same enthusiasm for his portrayal in the film. Pattinson is actively promoting his TruBlu platform through ads during the screenings of Primetime, despite not appearing particularly excited about the movie.