To Catch a Predator was a reality series that was part of Dateline NBC, using hidden cameras to find men arriving at a sting house to have sex with a minor (I never watched it). Robert Pattinson plays the show’s host, Chris Hensen, who (at least in this film) was obsessed with his show’s rise in primetime. Merritt Wever is cast as the show’s producer with Skyler Gisondo as the “decoy” boy. In keeping with the subject matter director Lance Oppenheim has chosen a dark look and feel. The atmosphere is continually gritty and oppressive, while the oversaturated, high-contrast cinematography and ominous music call attention to themselves. The cast is uniformly strong, even with occasional histrionics. Overall, this is a disturbing character study with visceral intensity that works, but eventually gets tiresome. Interesting note: Alex Winter (“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”) plays the Texas DA who’s encounter closes the film (and the series). 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
