PRIMETIME (2026)

September 24, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. Director Lance Oppenheim (SOME KIND OF HEAVEN, 2020) and co-writers Luke Dittrich and Ajon Singh toss nearly two hours of psychology at us, leaving us to fend for ourselves on how best to define evil and acceptable boundaries of ethics and decency. It’s a bit of a mind twister that some may define as horror, while others cast it as satire. Regardless of your take, I found this to be a mesmerizing look at the things that make some people tick.

Robert Pattinson stars as Chris Hansen, whom you likely recall as the host of “To Catch a Predator”, a special offering which ran from 2004-08 on “Dateline NBC”. Hansen became renowned for his creepy voice and catchphrases, “Why don’t you have a seat” and “You see how this looks, right?” It wasn’t enough to catch the pedophiles … they needed to be humiliated on camera and then have the tape replayed on national television. Legalities caught up with show … entrapment being a topic, despite few having sympathy for those targeted. Those caught in compromising positions are shown here, but this film is ingenious in how it turns the camera on what was going on behind the scenes.

Pattinson captures a persona as Hansen that is difficult to describe, yet abnormal and a bit twisted is a start. The always great Merritt Weaver (CHRISTY, 2025) plays the show’s ambitious producer Andie Bender – one who would readily admit to not being cut out for rom-coms. She’s a master at manipulating a situation or person so that it makes her and the show look good. Proof of this is in how she handles “Decoy Dan” (a terrific Skyler Gisondo, SUPERMAN, 2025). Ambitious in his own right, Dan masters the innocent voice used to reel in the target, and does so for the purpose of obtaining his SAG card.

Yes, everyone is out for something here. Matthew Maher (THE BRIDE!, 2026) plays Xavier, the staffer charged with attracting the right kind with online banter. Xavier founded “Perverted Justice”, an organization committed to nailing pedophiles. The downfall of the show occurred with an incident in Murphy, Texas … shown here with Bokeem Woodbine as a strutting Texas sheriff, devoted to nailing ‘The Whale’ … an important local official. It’s the one target that Hansen never had the chance to confront with his own words.

The supporting cast in the film is deep and, in some cases, quite surprising. These actors include Phoebe Bridgers (musician), Anna Farris, Jessica Hecht, Jeff Zucker (former President of CNN), Jonathan Lipnicki (the kid from JERRY MCGUIRE), Alex Winter (BILL & TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE), Tony Revolori (THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL), and Creed Bratton (“The Office”, The Grass Roots).

In addition to the cast, director Oppenheim has put the band back together (from SOME KIND OF HEAVEN, 2020). This includes cinematographer David Bolen whose lighting and camera work deliver a unique atmosphere, composer Ari Balouzian whose musical notes match the feeling, and editor Daniel Garber who fits the pieces together in a way that the “Yuck” factor never overwhelms. The psychological aspects mentioned earlier are on full display throughout, and best of luck maintaining your own sanity as you attempt to figure out if any of these folks are ‘good’ or if that bar is simply unachievable.

Opens in theaters on September 25, 2026

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Posted by David Ferguson

SOME KIND OF HEAVEN (2021, doc)

January 13, 2021

 Greetings again from the darkness. The Villages of Florida is a massive master-planned retirement community. It’s similar in development to Del Webb’s Sun City, but roughly 5 times the size. We learn that there are 20,000 single folks among the residents of The Villages, and it’s described as “Disneyland for retirees”. Director Lance Oppenheim (his first feature length documentary) peaks behind the façade of paradise.

“You come here to live. You don’t come here to die.” One of the residents makes that statement, and there is much to back it up. Golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, recreation centers, social activities, concerts, churches, shopping, and it seems there’s always a party to be found. However, rather than explore the seniors who are embracing this pre-fab lifestyle, director Oppenheim focuses on four individuals whose situations wouldn’t be considered success stories.

Anne and Reggie are about to celebrate 47 years of marriage. But is there reason to celebrate? While Anne fine-tunes her pickleball skills, Reggie self-treats his declining mental acuity with drugs and solitary spirituality. Dennis is the party boy. He’s an 81 year old ‘teenager’ living in his van down by The Villages as he searches for a companion with money – one who will open her villa and treat him like the king he views himself as. Barbara is homesick for Boston. She moved to The Villages with her husband, and he died not long after their arrival. Out of money, she’s working full time in the community office – carrying a sullen look that implies depression and loneliness.

Anne looks to a counselor for help, while Reggie fights drug charges by representing himself in a court of law to a judge who doesn’t appreciate rudeness. Dennis is a self-described “handyman” who can’t work venetian blinds, and is smarmy in his pickup methods. Barbara watches video of her wedding on her iPad while eating lunch with her dog, and only shows signs of life when the Parrot Head Margarita man is kind enough to converse with her. While we are getting to know these four, Oppenheim shows off the fabulous community with a golf cart bridge over the freeway, its manicured lawns, swaying palm trees, and engaged citizenry.

The Villages were originally developed by Harold Schwartz, and he makes a brief appearance here thanks to an old video clip. With more than 100,000 residents, is it the sterile environment that masks sadness as presented by Oppenheim, or does it provide an environment for folks to live out their final years by staying active, learning new activities, and socializing? By choosing these four as his focus, there is little doubt the filmmaker is making a statement about his stance, but a better approach would have included insight from “the other side” of the argument. Otherwise, why are there so many “Frogs” – those there till the croak?

Available January 15, 2021 on Video on Demand

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2 Comments | Documentary | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson