This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.
Based on a true story
Plot Overview
Chris Hansen (Robert
Pattinson) was part of a task force in Pundalo, India looking for
a sanitary abductor of children who: left no evidence and never
took two from the same village. He unearthed a young witness who
told a dark, mystical tale that was hard to swallow. The
authorities wrote it off as wolves, though the bodies were
eventually discovered … or pieces of them, anyway.
Back in the states Hansen entered
illicit relations with a younger—at 30—woman, but
he realized he loves his wife and is making a concerted effort to
ditch the clinging hottie. “The National Enquirer” has
acquired pictures with which it's attempting to blackmail him.
Being both a man with a mission and a man who is all
too human, Hansen is a natural to develop a pilot, “To Catch
a Predator” in which he employs a television crew,
a partner/producer Andie Bender (Merritt Wever,) and
temporary, youthful bait. Chumps are lured on the Web to
a studio-dedicated house, delayed with finger food, and
confronted by the man before a police takedown. The
audience loved it so they got bumped up to prime time and took
their show on the road.
At 23 "Decoy Dan" (BSOA) Plum (Skyler Gisondo) grows
confidence in his jail bait role of a 13-year-old, freckle-faced
boy. The plot moves right along until they catch a whiff of a
veritable monster (“a whale”) in a
conservative town where “Pedos are not allowed in Texas;” he
seems to be high in government. They go round and round over
whether they should abandon their successful docket to go after
this seemingly big fish. It's as expressed in author Dan Brown:
“Who will guard the guards?” she said to herself. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes. The words kept circling in her head. (144)
Ideology
It's a given that one can profit greatly reading the biographies of great men, but here's a case where a paltry personage in an obscure movie has a lot to reveal, something along the lines of King Solomon deriving lessons from nature: (Prov. 30:24) “There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:” starting with, (Prov. 30:25) “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.” Start earning income in your youth, he seems to be telling us, i.e. the summer of life. Hansen began at 19, for four years appearing in commercials. It was a start.
(Prov. 30:26) “The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.” The conies follow the three guiding principles of real estate: location, location, location. Hansen picked up his part in Burbank, California and toured with the company making $5 G a shoot. When they got wind of a monster predator, there was heated discussion whether they should interrupt their itinerary to take the trap to him—he wouldn't come to them.
(Prov.
30:27) “The locusts have no king, yet go they forth
all of them by bands.” Success involves having the right
cohorts be they but unofficial liaisons. Hansen profited by keeping
in touch with his high school buddy Troy who provided
encouragement and inspiration to reach for the stars.
(Prov. 30:28) “The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.” Finally, one needs to take hold of his own niche. Hansen subbed for a talent who didn't show up and so got recognized more than his fleeting decoy appearances allowed.
Production Values
“” (2026) was based on Luke Dittrich's 2007 Esquire article, “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die.” It follows the production of the reality TV series, “To Catch a Predator.” It was directed by Lance Oppenheim. It was written by Ajon Singh and Luke Dittrich. It stars Robert Pattinson, Merritt Wever and Skyler Gisondo. Pattinson does a great job as lead Chris Hansen. Gisondo's mug is a standout as he plays a decoy actor for the show. And he gives the movie heart. The supporting cast does a great job as well.
MPA rated it R for disturbing sexual material, graphic nudity, some violent content, and language. The movie's cinematography and set design capture an early 2000's aesthetic. Some scenes are displayed in a four square box. It's not the look of high cinema but would prove comfortable for the viewer who spends more time in front of the boob tube than the big screen. Runtime is 1 hour 50 minutes.
Review Conclusion w/a Christian's Recommendation
Portrayed herein is an artistic creator
idealistic to a fault, his support crew chasing the bottom line,
perverts out for kiddie thrills w/a free snack, and one politician
trying not to get caught. Whatever floats your boat.
Movie Ratings
Action factor: Decent action scenes. Suitability For Children: Not Suitable for Children of Any Age. Special effects: Well, at least you can't see the strings. Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day. Suspense: Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Overall movie rating: Three and a half stars out of five.
Works Cited
Scripture quotation from the Authorized King James Version. Pub. 1611, rev. 1769. Software.
Brown, Dan. Digital Fortress. Copyright © 1998 by Dan Brown. New York, St. Martin's Press, February 2004 paperback. Print.
bibles.n7nz.org