Robert Pattinson ’s Primetime released in India on September 25, but the film went through a few changes before reaching the big screen.
The psychological crime thriller was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification ( CBFC ) with an ‘A’ certificate, with the board asking the makers to make cuts to certain scenes and add a warning before the film.
The film is produced by A24, with Ari Aster among the producers. The cast also includes Merritt Wever as producer Andie Bender, Skyler Gisondo as a decoy actor, Phoebe Bridgers in her dramatic feature debut, Matthew Maher, Bokeem Woodbine and Anna Faris as Hansen’s first wife, Mary Joan.
The CBFC report specifically records the deletion as 7 seconds. The makers were also asked to add a 10-second disclaimer at the start of the film. Recalling a 2018 conversation between Hansen and comedian Theo Von, Pattinson said, “Theo was asking him: ‘Do you ever go to therapy?
The actor has also revealed what specifically made him want to take on the role. The warning reads, “This film is strictly intended for adult audiences due to its sensitive theme and the disturbing nature of certain visuals and sequences. Because primetime has already been given an ‘A’ certificate, meaning it is restricted to adult audiences, the cuts did not go down well with viewers online, particularly.
The CBFC examined Primetime only a few days before its scheduled release in India. The film was cleared for adult audiences after the makers made the changes requested by the board. An anti-alcohol warning has been added as a static on-screen message, in line with the regulations around alcohol consumption and its depiction in films. The film also underwent a seven-second cut involving frontal nudity. An alcohol brand name seen in the film has also been blurred. Two instances of obscene language were muted, with one word removed from each of the two separate cuts mentioned in the examination report. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. Several users on X questioned why further cuts were needed despite the film being certified for adults. His answer to that made me want to do [the film]. When you see someone who looks like they’re very poised all the time, your natural instinct is to think: ‘What’s behind the poise?’”
He basically said, ‘No, I just bury everything really, really deep down inside.
