I honestly can't remember when I last watched a Russian film, or if Prime Time is even my first exposure to them. Regardless, the simple story idea seemed interesting from the beginning, and it doesn’t delay things at all, immediately immersing viewers in what's happening. The initially suspenseful and tense feeling gradually becomes less intense as the characters played by Bartosz Bielenia, Magdalena Popławska, and Andrzej Kłak start to understand one another. Initially, this makes the hijacker and those being held captive very fascinating because the audience still knows nothing about them. However, over time, viewers don’t really learn much about these people. Sebastian does have some development that helps prepare you for the final moments, but it's not enough for what's needed in a supposedly tense thriller. The TV presenter feels shallow and the security guard hardly speaks at all, making it very difficult to feel connected to any of the characters. The relationships between them are so strange and seemingly without reason that it just makes the ultimately disappointing ending even worse. The social commentary is quite obvious, and I do appreciate its message—I’ll avoid spoiling it because it's tied into the ending—but what really lets down viewers and the characters is the weak storytelling, which creates a rollercoaster ride missing big twists and exciting drops. Jakub Piątek’s direction shows glimpses of his skill, but it lacks vitality. His screenplay, written with Łukasz Czapski, has an interesting setup and a captivating first part, but like everything else, it loses momentum quickly, leading to a final moment that isn't very emotionally powerful yet feels somewhat appropriate. Prime Time starts off with a compelling premise and a really engaging beginning, but this initial excitement fades as the story progresses, concluding with a predictably suitable but disappointing end. Despite decent performances from the actors, Jakub Piątek and Łukasz Czapski’s script focuses on these three characters, but they don't get enough development to be truly interesting, making it hard for viewers to relate to them. The message comes across clearly, and it’s quite satisfying, especially considering how subtly it sets up that final scene. Still, the journey you have to take to reach it might not be as exciting or thrilling as you’d hope. Rating: C+

Source on TMDB