20s Movie Review - The Good Nurse

Director: Tobias Lindholm
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne

Description: An infamous caregiver (Eddie Redmayne) is implicated in the deaths of hundreds of hospital patients.

Review: “The Good Nurse” paints a poignant portrait of the woman who stepped forward to expose a serial killer, despite the risk she took in doing so. This true story contains a surprising second villain: the hospital business.

The intention was to tell the story of serial killer Charles Cullen without exploiting his victims. The creators were very successful at that. By focusing on nurse Amy Loughren, who was friends with Cullen,  as special aspect of this history is highlighted and a worthy narrative is created for the victims of this killer who had his way for years.

Through a rock-solid performance, Eddie Redmayne confronts us with the uncomfortable reality that serial killers can be among us unseen. Jessica Chastain, who has been a favorite of mine for years, shows once again why she is on that list. She plays the titular good nurse, that stand up for her patients. But it’s more difficult then she thinks, because it becomes extra wrenching when it slowly becomes clear how much responsibility the various hospitals where Charlie worked had in the murders he committed. Very shocking because of the film’s basis in reality. As harrowing as it is, it makes “The Good Nurse” even more suspenseful and the importance of storytelling even clearer.

The tension is palpable until the very end, up to and including the long-awaited confrontation between Amy and Charlie. A very strong thriller, that is captivating from begin ‘till end.

Rating: 4/ 5