This 10-episode thriller is so hypnotic that it will make you lose track of time.
© Hulu
If you’re looking for a thriller that can recreate the nightmarish atmosphere of The Silence of the Lambs, the solution is to head to Disney+, where one of the most successful series of recent years awaits you. It’s the Hulu show The Patient, with Steve Carell, Domhnall Gleeson, and Linda Emond, perhaps less known than other more renowned titles, but highly appreciated by both the audience and critics for its ability to transform a very simple idea into an extremely tense and original psychological thriller.
The premise is indeed quite elementary. The protagonist is Dr. Alan Strauss (Steve Carell), a therapist who, while grieving the loss of his wife, decides to take on a new patient named Sam Fortner (Domhnall Gleeson). What Alan doesn’t know, however, is that Sam is a serial killer who has come to his office with the intention of curing his psychosis and preventing himself from killing again. Alan finds himself literally imprisoned by the killer, who forces him to undergo psychological therapy sessions, with a warning: if he is unable to cure him, he will inevitably end up killing him too. From here, the series builds an entire narrative universe made up of dialogs, suffocating situations, and mental negotiations.
Just like with Hannibal Lecter, The Patient also offers us a rare and unsettling glimpse into the mind of a serial killer, as Alan tries to untangle the knot of his past traumas and help him come to terms with his unspeakable actions. As time goes by, however, the psychologist finds himself in an increasingly precarious situation: on one hand, he must find a way to escape from his prison, on the other hand, he is forced to manage the patient’s frustration, which could explode at any moment into a murderous rage.
What makes this thriller unusual and unmissable is the fact that it does not rely on classic action or spectacular plot twists. There are no chases or major revelations: On the contrary, the screenplay is almost entirely based on the dialog between the two protagonists and takes place mostly in a closed and claustrophobic setting that increases the sense of psychological pressure. The tension arises from even the smallest gestures, changes in tone, silences, and decisions. Much of the story unfolds in the therapy sessions between Alan and Sam, where every single phrase could change the balance and completely overturn the situation.
In short, there are no distractions: everything depends on the dialog and the relationship between the two characters. Consequently, everything depends on the incredible performances of the two leading stars. Steve Carell, known to the general public mainly for his hilarious characters like Michael Scott from The Office, delivers a performance very different from his comedic repertoire; while Domhnall Gleeson, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for the role of Sam Fortner, portrays an unstable, unpredictable character, but not completely devoid of humanity.
Can a murderer be changed? And can healing exist in a context of violence and control? Starting from what seems like a classic thriller about a serial killer, The Patient progressively shifts toward something more introspective. A series that stands out from conventional thrillers and is so hypnotic that it makes you lose track of time.
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