--- title: "The Good Nurse" year: 2022 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-good-nurse" fi1m_id: "the-good-nurse" imdb_id: "tt4273800" tmdb_id: 541134 wikidata_id: "Q106590131" fi1m_score: 73 critics_score: 66 critics_reviews: 22 published: "2026-10-03T03:02:15.687522+00:00" updated: "2026-10-03T03:02:16.228414+00:00" region: "IE" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Good Nurse (2022) Directed by Tobias Lindholm · 2h 01m · IFCO 15A · Drama, Crime, Mystery ## Identity The Good Nurse - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-good-nurse - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** the-good-nurse - **IMDb ID:** tt4273800 - **TMDB ID:** 541134 - **Wikidata ID:** Q106590131 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4273800/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/541134, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106590131 **Fi1m score: 73** · Critics 66 from 22 reviews *In a sentence:* Jessica Chastain does the caring, the worrying and rather too much of the film’s work > Tobias Lindholm’s hospital crime drama is worth seeing for Jessica Chastain’s patient, believable Amy Loughren. The procedural passages are less persuasive, and its criticism of the healthcare system needs more attention than it gets. ## Synopsis Amy Loughren (Jessica Chastain) is a nurse trying to care for patients within a profit-driven hospital system. Charles Cullen (Eddie Redmayne) appears to be a concerned colleague, someone she can trust in a workplace where care is under pressure. But suspicion gathers around him, drawing her into questions about his conduct and the institutions surrounding them. Linda Garran (Kim Dickens) and Danny Baldwin (Nnamdi Asomugha) are also involved as a police investigation develops. The story stays with Amy Loughren as she has to reconsider an apparently helpful man while working within the system being questioned. ## Review *The Good Nurse* is a worthwhile crime drama whose most compelling subject is the person trying to do her job properly. Director Tobias Lindholm keeps our attention on Amy Loughren, played by Jessica Chastain, and on the effort involved in caring for other people. That choice gives the film much of its strength. When it becomes a more familiar police procedural, the performances have to work harder to hold us. The lead performance is attentive without being saintly. There is vulnerability in the way Jessica Chastain plays the nurse, but she never seems to be asking us to congratulate her for showing it. Krysty Wilson-Cairns’s screenplay gives Amy Loughren’s work enough importance for her to remain someone with responsibilities beyond advancing an investigation. We believe she cares about patients, and that belief matters when the film begins asking how much care the institution itself is prepared to provide. Eddie Redmayne is effective as Charles Cullen when the performance stays small. His apparent concern is credible, which makes his colleague’s uncertainty more troubling than a sequence of obvious warning signs would have been. We found that concern unnerving: he allows us to understand why someone might accept this man’s help. The character remains frustratingly thin, however, and when the performance becomes more demonstrative it loses some of the discomfort that his quieter work has established. Jody Lee Lipes’s cinematography and Shane Valentino’s production design give the hospital a dispiriting impersonality that suits the story. It feels like a place where a patient’s distress could become an administrative inconvenience, and that makes the hospital’s priorities easier to believe. The music by Clint Mansell and Biosphere sustains the unease without supplying much warmth. This subdued approach often works, although its coolness can also keep us at a distance from people whose danger ought to feel immediate. The editors, Michael Rolt and Adam Nielsen, are more persuasive with the slowly developing unease than with the procedural business. The measured pace lets us consider Amy Loughren’s trust in her colleague, but it also gives familiar investigative material more time than it deserves. We can feel the screenplay pushing for suspense where the relationship already provides it. At 121 minutes, the film has room to tighten without sacrificing the patience that makes its performances work. The larger question is what allows a hospital system to protect itself at the expense of those in its care. Tobias Lindholm and Krysty Wilson-Cairns make that accusation clear, but they are less thorough about examining it. Institutional failures matter here, yet the film’s attention repeatedly returns to the more manageable business of suspicion and investigation. For a true-crime drama, the attention to care is welcome; we could have used some of that same attention to how responsibility is avoided. Even with those limitations, the central relationship keeps us interested because its initial reassurance is believable. The film gives its actors space, and their quieter work rewards the patience the procedural passages sometimes test. This is worth an evening for a performance-led crime drama with some concern for the people around its central suspect. Do not choose it for the detective work. *Fi1m score 73, published 3 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics find The Good Nurse a worthwhile, restrained true-crime drama, with praise concentrated on its lead performances. Jessica Chastain draws the broadest approval for giving Amy warmth, vulnerability and depth without overstatement; even several detractors admire her work. Eddie Redmayne’s quiet menace also impresses many reviewers. Supporters value the measured procedural tension and the attention paid to hospital failures, with some finding a persuasive criticism of profit-driven healthcare. The spread is wide, however, and the same restraint strikes less convinced critics as flatness or emotional distance. Reservations centre on predictable plotting, contrived police work and suspense that becomes too theatrical. The healthcare criticism also divides opinion: some find it forceful, others insufficiently explored. Redmayne is a particular point of disagreement: Paste praises his quietly unnerving performance, while the Los Angeles Times finds it exaggerated and the killer unilluminating. ## Straight answers **Is The Good Nurse worth watching?** *The Good Nurse* is worth watching for Jessica Chastain’s believable, attentive performance, and we score it 73 out of 100. We recommend it for a patient, performance-led crime drama; the detective work is less persuasive, and its criticism of the hospital system needs more attention than it receives. **How long is The Good Nurse, and what is it rated?** *The Good Nurse* runs 2h 01m and is rated 15A by the IFCO in Ireland. It is a drama and crime film. **Where can I watch The Good Nurse in Ireland?** *The Good Nurse* is streaming on Netflix in Ireland. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is The Good Nurse, and is it suitable for children?** *The Good Nurse* has a UK 15 certificate and is not suitable for children under 15; we find its quietly troubling central relationship unnerving. The hospital setting, gathering suspicion and subdued music sustain unease, making it better suited to older teenagers and adults comfortable with a slow, unsettling crime drama. **How does The Good Nurse compare to The Assistant?** *The Good Nurse* is the more conventional crime drama, while we recommend [*The Assistant*](https://film.one/film/the-assistant) as the more exact, quietly disturbing account of harm concealed by workplace procedures. Both depend on restrained lead performances, but *The Assistant* keeps its attention on a junior employee’s working day; *The Good Nurse* loses some force when it turns to police investigation. **What should I watch after The Good Nurse?** After *The Good Nurse*, try [*The Assistant*](https://film.one/film/the-assistant) (2019, Fi1m 81): Another quietly angry account of harm concealed by ordinary workplace procedures. Then [*A Separation*](https://film.one/film/a-separation) (2011, Fi1m 93): Caregiving and responsibility become painfully difficult to separate from self-preservation and pride; and [*Memories of Murder*](https://film.one/film/memories-of-murder) (2003, Fi1m 91): A police investigation whose mistakes are as troubling as the crimes. ### Reviews we read (22) - **Variety**, Tomris Laffly (88/100, inferred): Laffly finds the film a soulful, quietly devastating drama that makes a persuasive political case against the for-profit healthcare system. She especially praises Jessica Chastain’s understated, empathetic performance as Amy. [Read](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/the-good-nurse-review-jessica-chastain-eddie-redmayne-1235367651/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, John DeFore (82/100, inferred): DeFore calls the film gripping and refreshingly unmanipulative, while condemning the profit-driven hospital system that lets danger persist. He praises the restrained performances, especially Redmayne’s portrayal of a nurse whose apparent concern remains convincing even as suspicion grows. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-good-nurse-review-jessica-chastain-and-eddie-redmayne-in-a-chilling-medical-crime-drama-1235217545/) - **Empire**, Catherine Bray (80/100, inferred): Bray gives the film a clearly positive verdict as a tense, thoughtful true-crime drama. She especially praises Jessica Chastain’s performance and the film’s focus on institutional failures. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-good-nurse/) - **RogerEbert.com**, Brian Tallerico (3/4): Tallerico gives the film a positive assessment as a tense procedural. He singles out the performances for praise, especially the work of Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-good-nurse-movie-review-2022) - **IndieWire**, Kate Erbland (B-): Erbland finds the drama chillingly effective, though its emotional distance may leave some viewers cold. She praises Jessica Chastain’s quiet, powerful performance and the focus on Amy’s perspective. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-good-nurse-review-jessica-chastain-eddie-redmayne-1234756767/) - **Radio Times**, James Mottram (70/100, inferred): The review appears positive, describing the film as an effective character study. It singles out Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal of a complex killer. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/good-nurse-netflix-review/) - **Screen Daily**, Wendy Ide (70/100, inferred): The standfirst presents the thriller positively, highlighting its superb acting. It singles out Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain’s performances. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-good-nurse-toronto-review/5174394.article) - **The AV Club**, Courtney Howard (B-): The critic finds the film a subtly crafted, effective thriller that also indicts the healthcare system that enabled the killings. She praises Jessica Chastain’s vulnerable performance and Eddie Redmayne’s understated, unsettling portrayal. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/good-nurse-review-jessica-chastain-eddie-redmayne-1849669921) - **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The page content is unavailable, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint can be confirmed from the accessible text. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/27/movies/the-good-nurse-review.html) - **The Guardian**, Benjamin Lee (62/100, inferred): Lee finds it a solid but ultimately flawed crime drama that loses momentum near the end. He especially praises Jessica Chastain’s subtle, affecting performance, while noting that Eddie Redmayne’s character feels underdeveloped. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/11/good-nurse-review-jessica-chastain-eddie-redmayne-netflix) - **Slant Magazine**, Mark Hanson (2/4): Hanson finds the film’s performances initially nuanced but says manufactured suspense and implausibilities undermine it. He praises the performances for a time, while criticizing the conventional thriller turn and histrionic climax. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-good-nurse-review-jessica-chastain-eddie-redmayne/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (30/100, inferred): Chang finds the film an uninsightful, forgettable true-crime drama that fails to make its killer compelling. He praises Jessica Chastain’s strong, unfussy performance, while criticizing Eddie Redmayne’s exaggerated portrayal. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-10-25/the-good-nurse-review-jessica-chastain-eddie-redmayne) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (95/100, inferred): Hammond calls it one of 2022’s best films, praising its compelling, slow-burning approach. He singles out Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne for two exceptional performances. [Read](https://deadline.com/2022/09/the-good-nurse-jessica-chastain-eddie-redmayne-1235115117/) - **Paste**, Aurora Amidon (8.3/10): Amidon finds the film a thoughtful, compelling true-crime drama, elevated by two standout lead performances. She especially praises Eddie Redmayne’s quietly unnerving portrayal of Charles Cullen. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/jessica-chastain/the-good-nurse-review) - **NME** (Recommended): The review finds the film worthwhile despite its clichés and procedural shortcomings. It especially praises Jessica Chastain’s powerful, believable performance as Amy. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/the-good-nurse-review-eddie-redmayne-netflix-jessica-chastai-3336537) - **Film Stories**, Lauren Miles (75/100, inferred): Miles finds the film a tense, worthwhile thriller, though its plot is somewhat predictable. She praises the subdued, emotionally resonant performances by Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/the-good-nurse-review-a-thriller-based-on-true-and-terrible-events/) - **The Wrap** (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film mostly effective, praising its tense, carefully paced procedural approach. Chastain’s warm, attentive performance stands out, though the film’s more theatrical moments undercut its subtlety. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/the-good-nurse-review-jessica-chastain-eddie-redmayne-netflix-true-crime/) - **The Playlist** (64/100, inferred): The URL identifies this as a review of the specified film, but the page content is blocked. Its verdict and any particular praise or criticism cannot be verified. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/the-good-nurse-review-jessica-chastaine-eddie-redmayne-tiff-20220911/) - **Digital Spy**, Gabriella Geisinger (60/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a slow-burning, well-crafted watch, though its intimate thriller and broader social commentary do not quite come together. They single out the sound design for drawing effective parallels between hospitals and prisons. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a41752630/the-good-nurse-review-netflix/) - **/Film**, Chris Evangelista (6/10): The critic finds the film disappointingly flat and lifeless despite its chilling true-crime premise. Redmayne’s subdued portrayal of Charlie is singled out as unsettling, while the contrived police subplot draws criticism. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1004554/the-good-nurse-review-nurse-jessica-chastain-tries-to-stop-serial-killer-eddie-redmayne-in-this-underwhelming-true-crime-drama-tiff/) - **Consequence**, Sam Rosenberg (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a pallid procedural thriller that gestures toward systemic healthcare failures without exploring them deeply. They praise the performances of Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne, while faulting the drama for feeling stiff and dreary. [Read](https://consequence.net/2022/10/the-good-nurse-review-netflix-jessica-chastain/) - **Eye for Film**, Jennie Kermode (25/100, inferred): Kermode finds the film flaccid, predictable and disappointing, despite Jessica Chastain’s strong performance. She especially praises Chastain for giving Amy depth, while criticizing the film for reducing victims to statistics. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-good-nurse-2022-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## Details - **Director:** Tobias Lindholm - **Director:** Tobias Lindholm - **Screenplay:** Krysty Wilson-Cairns - **Cinematography:** Jody Lee Lipes - **Editor:** Michael Rolt, Adam Nielsen - **Music:** Biosphere, Clint Mansell - **Production design:** Shane Valentino - **Costume design:** Amy Westcott - **Producer:** Michael A. Jackman, Scott Franklin, Darren Aronofsky - **Cast:** Jessica Chastain as Amy Loughren; Eddie Redmayne as Charles Cullen; Nnamdi Asomugha as Danny Baldwin; Kim Dickens as Linda Garran; Malik Yoba as Sam Johnson; Alix West Lefler as Alex Loughren; Noah Emmerich as Tim Braun; Gabe Fazio as Tom Anderson - **Runtime:** 2h 01m - **Certificate (IFCO):** 15A - **Release (Ireland):** 26 October 2022 - **Genres:** Drama, Crime, Mystery - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0DQevX-GZs ## Where to watch in Ireland - Netflix: streaming *Checked 2026-10-03.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *The Assistant* (2019), Fi1m 81: Another quietly angry account of harm concealed by ordinary workplace procedures — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-assistant.md) - *A Separation* (2011), Fi1m 93: Caregiving and responsibility become painfully difficult to separate from self-preservation and pride — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/a-separation.md) - *Memories of Murder* (2003), Fi1m 91: A police investigation whose mistakes are as troubling as the crimes — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/memories-of-murder.md) - *The Death of Mr. Lazarescu* (2005): A patient’s passage through hospitals makes institutional indifference exhausting and painfully concrete - *The Verdict* (1982), Fi1m 84: Medical negligence and compromised institutions, approached through a lawyer’s struggle to recover conviction — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-verdict.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-good-nurse