There are stories so shocking they seem unbelievable, yet they are completely true. The Good Nurse, directed by Tobias Lindholm and starring Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne, brings to the screen a case that deeply marked the history of medicine — as well as crime news — in the United States.
The film, a Netflix original production, follows her inner struggle between humanity, loyalty, and the instinct to protect what matters most: family. The Good Nurse is an intense thriller, built on the moral tension between loyalty, truth, and survival.
TRAILER at the bottom of the article.
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The Good Nurse – All the Information
- Original title: The Good Nurse
- Duration: 121 minutes
- Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime
- Release year: 2022
- Director: Tobias Lindholm
- Screenplay: Krysty Wilson-Cairns
- Main cast: Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne, Nnamdi Asomugha, Noah Emmerich
- Production: Netflix Original
- Rating: 13+
The Good Nurse, the Plot
Amy is a dedicated nurse and single mother quietly fighting a serious heart condition that threatens both her health and her livelihood. During long overnight shifts, she finds unexpected comfort in Charlie, a new colleague whose calm presence and apparent kindness help her endure the pressure of the ICU. Their growing friendship offers Amy a fragile sense of hope, a belief that her life – and her daughters’ future – might finally feel safer.
That sense of stability soon fractures. A series of sudden, unexplained patient deaths shakes the hospital, and emerging clues begin to point toward Charlie. As suspicion builds, Amy is forced into an impossible position, risking her job and her own safety to uncover what is really happening. The film follows her tense emotional journey, balancing humanity and loyalty with the instinct to protect the people she loves most.
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The Cast and Characters
Jessica Chastain portrays Amy Loughren, an ICU nurse who, in the story, collaborates with authorities when suspicions arise about a colleague. The Oscar-winning actress for Tammy Faye’s Eyes is also known for key roles in Zero Dark Thirty, Interstellar, and The Tree of Life.
Eddie Redmayne, British actor and Oscar winner for The Theory of Everything, and known for international productions like The Danish Girl and the Fantastic Beasts saga, plays Charles Cullen, the nurse whose behavior draws investigators’ attention.
Joining them are Nnamdi Asomugha, who transitioned from sports to notable roles such as in Sylvie’s Love; Noah Emmerich, known for his role as Stan Beeman in the series The Americans; and Kim Dickens, appreciated for her appearances in Fear the Walking Dead and Gone Girl.
Our Review
Tobias Lindholm’s film stands out for its measured pace, dark atmosphere, and constant psychological tension. It’s not a thriller based on spectacular special effects, but on raw realism and moral dilemmas that make the story even more touching. Critics praised the performances, particularly the contrast between Amy’s fragility and Charlie’s enigmatic unease. Jessica Chastain worked closely with Amy Loughren, the real nurse, to deeply understand her role.
The Good Nurse, therefore, is more than just a crime film: it’s a portrait of individual courage facing a truth impossible to ignore.
Is The Good Nurse a true story?
Yes, it is a true story. The film is adapted from The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder, the investigative book by journalist Charles Graeber. His work traces the real case of nurse Charles Cullen, who operated across several hospitals over more than a decade and is now considered one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history. Graeber’s book also highlights the systemic failures that allowed Cullen to keep moving from one institution to another, as well as the extraordinary courage of the real Amy Loughren, whose cooperation with investigators was crucial in finally stopping him.
The creative team made a deliberate choice not to use the real names of victims, opting instead for composite patients out of respect for the families while preserving the accuracy of Cullen’s methods.
Locations
Filming took place primarily in Connecticut, with production based in Stamford to authentically capture the look and feel of the hospitals where the real events unfolded. According to production notes and interviews, the team consulted journalist Charles Graeber and used real investigative documents to ensure accuracy, even though the hospital interiors themselves were recreated rather than shot in the actual institutions involved in the case.
When to Watch the Film on Netflix
The film is available on Netflix ► Watch The Good Nurse on Netflix
