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The Patient

As I have discussed many times over the past 20 years, there is something inherently fascinating about a film or a television series that can entertain with the barest of casts. EX MACHINA is a project that immediately jumps to mind when compiling a list of the best examples of this. I revisited Alex Garland’s sci-fi masterpiece last month, and was once again blown away. I know everybody goes nuts when the Avengers assemble, but sometimes, I just want to see that a story can be told with very few involved.

Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, the duo behind the magnificent series THE AMERICANS, are back with a vengeance in the new Hulu series THE PATIENT. Starring a subdued Steve Carrell and a seething Domnhall Gleeson (EX MACHINA) the psychological thriller is a slow-burn exercise in tension and terror.

Carrell plays successful psychologist Alan Strauss. Though still reeling from the loss of his wife, Alan has a gentle and serene demeanor, one that allows him to grow close and comfortable with his clients. When he first meets Gene (Gleeson) the new patient explains that he read Alan’s book, and thought he may be able to help him through some of his complex issues. Their rapport is pleasant, but after a couple of sessions, Alan admits that he feels as if Gene is holding back. He doesn’t seem particularly willing or interested into digging into the true nature of his inner struggles, and Alan questions what he hopes to gain by attending therapy.

A short time later, Alan wakes up in an unfamiliar room, chained to the floor. He is about to find out exactly why Gene, whose real name is Sam, sought treatment.

Rather than draw out Sam’s possible affliction, we learn right away that he is a serial killer who longs to find a way to stop. He doesn’t particularly like what he does, although, he admits, every person he has slain has deserved it. Still, he understands that this isn’t exactly the type of hobby he should continue to pursue. Though he is a card-carrying member of Kenny Chesney’s “No Shoes Nation,” and embraces the community’s vibe of happiness and love, he won’t hesitate to strike down anyone who proves that they deserve to be taught a lesson

Though there are other characters and performers featured on THE PATIENT, revealing some of these would lead us dangerously close into spoiler territory, and with this type of series, the less you know, the better. The most important thing to understand is that a great deal of the tight running time of each episode (all under 30 minutes) is spent in Sam’s basement, with Alan and his patient trying to stop a murder from occurring. With a thick chain around his ankle and fear in his eyes, Carrell is a far cry from Michael Scott and Gru. His restrained and powerful performance, paired with his unforgettable turn in FOXCATCHER, illustrates that the actor can deliver on a seemingly limitless range of characters. Meanwhile, Gleeson is a tour-de-force as the tortured and frightening Sam. He seems like a downright decent guy when he brings Alan elaborate takeout dinners like pho, and genuinely seems intent on suppressing his murderous impulses. Then, you remember, as he shares the soup and discusses his demons, that he has his doctor chained to the floor with no real hope of escape. His vacant, dead-behind-the-eyes expressions are chilling, even when he is not uttering a word. It is in these moments that THE PATIENT shines, and proves that you don’t have to be Dexter Morgan to be an interesting and complex killer.