The Good Nurse

In the true crime era, this drama earns points for telling the story of a serial killer from the point of view of the friend who stopped him. With excellent performances by Chastain and Redmayne (guided by the real-life Amy, who actively consulted behind the scenes), viewers will be shaken: Can a serial killer be compassionate, caring, and unsympathetically murderous? And if you realized your best friend was a killer, would you have the courage to go to the police and participate in their arrest? This is a profile in courage, and Amy is a true role model, showing strength, resilience, tenacity, and deep-rooted integrity.

At one point, Charlie covers a patient who's died and mentions giving her dignity. The same could be said for how director Tobias Lindholm handles the movie's murders, avoiding victim exploitation. Since the story is told from the point of view of Amy and the detectives investigating an unexpected death of a hospital patient, we're watching an unfolding mystery, rather than an American Psycho-type killing spree. Lindholm chooses to present the story as something that could happen to anyone. But the sober camera filter, combined with Lindholm's steady approach and avoidance of instigating false fear, means the story is told with a sophistication that's more likely to appeal to adults than teens.