Being in Prime Video’s top 10 doesn’t always equal quality viewing. Even with known actors and a storyline centred on a copycat serial killer, the volume of content released each week makes it easy to prioritize what’s trending over what’s actually gripping. This week, “Mindcage” has climbed the streaming charts after being recently added, despite receiving poor reviews for its sluggish pacing and poor writing.
Welcome to Watch This, Not That, a column where we dig into the latest streaming top 10 picks, call out the one lackluster title you should skip, and highlight the better alternative you absolutely should watch instead.
“Mindcage” follows two detectives investigating a series of copycat serial murders that mirror a convicted killer’s past crimes. To solve the case, they reluctantly consult the imprisoned murderer known as “The Artist,” but the investigation spirals into a psychological game. Critics mostly called it a forgettable thriller because of its reliance on “tired tropes,” hence the movie’s 18% Rotten Tomatoes score. Even audiences were unimpressed due to its “badly written story.”
But I’ll save you the frustration. I dig through these charts so you don’t have to, highlighting the weaker picks, calling them out, and steering you toward stronger alternatives. There’s actually a seriously gripping thriller on Netflix that deserves your attention instead: “The Good Nurse.” This movie, based on a true story, follows a nurse who begins suspecting her coworker of multiple hospital deaths. Here’s why it’s worth streaming instead.
‘The Good Nurse’ offers a chilling character study
When scrolling through Netflix’s library packed with thrillers, an original movie that came to mind was “The Good Nurse.” Although it might not hold as much mystery as “Mindcage” it’s still an unsettling flick about one of the most prolific serial killers in recent American history. The film follows night-shift nurse Amy Loughren (Jessica Chastain), who is struggling with the long shifts. When a new colleague, Charles Cullen (Eddie Redmayne), joins her hospital, their friendship grows. After a series of unexplained patient deaths, Amy begins questioning his involvement.
As already mentioned, “The Good Nurse” is inspired by the real case of Charles Cullen, a nurse who worked in hospitals across New Jersey and Pennsylvania and was later found to be among the most notorious serial killers America has ever seen. He confessed to killing at least 29 patients, though investigators believe the actual number could be as high as 400.
The film is also based on the true-crime book “The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder” by Charles Graeber, which shows how Amy helped authorities uncover Cullen’s crimes. “The Good Nurse” pairs Oscar-winners Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain in this chilling portrayal of a real medical killing spree, with Redmayne delivering a quietly terrifying performance. It’s a gripping thriller that keeps you engaged while also leaving you frustrated at how Cullen managed to evade detection for so long.
Even though “Mindcage” is currently trending in Prime Video’s top 10, its predictable serial killer tropes, lack of real suspense, and “preposterous final-act twists” make it a hard pass this weekend. “The Good Nurse,” by comparison, uses restrained pacing and an eerie score to create a lingering sense of unease. If you want a thriller that’ll stay with you for days, this is the one to stream next.
Stream "The Good Nurse" on Netflix now
