The Patient

Psychotherapist Alan Strauss is chained in a basement by serial killer Sam Fortner, who demands therapy to curb his urge to murder. Their forced sessions become a tense fight for control and survival.

The Patient follows psychotherapist Alan Strauss after he is kidnapped by Sam Fortner, a former patient who chains him inside a basement room. Sam admits he is a serial killer and insists that only ongoing therapy from Alan can stop him from killing again. Alan must read Sam’s moods, probe his history, and keep him talking while looking for any chance to escape or signal for help. Cut off from the outside world, Alan also confronts fresh grief over his wife’s death and the strained ties with his adult children. Every session risks triggering Sam’s violence, turning standard clinical techniques into a life-or-death gamble.

As days pass, Sam discloses earlier murders and the role his mother has played in enabling him, forcing Alan to decide how far he can push without becoming the next victim. Alan’s thoughts keep returning to his daughter Shoshana and son Ezra, replaying old arguments and regrets that now feel unfinished. The two men develop a brittle dependence: Sam needs Alan’s insight, while Alan needs Sam’s restraint long enough to survive. Outside the basement, limited contacts and Sam’s home life raise the stakes further. The ordeal strips both men down to raw need, testing whether understanding a killer can change him or only prolong the danger.