A psychiatrist’s job is to help people, talk to them, give them a pathway to figure out and live with their issues. When one psychiatrist treats a patient that drifts a little too close to the line between fantasy and real-life murder, Basic Psych becomes anything but.
A psychiatrist and his family are put in danger when he treats a paranoid murderer.
Basic Psych, IMDB
Dr. Stuart Prince (Michael Cerveris), a psychiatrist marred by past sessions with a killer lives peacefully with his wife and daughter. One day, Dan (David Conrad) sets up an appointment with him, but is extremely secretive about the sessions: no notes are to be taken, and no one must know he is seeking treatment. Meanwhile, there are murders happening around town that drive both men to the edge with the Doctor believing Dan has killed before. Basic Psych is a cat-and-mouse game that leaves you guessing if what we’re seeing is the truth, or if the missing pieces prove something else.
A psychological thriller in every sense of the word, Basic Psych doesn’t rely on gore or jumpscares to create a feeling of unease. While murders are happening in the background, Dan and Dr. Prince become more and more entangled in each other’s lives, leading to drastic measures. All of this comes to a head at the end when we finally see the truth. I won’t leave any spoilers here, but Basic Psych is one of those movies that has very good rewatchability because every viewing uncovers a new part of the story.
For those looking for an exciting slasher-type ride, Basic Psych might disappoint you. It is actually more on-brand with the crime dramas one might find on TV. It is not slow, but methodical, carefully laying out pieces for the viewer to put together while everything falls apart for the two main characters.
Basic Psych is smooth, almost like soft water — everything from its lighting to the camera work is beautiful and seamless. I wish I could say the same for some of the supporting cast; Dr. Prince and Dan act their hearts out, but there are moments where family members are a little dry. But not to worry, the plot makes up for it with the story digging deeper and deeper into paranoia, culminating into a twist ending that will make you rethink all of the interactions before.
What Basic Psych lacks in loud, extreme scare factor, it makes up for in simmering sinisterness, where the story makes you question motives and feelings throughout. It is daytime horror that will leave you thinking long into the night.
Basic Psych is available to stream on Digital HD, including Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home. For more, visit its website.
