CAPTURING THE KILLER NURSE is a new Netflix true crime documentary with a case that will be very familiar if you’ve watched The Good Nurse. This is the documentary version as opposed to the fictionalized movie.

What’s most fascinating and terrifying, is when you realize that the movie based on the true story is extremely accurate. Of course, this also means you know how the story evolves and ends from the beginning. With a runtime of just 94 minutes, it is very much worth your time.

The true story of Charlie Cullen
Charlie Cullen was an experienced registered nurse with either good or neutral recommendations from previous jobs. This resulted in him being a trusted – and loved by his colleagues – nurse at Somerset Medical Center in New Jersey.

Unfortunately, time would show that Charlie Cullen was also one of history’s most prolific serial killers. He may have victims in the hundreds. Both at Somerset Medical Center and across multiple medical facilities in the Northeast.

All of which help enable him to continue his deadly ways in his next employment.

Fortunately, as the title indicates, this is also about the people who helped stop him and bring him to justice. Most prominently, the people working at the Poison Control Center, the police detectives, and one of Charlie Cullen’s closest colleagues: Amy Loughren.

The casting of the movie was perfect
One of the first things I noticed, when watching Capturing the Killer Nurse on Netflix, was that Amy Loughren really does sound like Jessica Chastain. Or vice versa perhaps. Whatever the case, they sound eerily similar and it’s obvious that Jessica Chastain was the perfect casting of Amy Loughren in The Good Nurse.

However, the same can absolutely be said for Eddie Redmayne as Charlie Cullen. And no, this isn’t a review of The Good Nurse (that would be this one), but having just watched the movie, you notice just how good the casting was once you watch the documentary.

Especially the voice and mannerisms of Charlie Cullen were perfectly captured by Eddie Redmayne. Something I certainly could not help noticing when watching the documentary.

What you do next matters!
We’ve heard it so many times before, but this is yet another case where someone is initially described as kind and wonderful. Then, once something terrible comes to light, those who knew the person re-think certain situations.

Suddenly, they realize that they’ve been witnessing actions that resulted in murder.

That’s enough to really drive someone a little crazy. However, what you do next is what truly defines your character; Do you go into denial and keep thinking “but he was good to me” or do you help bring justice? You can still acknowledge that he was a good person to you while also accepting that he was a killer.

For me, this might be the most important message from both the movie and this documentary. Sure, you missed it the first time around. That’s not on you but rather on how good he was at what he did. The fact that you help stop him, is what proves the strength of your character.

And Amy Loughren is a truly good nurse and an amazing human being!

Watch Capturing the Killer Nurse on Netflix
The Netflix documentary is by the Emmy-nominated director Tim Travers Hawkins (XY Chelsea). You’re getting the true (and very tragic) story behind Charles Cullen’s hidden spree of murders.

Also, the focuses on the dangers that are still lurking in the US healthcare system. A system made up largely of “Private, for-profit hospitals”, and not one that is focused on being for the patients – or people in general. This part is even scarier since it’s exactly what also enabled the man known as “Dr. Death”.

Sure, the documentary title may be a little on the nose, but it’s still also very fitting. The Netflix true crime documentary is based on the best-selling book “The Good Nurse” written by Charles Graeber. This was the book that was dramatized in the Netflix movie of the same title.

And yes, author Charles Graeber is also interviewed in this documentary. As are all the relevant people from Amy Loughren to the detectives working on the case and the Poison Control Center employee who first flagged the issue for Somerset Medical Center. Also, there are audio interviews with Charles Cullen.

If you liked the movie The Good Nurse – or just enjoy true crime – then be sure to check out this documentary with a runtime of just 94 minutes. It’s well-crafted and worth your time!

Capturing the Killer Nurse is on Netflix from November 11, 2022.