La dosis

This was a psychological thriller with the most sympathetic protagonist I have seen in years (Portaluppi). He works hard at his thankless job, goes home to his starkly humble apartment and eats his meager meals. You find yourself really rooting for him and wanting good things for him - but alas, his nemesis enters the scene and things begin to spiral at a Hitchcockian pace. This was something different and not to be missed.

The iMDB storyline on the main page gives the whole story away so what follows is in no way a spoiler. The film needs a certain suspension of what we know as to the methods of euthanasia used by each nurse - common sense tells us one is far more likely to be more effective. Nonetheless, the premiss led to a satisfying chiller.

New nurse Gabriel arrives at the ICU and immediately turns procedures and methods upside down. Despite having supposedly recently qualified he seems to have more knowledge and skills than he should. Marcos eventually gets suspicious of the new nurse and investigates and what he turns up makes for a grim story.

As the film progresses, Gabriel's insidious influence pervades the ward and the hospital itself. Marcos finds himself in the nightmare position of needing to cover up lapses and deliberate acts while under suspicion himself. Tensions rise between them until Gabriel seems to have the whole hospital under his sway.

The denouement was gripping and timely.

The film is only 90 minutes long which makes for a taut thriller. There wasn't an ounce of fat in this production. The characters were finely drawn, amoral Gabriel and repressed Marcos in particular. A definite recommendation.