Painkiller

As a chronic pain patient, I was a bit hesitant at first. Pain patients receive so much judgement so the last thing I wanted to see was a movie which would make me feel bad for something I cannot control. However, Painkiller tackles a real problem. The same problem that causes so many tragic deaths ironically also causes so many pain chronic pain patients to feel judged, depressed, defeated and even suicidal. Painkiller tackles the reason behind the opioid epidemic, greedy pharmaceutical companies, greedy Doctors who dishonor their Hippocratic Oath to DO NO HARM, the lack of resources for law enforcement to tackle the issue and the drug dealers.

Listening to the main character Bill as he comforts a parent who lost a child to an overdose while dealing with his own loss really broke my heart. Watching Bill take matters into his own hands to avenge his daughter's death was satisfying. What parent wouldn't do everything in their power to bring their child's killer to justice? Tom Parnell as Doctor Mac is the epitome of a great Doctor. Yet no good deed goes unpunished. Enter Michael Pare as Doctor Rhodes who not only steals Good Doctor Mac's wife but destroys his career when Doctor Mac refuses to market a drug meant to help heart patients as yet another PAINKILLER.

Supporting characters Alexander Pennecke as RIP, Kalimah Gaston as Janet Simone and Kristina Berenger as Lisa really strengthened each scene. Bill Oberst Jr and Tom Parnell really compliment each other. The action scenes were organic. This movie will touch on all of your emotions. Mark Savage, Tom Parnell and David Richardson are a creative power team. Director Mark Savage is a fearless genius. Everything about Painkiller works. I highly recommend it.

What a horrible mess.

Based on Barry Meier's book Painkiller and Patrick Keefe's Empire of pain, this movie gets just about everything wrong. Addiction. Greed. The Sacklers. How they lit the fire of the epidemic.

Worse, they throw in new peripheral characters to move the story.

This movie misses the point on how the Sacklers operated.

Matthew Broderick is wasted. He played capo Richard Sackler as a fool. He could have easily played the real guy.

My daughter's a prosecutor. I'm an addictions medical professional. Netflix, you're a disgusting mess. Not any coincidence all your show runners and directors look so much alike, is it?

They don't show a single person shooting up. WTF is this, kindergarten?

So much filler added, so many facts removed. Netflix should be required to remake this accurately.

I get it, you lost someone to pills. These are the same pills that give people w debilitating pain, cancer and nerve issues somewhat of a normal life by not leaving them stuck to a bed unable to move. But the person you lost was special, way more special than the millions living a 24/7 unending nightmare. So you wanna take it out on everyone in any connected w these demon pills. Good for you. Sorry it didnt work out putting that in a movie. Just made it seem like a wimpy guy that has to hide his face and sneak up on unsuspecting people to exact his pettiness. Wouldve worked better if the movie was about the same guy becoming a counselor, helping people that cant get off opioids. But who am i, just a dude writing a small personal review about a movie that wasted my time.

Now I know why Doctors are so afraid to help their patients in pain (after a severe infection, car accident etc) It's sad and ridiculous. Pain during infections and accidents/trauma are a part of the human experience and inhabiting a body on earth. It's unavoidable.

The fact that everyone is looked at as a possible drug seeker and drs are being so harassed is just .. unbelievable.

There will always be addicts. The parents opening each episode, clearly state there child died an addict. Not one of them, took the medication once and died or suffered a side effect that debilitated them for the rest of their life. (Like having chronic seizures after or nerve damage that lead to them being paralyzed, etc. (Which actually are potential side effects of some of the drugs on the market)

They would've died from a different substance than oxycodone, if it hypothetically was never created.

Crack and temporary pain management, so people can continue going to work and continue to enjoy life, suffer less than they need to... are not the same thing. Not the same epidemic, trend.

The move was very informative. I wish it shared how we can get those people to stop harassing drs, and the public, and treating everyone like the bad kid that acts out in school. We should not all be punished and monitored continuously.

The story and message are good. To prepare you for what you're going to see think "what if kirk Cameron made a movie about killing those responsible for the opiod crisis?". Or if there was a vigilante movie made by the hallmark channel. There were times where I thought perhaps this was made by those who made "Fireproof" or "the Love Dare", or maybe it's Christian based... then outcomes a heavy set drug dealer having sex with a elderly prostitute.

Overall, the plot is what you would expect from a vigilante film. The message is correct, especially for the times. I found myself 40 minutes into it and with that kind of investment I decided to see it through and it only got more predictable. You'll witness actors both simultaneously over and under act in the backdrop of what they try to make out to be a major city, but is most likely a town of 1,000 people. If you enjoy the videos they make you want during orientation of a retail job, then you're gonna love this movie. If you want a movie with a good plot and don't care how it's delivered, you're gonna love this movie. If you're looking for the next Oscar winner, you're not going to love this movie.