Psychological thriller “Basic Psych” arrived on digital platforms this week. The film plays like a throwback cable network thriller, complete with uneven performances. Despite its flaws, it’s got an interesting enough plot to keep you watching and a shocking conclusion that will make you glad you stuck around.
Directed by Melissa Martin (The Bread), the film stars Michael Cerveris (“Assassins”) as Dr. Stuart Prince, a psychiatrist who takes on a new patient (David Conrad, “The Ghost Whisperer”) haunted by intense paranoia. As their sessions uncover a violent past, Prince finds his professional ethics—and his family’s safety—at a dangerous crossroads.
Of the leads, Cerveris is the standout. He brings a necessary consistency to the role, pivoting effectively from a calm, collected professional to a fearful victim. It’s a grounded performance that keeps the audience rooting for the Prince family throughout the film.
Conrad’s performance is more of a mixed bag. He excels in high-tension, paranoid moments, but struggles to sell authentic vulnerability. Fortunately, the script leans heavily into his character’s more erratic tendencies, which play to Conrad’s strengths.
While the leads carry most of the film’s weight, the supporting cast adequately fills in the gaps, except for Siena Goines (“Westworld”). As Prince’s wife, Sisi, Goines injects the film with a much-needed level of emotion, urgency, and no-nonsense energy that really sells the danger of the Prince family’s situation. She also brings a fierce, protective instinct to the film, taking on the alleged killer not once, but twice—including a memorable confrontation involving a blowtorch.
While the story effectively centers on themes of paranoia, it does suffer from some narrative clutter. A recurring subplot involving a reporter feels redundant; she exists primarily to connect dots that are already being addressed elsewhere in the film. Removing her throughline likely would have tightened the pacing.
If you’re looking for a prestige, edge-of-your-seat thriller, “Basic Psych” might fall short. However, for those who enjoy a brisk, mid-budget genre flick with a decent hook, it’s a solid weekend rental—if only to see its shocking finale.
Where to watch “Basic Psych”:
