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Painkillers

  • 2018
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
4.2/10
422
YOUR RATING
Painkillers (2018)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:08
2 Videos
18 Photos
DramaThriller

Plagued by guilt following the death of his son in a car crash, John Clarke, a brilliant surgeon comes to realize that the only thing that can ease his pain is the taste of human blood.Plagued by guilt following the death of his son in a car crash, John Clarke, a brilliant surgeon comes to realize that the only thing that can ease his pain is the taste of human blood.Plagued by guilt following the death of his son in a car crash, John Clarke, a brilliant surgeon comes to realize that the only thing that can ease his pain is the taste of human blood.

  • Director
    • Roxy Shih
  • Writer
    • Giles Daoust
  • Stars
    • Madeline Zima
    • Mischa Barton
    • Debra Wilson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.2/10
    422
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Roxy Shih
    • Writer
      • Giles Daoust
    • Stars
      • Madeline Zima
      • Mischa Barton
      • Debra Wilson
    • 14User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos2

    Painkillers
    Trailer 2:08
    Painkillers
    Painkillers
    Trailer 2:11
    Painkillers
    Painkillers
    Trailer 2:11
    Painkillers

    Photos17

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    + 11
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    Top cast17

    Edit
    Madeline Zima
    Madeline Zima
    • Chloe Clarke
    Mischa Barton
    Mischa Barton
    • The Girl…
    Debra Wilson
    Debra Wilson
    • Gail Konrad
    Naomi Grossman
    Naomi Grossman
    • Nurse Sheralyn
    Grant Bowler
    Grant Bowler
    • Herb Morris
    Nicole Reddinger
    Nicole Reddinger
    • Make Out Girl
    Adam Huss
    Adam Huss
    • John Clarke
    Maria Olsen
    Maria Olsen
    • Carla Franken
    Tate Birchmore
    Tate Birchmore
    • Brian
    Kim Estes
    Kim Estes
    • Reporter #1
    James Logan
    James Logan
    • Jack Crane
    Anthony Ma
    Anthony Ma
    • Dealer
    Richard Van Slyke
    Richard Van Slyke
    • Surgeon
    Brandy Redd
    Brandy Redd
    • Hooker
    Stephen Wastell
    Stephen Wastell
    • Bartender
    Ana Harrison
    Ana Harrison
    • Reporter #2
    Danny Herb
    • Dying Man
    • Director
      • Roxy Shih
    • Writer
      • Giles Daoust
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    4.2422
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    Featured reviews

    6mulcahyj-07545

    Very interesting and very different.

    6/10 is not a bad rating in my opinion. There is no huge drama or suspense. I think this was never intended. Occasional moments of violence flow but don't over dominate the story. There is no certain conclusion to the film. And if you watch it you may share my opinion it does not need one. The uncertainty of life and addiction does not need one. I thought it was very well acted by the main actor and the actor playing the sinister role. Was this intended as an example of addiction in a different premise to show it is not a choice of life of it or just the situation of a character in an almost impossible to escape or both? I don't know if it is one or both of them. Or maybe just a different take on vampire films? Whichever way what is given to you is a film which is in no way entertaining. It is gruelling in its horrible story of a man who has not made wrong choices in his life though feels he has. It is unclear for some from the offset of opening scenes. If I had done his actions in the first scenes I would have blamed myself. But I don't blame him for his actions at the start. That put you in to his psyche from the start. I would blame myself for what initially happens at the start of the film. But I in no way at all think he is guilty of anything and it is just a terrible event. That, I think, may be the intent of the filmmakers. If so that is very deep thinking of an uncontrollable event that leads to a mental torture and then into addiction to blank out the pain. I could imagine myself unravelling very quickly in to a non confirming life only controlled with the use of anything, in this case blood (as a metaphor?). And again can see if someone else in that situation had suffered itto think they should have no guilt. I found this very interesting and quite upsetting. It opened more unanswered questions than it answered. Almost like life itself. I can't give it higher for me 6/10 because it is not a huge blockbuster that will never be forgotten. That causes me guilt. I need a fix. Blood!

    Sorry, I just had to end on a joke. Amusement is sometimes my fix. Luckily! I was taken by this movie a lot. I hope you do to if you decide to view.
    6omendata

    Interesting twist on the Vampyr genre!

    From the previous reviews I was not expecting much from this but having just watched it on the horror channel and whilst it is more of a Drama Thriller it does possess a certain element of horror and is well above my expectations for a tv style movie and based on the other poor reviews.

    The film is well shot, directed, paced and acted although Grant Bowler really does steal the show as he is a superlative actor and makes this movie even more enjoyeable than it otherwise would have been. The main protagonist also plays his part well and is quite convincing as the Vampyr.

    Yes it is more of a TV style movie but why should that make it rubbish as some of the other reviewers have made it out to be. Me, well I try and give a movie a fair shake based on the budget and this is well above par!

    Solid 6/10 from me!
    1chrissvns

    Pain.... Full

    The pain start when you begin to watch it and by the end you wished you would have just killed yourself....
    6shimadaboli

    It was fun to watch

    It was a goo horror movie, short and to the point!
    4Weirdling_Wolf

    toothless Vampire movie that in actuality is no less pallid than the iconic, blood-sucking Mythos it tries so desperately hard to reinvent!

    'Painkillers' aka 'The Incredible Shaking Man' has a remarkably novel premise, in that it is an entirely toothless Vampire movie that in actuality is no less pallid than the iconic, blood-sucking Mythos it tries so desperately hard to reinvent! 'Fashionably be-stubbled, Daytime TV Handsome Surgeon' suffers a paralyzing, palsy-inducing emotional trauma after surviving a tragic auto accident, only to discover that this ceaselessly excruciating neurological malady is temporarily assuaged by the consumption of human blood; the steamy fresh, wholly organic, ikky-poo variety mind you, absolutely NONE of that Vegan/hybrid muck, thank you very much!!! On the lugubrious evidence of this anemic, torpor-inducing travesty, one sincerely hopes that the timorous filmmaker's egregious plan to spawn a similarly gutless Zombie movie remains no less stillborn than their execrable concept of an entirely fright-less re-make of 'Fright Night', oh...

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Shown at the Nevermore Film Festival on March 8-10, 2019.

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    FAQ15

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 31, 2019 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Belgium
    • Also known as
      • Krwawe znieczulenie
    • Production companies
      • Lone Suspect
      • Title Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 23m(83 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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