Make it a Movie: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
In our Make it a Movie section we play the role of movie producers and map out the movie production. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, is a dark mysterious thriller, that had us second guessing everything and everyone.
Spoilers ahead… It’ll be very interesting to see how they develop this movie and if it will mainly be through the eyes of Theo. Obviously the big twist depends on making it seem like the two timelines are occurring at the same time. The Silent Patient sits as Keith’s, 7th best overall podcast book and the best dark thriller, it gets a strong recommendation from us.
Plot: Theo is a therapist who has become intrigued/obsessed with a convicted murderer, Alicia Berenson. Alicia has remained silent (and drugged up) for the past 7 years. Theo gets hired on at her psych ward with his only goal being to help get her speaking again. Even if that means a few violent attacks on himself and other patients, all that matters is Alicia! He starts investigating her story and everyone involved in it. It’s like a true crime podcast, with more twist, turns, and questions than you can imagine.
Production Notes: The last update for the adaptation was back in March 5th, 2019. Things move slowly in Hollywood, but we’re not overly encouraged by the progress. Reportedly, Annapurna and Plan B are producing it. Not much else in terms of updates or casting, so we’ll help them out.
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Logline: Gone Baby Gone + Shutter Island
Proposed Casting for The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Theo Faber – We get to know the protagonist, Theo, as a therapist who truly wants to help others. Theo himself, was a victim of abuse from his father, and someone that attempted suicide, so naturally there is sympathy for what he’s gone through, and it’s commendable that he has chosen a professional to help others. He also seems to be somewhat of a fragile person (in both emotions and physically — I mean Alicia managed to beat him up). So when it turns out he is much, much more sinister than we can imagine it makes for a great twist. This character has to be one that we sympathize at first but can also flip the switch and become a psychopath. We went with Benedict Cumberbatch. An actor that has shown he can play characters that are shy, eccentric, gregarious, intimidating, and be believable in all of his roles. He’s also someone that is super likeable, which will help make the twist hit home even more.
Alicia Berenson – Probably not the most desirable role as an actress, a character that doesn’t speak for most of the movie. For this role we need someone who can give off a lot of emotion without much dialogue. A female version of Tom Hardy (Director Christopher Nolan said Hardy can do more with his eyes alone than most actors can with their whole body). The first person that came to mind was another actor that Christopher Nolan cast in his movie Inception, Marion Cotillard. Marion has unreal eyes and can portray a lot without speaking. We fawned over her and her eyes a a bit much on the podcast. So once the restraining orders are lifted, we’d reach out and cast her as Alicia.
Gabriel Berenson – Gabriel is a photographer and husband of Alicia, who ends up murdering him. The further you get into the book, the less and less likable he becomes. Eventually we felt his cheating and cowardice were to blame for his death. I imagine Gabriel being an attractive, beanie-wearing artist who is likeable at first glance but once you start peeling the onion back, there is not much there. Orlando Bloom seems like someone who could fit this role well. Viewers know him as Legolas and Will Turner, so when his true character is revealed I think it’ll make for a great twist.
Kathy Faber – Americans don’t really have a good showing in this book. Between Kathy and Barbie, they come off as gossipy, attention seeking, myopic hypocrites (I blacked out and this word came to me, pretty proud of myself). We learn pretty early on that Kathy is cheating on Theo, so this character doesn’t need to go through the same change that the others go through. She’s pretty hated throughout the book. Jennifer Garner typically plays the good-girl/hero (outside of those terrible Capital One commercials). Who didn’t have a crush on her in Alias? But I think it’d be really interesting to see her in this type of role. Also, I could definitely see her scolding Theo for ‘lying’ about smoking weed (even though her lies are far worse).
Ruth – Ruth is a sweetheart of a therapist. Really one of the only good characters in the book (which immediately made me think she was up to something). I just imagined Ruth as the Dame herself, Judi Dench. Fun fact: She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1970, a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1988 and a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 2005. I’m not sure what any of those titles mean, but I assume she has a key to the nukes? Anyway, she was made for this role, sign her up.
Plenty of other characters we could have casted but we’ll stick with those for now. Let us know what you think of who we casted and what roles we’re missing, reach out to us. Or check out our Book Club Episode or Book Club Questions on The Silent Patient. Here is a clip below that pertains to this very blog!
