The Paramedic Movie Review: A psychological thriller with no thrill

Directed by Carles Torres, the Spanish film El Practiciante (The Paramedic) features Ángel (Mario Casas), a paranoid man working as a paramedic for emergency services on an ambulance. He is obsessed with his partner Vane (Déborah François). After suffering from a terrible accident, his life alongside Vane begins to crumble. Not being able to get rid of the idea that she’s being unfaithful, he turns his life into a living hell from which it is difficult to escape. After his girlfriend Vane leaves him, he becomes convinced that he has to bring her back, come what may.From the very beginning of the film, Ángel is an extremely unlikeable character. It is an established fact that Angel wasn't the best of partners even before his accident. From stalking his girlfriend and doubting her at all times to forcing her to have a baby with him, Ángel is an average jealous jerk who wants complete control over his girlfriend. While you're supposed to show him sympathy post his accident, you will probably never be able to. Casas, who was also recently seen in the film The Occupant, does a decent job by portraying an abusive, manipulative boyfriend who goes on to being a man with a serious psychological problem. François isn't quite expressive and very passable in the role of a girlfriend who doesn't have much love and affection for the man she's living with. Both actors do just about enough with their performance to match the tone of the script, nothing less and nothing more.While the plot is dull and predictable, the characters lack layering. You don't really connect to the characters as they are flat and one-dimensional. You don't know much about their background and the reason behind their behaviour. Also, there is no chemistry between the lead characters Angel and Vane. The film never really gets to the point where it brings the details needed to build a character or a relationship. The background score and the cinematography are also ordinary. To top it all, the film sets a dangerous precedent that disabilities frustrate people, making them do terrible things. But that isn't true, after all.To sum it up, The Paramedic is 90 minutes of clichés, a film that ends too quickly without showing anything special. Skip it if you have something more interesting to keep busy.