God's Crooked Lines

On the surface, Alice Gould is a sharp minded private investigator who pretends to be mentally ill to slip into a hospital devoted to psychiatric patients. Her goal is to uncover what happened to a patient whose death is shrouded in ambiguity. Inside the ward the boundaries between truth and deception blur as she navigates doctors, nurses, and other residents who keep their own secrets. The investigation becomes a tense game of cat and mouse, where every room hides a possible clue and every confidant could be an enemy. The film keeps twists under wraps while painting a portrait of obsession, guilt and power. As the clock ticks, loyalties shift and every conversation could reveal a hidden motive.

Directed by Oriol Paulo, God's Crooked Lines adapts Torcuato Luca de Tena's novel with a screenplay by Guillem Clua and Lara Sendim, delivering a tightly wound, atmosphere heavy thriller that plays with perception and secrecy throughout its brisk runtime worldwide.

Box office performance was modest and centered in Spain, where the film drew the largest audience. International releases contributed only a limited share, reflecting a niche appeal for a prestige style thriller rather than a global blockbuster upon release abroad.

Set inside a wintry hospital maze, the film has sparked conversations about how mental illness is portrayed in thrillers and how perception shapes truth. The stark visuals and precise pacing have influenced discussions around Spanish genre cinema and how institutions wield power over those inside, inviting viewers to consider cost.

Critics generally praised the film for its claustrophobic atmosphere, tight plotting, and Lennie's restrained, powerful performance. The story probes deception, control, and the price of chasing answers inside a hospital world, a reminder that truth is often what those in power allow. That challenge invites interpretations of motive and truth.