Lifetime delivers another pulse-pounding medical thriller with Sinister Surgeon, premiering Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 8/7c. This gripping film follows a brilliant but mysterious surgeon whose patients begin experiencing horrifying complications, leading a determined nurse to uncover his dark secrets. With a stellar cast led by Anthony Montgomery (Star Trek: Enterprise) and Samantha Neyland Trumbo, this edge-of-your-seat drama blends medical suspense with psychological terror, promising shocking twists that will leave viewers questioning who they can trust.
When nurse Katelyn (Trumbo) notices a disturbing pattern among Dr. Peterson’s (Montgomery) patients, she risks her career—and life—to expose the truth. As the body count rises and hospital administrators close ranks, Katelyn finds an unlikely ally in Detective Elliot (Justin Chu Cary). Packed with operating room tension, illicit affairs, and life-or-death stakes, Sinister Surgeon proves that sometimes the most dangerous wounds are inflicted by those sworn to heal.
Sinister Surgeon: Cast & Bios
1. Anthony Montgomery as Dr. Nathan Peterson
Anthony Montgomery (Star Trek: Enterprise, General Hospital) delivers a chilling performance as the enigmatic Dr. Nathan Peterson, a celebrated surgeon with a God complex and disturbing secrets. Montgomery masterfully balances charm and menace, making Peterson equally convincing as a brilliant physician and potential sociopath. His scenes in the OR are particularly unsettling, with the actor’s calm demeanor contrasting horrifically with his patients’ outcomes.
What makes Montgomery’s performance so compelling is how he gradually reveals Peterson’s layers—from respected doctor to manipulative narcissist to something far more dangerous. His chemistry with Samantha Neyland Trumbo crackles with tension, especially in scenes where he gaslights her character about the “coincidental” patient deaths. The actor reportedly shadowed real surgeons to perfect his technical performance, resulting in terrifyingly authentic medical scenes.
2. Samantha Neyland Trumbo as Katelyn Rhodes
Rising star Samantha Neyland Trumbo takes the lead as Katelyn Rhodes, the tenacious nurse who risks everything to expose Peterson. Trumbo brings both vulnerability and steel resolve to the role, portraying a healthcare professional torn between protocol and moral duty. Her transformation from idealistic nurse to determined whistleblower forms the emotional core of the film.
Trumbo’s hospital scenes are electrifying, particularly when she secretly accesses patient records or confronts Peterson in the medication room. The actress worked with real nurses to perfect medical procedures and terminology, while her scenes with Justin Chu Cary provide much-needed moments of alliance against the hospital’s conspiracy of silence.
3. Alisa Allapach as Lori Chen
Alisa Allapach (The Rookie, 9-1-1) shines as Lori Chen, Katelyn’s loyal best friend and fellow nurse who becomes increasingly concerned about her safety. Allapach brings warmth and comic relief to the tense narrative, while also delivering powerful dramatic moments when Lori faces her own medical crisis.
The friendship between Allapach and Trumbo’s characters provides crucial emotional grounding amidst the thriller elements. Their late-night hospital cafeteria scenes offer glimpses of normalcy before the next shocking revelation, with Allapach particularly strong in a heartbreaking third-act confession scene.
4. Helena Mattsson as Dr. Evelyn Nichols
Helena Mattsson (Iron Man 2, The Royals) is mesmerizing as Dr. Evelyn Nichols, the hospital’s icy Chief of Surgery who may be protecting Peterson. Mattsson’s razor-sharp performance keeps viewers guessing—is she a co-conspirator, blackmail victim, or something else entirely? Her boardroom confrontations with Trumbo are masterclasses in controlled tension.
Mattsson brings European sophistication to the role, with her character’s designer suits and calculated smiles masking potential complicity. The actress’ background in psychological thrillers serves her well in scenes where Nichols manipulates hospital politics to silence questions about Peterson’s methods.
5. Harry Jarvis as Brad Wilson
Harry Jarvis (The Bay, Doctors) plays Brad Wilson, the hospital administrator torn between protecting the institution’s reputation and doing what’s right. Jarvis brings surprising depth to what could have been a one-dimensional role, showing Brad’s moral deterioration through subtle physicality and vocal inflections.
His romantic subplot with Trumbo’s character adds personal stakes to the institutional cover-up, with Jarvis excelling in scenes where Brad must choose between love and career. The actor’s background in British medical dramas lends authenticity to his portrayal of healthcare bureaucracy.
6. Justin Chu Cary as Detective Marcus Elliot
Justin Chu Cary (The Walking Dead: World Beyond, MacGyver) brings gritty intensity to Detective Marcus Elliot, the skeptical cop who eventually helps Katelyn investigate. Chu Cary’s world-weary performance provides a crucial outsider perspective to the medical mystery, with his character’s police procedural storyline balancing the hospital drama.
The actor’s chemistry with Trumbo drives the film’s second half, particularly in clandestine evidence-gathering scenes. His background in action roles serves the film well during a gripping parking garage confrontation that reveals Peterson’s true nature.
7. Ashley London as Jennifer Cole
Ashley London (General Hospital, The Young and the Restless) delivers a heartbreaking performance as Jennifer Cole, one of Peterson’s first victims. Though appearing primarily in flashbacks, London makes a lasting impression, with her character’s tragic arc setting the entire plot in motion.
Her hospital bed scenes with Montgomery are particularly disturbing, showcasing the surgeon’s calm demeanor while performing unthinkable acts. London’s real-life experience as a soap opera actress serves her well in these emotionally charged medical scenes.
8. Shantel Jackson as Tracey Monroe
Model-turned-actress Shantel Jackson (Tales, The Christmas Lottery) appears as Tracey Monroe, a patient whose suspicious death first alerts Katelyn to the pattern. Jackson brings glamour and vulnerability to the role, with her character’s pre-op scenes establishing Peterson’s charming public persona.
Though her screen time is limited, Jackson’s performance lingers through the film as Katelyn’s motivation. Her final scene with Montgomery is a masterclass in dramatic irony, with viewers aware of dangers her character blissfully ignores.
Diagnosis: Must-See TV With its perfect blend of medical drama and psychological thriller elements, Sinister Surgeon delivers everything Lifetime fans crave—a charismatic villain, a relatable heroine, and twists that will leave you gasping. The exceptional cast elevates familiar tropes into something fresh and terrifying, particularly Montgomery’s star turn as the chilling Dr. Peterson.
Don’t miss the pulse-pounding premiere of Sinister Surgeon on Lifetime, Sunday April 6, 2025 at 8/7c.
