Hulu Medical Drama Displays The Unforgiving Horrors Of Paramedic Work

The narrative of Asphalt City centers on a pair of paramedics working for the New York City Fire Department as they navigate the chaos and aftermath of multiple high-stress emergencies.

In the opening scene of the film, the duo is seen patching up civilians who were critically injured in a gang-related shooting before moving on to treat issues such as infected dog bites, rowdy drug abusers, and domestic violence beatings.

As the film highlights the many struggles of 911 callers of all colors, creeds, and backgrounds, audiences slowly come to learn about the main characters, Ollie Cross and Gene Rutkovsky.

Cross is a new hire for the FDNY, who lives in a small, cramped apartment while studying to become a licensed surgeon.

Rutkovsky on the other hand is a seasoned veteran of EMT work, who has spent decades addressing the wounds of the public, and even served as a 9/11 first responder.

As the narrative of Asphalt City continues to unfold, we see firsthand how working in the field impacts the duo’s ability to maintain personal relationships and set boundaries in their personal lives, leading to a harrowing climax.

Asphalt City was written by Ryan King and Ben Mac Brown and directed by French filmmaker Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire. Before it was picked up for production, the film’s script was featured on the Black List, which highlights the best and most-liked unproduced screenplays of each year.

The film serves as an adaptation of Shannon Burke’s 2008 novel Black Flies, and was originally released in several countries under the same name before undergoing some artistic reimagining for American audiences.

Mel Gibson was originally slated to star in Asphalt City with The Whale‘s Darren Aronofsky attached to direct, though both wound up dropping the project due to scheduling issues.

Sean Penn ultimately took on the leading role in the film, alongside a cast which consists of Tye Sheridan, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Michael Pitt, Katherine Waterston, Raquel Nave, and former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson.

Reviews for the film were mixed upon release, though many critics appreciated Asphalt City for its depiction of medical horrors that are all too common to real world EMT workers.

Personally, I think Asphalt City is a great dramatic thriller, as long as you’re not particularly squeamish. It’s a bit reminiscent of other first responder movies and shows such as Rescue Me or Chicago Fire, without having to succumb to the stifling censorship of network television.

If you’re interested in checking out Asphalt City for yourself, the film can be streamed today via Hulu.

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