Movie Review | The G

Movie Review | The G

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The G, directed by Karl R. Hearne and starring the phenomenal Dale Dickey, premiered at the Glasgow Film Festival and will hit UK and Irish cinemas on June 21st. It’s a ride you can’t afford to miss, and I can only hope it releases soon here in the US because everyone needs to see the massive cinematic forces that Lightbulb Film Distribution is unleashing upon the world.

The film centers on Ann Hunter (Dickey), a mysterious older woman on a relentless quest for revenge against the corrupt legal guardian who destroyed her life—and I’m talking about a thoroughly decimated livelihood here.

Dale Dickey, known for her roles in Winter’s Bone and Hell Or High Water, proves again that she can elevate any film with her sheer talent and presence. In The G, calling her performance as Ann Hunter ‘powerful’ seems disingenuous. Her portrayal of a woman marked by strength, pain, and a palpable disgust at the injustices around her is so on-point that it’s surreal. Dickey commands every scene, juxtaposing a raw and profoundly affecting vulnerability with a ferocity only seen in lionesses protecting their cubs. One of the standout moments features Ann staring down the barrel of a shotgun, reflecting on her past with haunting intensity. Her line, “When I was a little girl, I used to swear all the time,” is delivered with such conviction that she could shatter the fourth wall, leaving slack-jawed and hollow from buckshot.

“He said you’re the angriest person he’s ever met.”

The film’s premise is chillingly relevant: the kidnapping of the elderly, stripping them of their assets and dumping them into neglectful facilities. This dark reality is explored with unflinching honesty, making The G as thought-provoking as it is suspenseful. The notion that such heinous acts occur with alarming regularity adds a layer of horror that lingers long after the credits roll.

The supporting cast is equally impressive. Romane Denis, as Emma, shares a compelling chemistry with Dickey, and their characters’ mutual fury and determination drive much of the film’s emotional core. Roc Lafortune’s portrayal of Joseph is nuanced and pivotal in peeling back the layers of Ann’s defenses. The dialogue crackles with tension, particularly when Ann declares, “I’m not a nice person, Joseph,” or when a mysterious ally from Ann’s past drops a chilling acknowledgment: “He said you’re the angriest person he’s ever met.”

The G is very smart with the information it reveals to the audience. We know just enough to follow the story and believe in Ann’s brash and stubborn behavior. By the end, we know she’s not the woman everyone thinks she is, but the film never tells us everything. This really worked for me. I loved the mystery of Ann and her angry past. I loved focusing on her aged and learned persona. The film does an excellent job keeping us all, including its characters, in the now.

The G is a tightly wound modern noir, filled with murder, betrayal, and the shadiest of characters that help cement the hopelessness of great noir. The cast’s performances are uniformly strong, and the plot twists and turns with a relentless energy that keeps viewers on edge. It’s a film that doesn’t just entertain—it challenges and provokes, forcing the audience to confront uncomfortable truths about societal neglect and exploitation.

For those who missed Dale Dickey’s award-winning performance in Winter’s Bone, The G is a stark reminder of her incredible range and talent. It’s a film that demands your attention and, like Ann Hunter herself, refuses to let go.

Don’t miss it.