JP Nunez
I’m always up for a good revenge film. Whether it’s an action extravaganza like John Wick, a straight up horror movie like Carrie, or anything in between, this is one of my absolute favorite genres. So naturally, when I first heard about The G, I knew I had to check it out. The Fantasia plot synopsis described the film as “a gritty revenge thriller,” but it also promised a twist on that tried-and-true formula. The protagonist is a septuagenarian, and I was curious to see how that would work. Would the movie make me believe that an elderly woman can take out people half her age, or would the scenario strain credulity a bit too much? I didn’t know, but I couldn’t wait to find out.
The G was directed by Karl R. Hearne, and it stars Romane Denis, Dale Dickey, Jonathan Koensgen, Roc Lafortune, and Bruce Ramsay. In the film, Ann Hunter lives with her ailing husband, and one day, a group of thugs forcibly take them to an elder care facility in the middle of the night. The poor couple aren’t entirely sure what’s going on, but they know it’s not good.
We eventually learn that this facility is actually a front for a heinous criminal enterprise. They abduct vulnerable elderly people, have doctors declare them unfit to care for themselves, and take control of their entire lives. It seems like an easy way to make a dishonest buck, but they’ve never met anyone like Ann Hunter. Despite her age, she still has the skills, the allies, and the ruthless tenacity to make her kidnappers sorry they ever laid eyes on her.
Before I say anything else, I have to let you know that The G isn’t the bloody revenge thriller I thought it would be. Yes, it has some brutal moments of violent retribution at the very end (and we’ll talk about them), but for the vast majority of the movie’s runtime, it plays more like a drama than anything else.
So if you’re looking for nonstop action à la the second half of Mandy, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you let this film be what it is, it makes for an immensely rewarding experience. For starters, the acting here is phenomenal. The entire cast is completely believable, so you’ll love the good guys and love to hate the villains.
But hands down, the best of the bunch is Dale Dickey. You might not know that name, but if you’re a movie fan, you’ll almost certainly recognize her face. She’s been a character actor for decades, and in The G, she finally gets to be the star of the show. She plays Ann, and her performance alone makes this film a must watch.
Her character is a strong, vulgar, somewhat curmudgeonly old woman, so before anything bad happens, you already know she’s not to be messed with. However, unlike a lot of more stereotypical action heroes, Ann has a soft side as well. She genuinely cares about her husband and her granddaughter Emma, and when she demonstrates that love, it’s undeniable. To take just one example, there’s a scene where she hums a lullaby to her sick husband, and when you see it, the moment just might bring a tear or two to your eye.
A character like that requires an actor with a wide range, and thankfully, Dale Dickey pulls it off without breaking a sweat. She completely nails every single emotion and vibe she’s asked to convey, so along with the rest of this great cast, she makes it incredibly easy to immerse yourself in Ann’s world and her story.
Along similar lines, the bad guys in The G will make your blood absolutely boil. They earn their living from one of the worst, most heartless forms of elderly abuse you can imagine, and actor Bruce Ramsay, who plays the boss of this operation, embodies that evil perfectly. Everything this guy says and does just oozes an unfeeling, business-like approach to his unspeakable crimes, so the more you see him, the more you want him to get what he deserves.
As with any movie, those villains are essential to making The G work, and the combination of great antagonists with a great lead character makes for an utterly captivating story. It’ll keep your eyes glued to the screen despite the lack of action, and when the narrative takes some unexpected twists and turns, you’ll find yourself slowly but steadily moving closer and closer to the edge of your seat.
Then, when we finally get to the revenge, the film does not disappoint. Like I said before, it’s brutal, but it’s executed in a way that makes sense for Ann’s age. The woman doesn’t go on a wild, John Wick-esque killing spree, so don’t expect a ton of blood and guts. Instead, she gets the job done with as little effort as possible, but don’t let that fool you. Ann is an ice-cold killer, and she hurts people very badly. Her actions are as emotionally brutal as anything you’ll see in this genre, and that more than makes up for the lack of visual flair.
In case you couldn’t tell, I had a great time with The G. It’s an amazing revenge thriller with fantastic performances and a captivating story, so even though it’s pretty light on action, it still earns its place among the genre’s best. So keep an eye out for this film, and when it comes to a theater or VOD platform near you sometime in the future, do yourself a favor and give it a watch. You’ll be happy you did.
The G played at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 26.
