'The G' Review: Gruelling Tale of Getting Old in America
- Romey Norton
- Jun 22
- 3 min read
By Romey Norton - June 22, 2025
In The G, director Karl R. Hearne transforms a chilling true-to-life injustice into a gripping, genre-bending thriller anchored by the impressive Dale Dickey. Opening in theatres and on VOD June 27th via Dark Sky Films, this unsettling winter-noir is both a suspenseful ride and a bold confrontation of America’s broken eldercare system.
What is the film 'The G' about?
Dickey stars as Ann Hunter (AKA ‘The G’), who is quietly living out her retirement until she’s forcibly stripped of her freedom, home, money and her dignity by a corrupted legal guardian. Plunged into a grim institutional setting alongside her husband, Ann becomes a force of resilience and righteous fury. What follows is a taut and dark portrait of a woman reclaiming her power against an ageist system.
The G blends psychological thriller with social commentary. It's a genre hybrid that defies easy classification: part revenge drama, part legal nightmare, and entirely propelled by a performance that should earn Dale Dickey serious awards attention. She plays “The G” with a mix of grit and grace, turning vulnerability into steel in a way that’s rarely seen for older women in cinema. She’s compelling to watch from start to finish, and her character strikes a wonderful balance between likable and unlikeable. You want her to succeed, and you know that she has enough strength and determination that she will.
Romane Denis delivers a heartfelt performance as the loyal granddaughter determined to help her grandparents. At the same time, Bruce Ramsay and Roc Lafortune provide effective, if chilling, support as antagonists in a system gone rogue. Everyone has believable chemistry on screen and helps this dark and twist story be brought to life.
Visually, the film leans into cold palettes and shadowy interiors that echo classic noir, but with a modern, emotionally grounded edge. The film’s tone is dark, threading a needle between suspense and sentiment in a way that feels fresh and impactful. The music flits between country, orchestral, and modern hip-hop to moments of complete silence. Letting audiences sit in the moment and soak up the immense acting.
Some scenes punch you in the gut emotionally as we see the hard realities of what happens to people as they get older and are in care facilities. As the story and plot develop, Emma is trying to be the bad-ass her Grandmother which leads her into some seriously dark trouble. The G stands firm, is trying to get her life back together, and is trying to move on, but is constantly battling for her freedom and future.
The film keeps a great pace, filled with tense and suspenseful moments, and the last 10 minutes of the film are the most gripping. The G shows what she’s made of, and it’s a brilliant end to a dark and twisted film. When the film finished, I was ready for the next episode to start… (which it doesn’t but I could watch these characters go further). There is room for more in their tale, but I like it being open ended.
Is 'The G' worth watching?
Yes. 100%. For viewers looking for thrillers inspired by true stories or those intrigued by films that tackle elder abuse, guardianship scandals, and institutional corruption, The G is a must-watch. It’s smart, socially relevant, and undeniably gripping.
'The G' releases in cinemas and on digital June 27
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