Chilling revenge thriller The G earns a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and airs on Film4 tonight
A crime thriller about an elderly woman taking revenge on the people who stole her home and freedom is set to air on Film4 tonight.
The G, the 2023 Canadian thriller starring Dale Dickey, has earned a 100% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, with all 41 critics’ reviews currently listed as fresh.
The film takes a very different approach to the familiar revenge-thriller formula. Instead of focusing on a highly trained former soldier or professional assassin, it places an older woman at the centre of the story and gives her a deeply personal reason to fight back.
What is The G about?
Written, directed and produced by Karl R. Hearne, The G follows Ann Hunter, a grandmother whose life is turned upside down when a corrupt legal guardian has her placed in an eldercare facility in an attempt to gain control of her property and assets.
Ann refuses to accept what has happened to her. With the help of her granddaughter Emma, she sets out to reclaim what was taken from them and confront the people responsible.
The film is set on the industrial outskirts of an unnamed city, giving the story a deliberately bleak and detached backdrop. At its centre, however, is a very personal story about exploitation, family and revenge.
Hearne drew inspiration for Ann from his own grandmother. He has described the woman who inspired the character as someone who, regardless of her age or circumstances, refused to believe that her life was over. Interviews with Hearne have also confirmed that the film grew from his admiration for his Irish grandmother and her forceful personality.
The director used that inspiration to explore the real-world exploitation of elderly people while placing the subject inside the framework of a crime thriller.
Dale Dickey leads the cast
Dale Dickey plays Ann Hunter, also known as The G, and her performance has been one of the film’s most widely praised elements.
The cast also includes Romane Denis as Emma, Roc Lafortune as Joseph, Bruce Ramsay as Rivera and Jonathan Koensgen as Ralph.
Critics have particularly singled out Dickey’s portrayal of Ann. Screen Daily described her as remarkable, praising the intensity she brings to a character whose anger and determination gradually become impossible to ignore.
The character is far removed from the traditional image of a harmless grandmother. Ann is tough, uncompromising and determined to fight back after becoming the target of people who see vulnerable older adults as easy victims.
That unusual perspective is one of the reasons the film has attracted attention. Reviews have described it as a slow-burning thriller that turns the subject of elder exploitation into a dark revenge story.
A 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes
The G currently holds a 100% Tomatometer score from 41 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, while its audience score stands at 71% from more than 100 ratings.
Audience reactions have included strong praise for Dickey’s performance and the film’s central story. One Rotten Tomatoes viewer said they expected the film to be slow but found themselves reaching the end without wanting to change anything, particularly praising the strength of the lead performance.
Another viewer called the film phenomenal and said they wished the story could continue as an ongoing series.
The critical response has been similarly positive, although not every reviewer has been convinced by the film’s pace. The Guardian gave it three out of five stars, while other critics have praised its slow-burn approach and Dale Dickey’s central performance.
The film has also been described as an unconventional thriller because of its decision to put an older woman at the heart of a revenge narrative more commonly associated with male action heroes.
Inspired by the reality of elder exploitation
While The G is fictional, its premise is rooted in a real issue. Ann is targeted by people who exploit her vulnerability and use the legal system to take control of her property.
That subject was important to Hearne when developing the film. The story combines the disturbing reality of elder abuse with the conventions of a crime thriller, allowing Ann’s struggle to become both a personal battle and a revenge story.
The film premiered at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on November 11, 2023, before going on to screen at festivals including the Glasgow Film Festival and Fantasia. At Fantasia in 2024, Hearne received a Special Jury Prize for Best Director.
When is The G on TV?
For viewers in the UK, The G is scheduled to air on Film4 at 9pm tonight, Wednesday, August 26. The Film4 schedule lists the film in the 9pm slot, followed by Memento at 11.10pm.
Those who miss the television showing can also find the film through digital rental or purchase services, including Apple TV, depending on region. Apple TV lists The G as a crime thriller starring Dale Dickey, Romane Denis and Bruce Ramsay.
With its unusual central character, bleak revenge story and perfect current Tomatometer score, The G offers a markedly different take on the crime-thriller genre.