Don (Shea Whigham) is finally out of the joint and ready to start his life again in Lake George. After so many years away, things have really changed. His wife and kids want nothing to do with him. His career is over. Any arrangements he made for work have fallen apart. Don just wants the money he’s owed and to take time away at a cabin in Lake George. He goes to visit Armen (Glenn Fleshler) to collect. Of course, nothing is ever that easy.
Sure, Armen owes him some money, but Don has got to work for it. Armen has a problem, and that problem goes by the name of Phyllis (Carrie Coon). Phyllis and Armen were an item. A typical meet cute. Bond in rehab over a coke addiction, then bring her into your criminal business. Now Phyllis knows too much and wants too much. So it’s time to take care of that loose end. Well time for Don to anyways.
Armen’s muscle Harout (Max Casella) sets Don up with everything he needs – a shitty car, cell phone, gun, knife, zip ties, etc. The stereotypical ‘kill and get rid of’ toolkit. The only problem – Don isn’t a killer. Plus, Phyllis is a survivor and has other plans. Before long, her and Don are on a mission together – to take what’s theirs and get a second chance to rewrite their stories.
Jeffrey Reiner both wrote and directed the film. It has been quite some time since Reiner wrote a project. His last feature-length script was a teleplay from 2004, and you have to go back to the mid-90s for his last screenplay. He has been much more active in the director’s chair. However, his projects have almost exclusively been on the TV side working on series. Reiner’s two feature-length scripts, Small Time and Blood and Concrete, were also projects he directed as well so he has experience in a dual capacity.
Reiner does a fantastic job creating the atmosphere for Lake George. Lake George is a neo-noir film oozing with remnants from past crime noir classics. The script, cinematography, and score all blend perfectly to sustain the illusion and continue drawing the audience in. Reiner strikes the perfect balance of thrills, action, and dark humor. The film never drags, and you find yourself invested in these characters and what will happen to them.
The film features a small cast and most of whom, Don and Phyllis aside, experience very little screen time. Yet everyone excels with their limited opportunities. Whigham and Coon are tasked with carrying the film and they rise to the challenge. Lake George is a truly entertaining character-driven crime thriller. It doesn’t have the splashy over the top explosions or CGI. What it does have is a fantastic script, strong performances, and a great mood that Reiner expertly crafts. In a day and age where many films aren’t made like they used to be, Lake George is a refreshing flick and absolutely worth a watch.
Lake George is available now in theaters and digital via Magnet Releasing.
