SummaryTasked by mobsters with putting an end to Phyllis’ life, Don is unable to pull the trigger, and instead, the two set off on a road trip that evolves into something much more. Phyllis has designs of her own and proposes a little tag team action to Don: combine forces with the aim to steal all the money from the people who want her dead.
Directed By:Jeffrey Reiner
Written By:Jeffrey Reiner
Lake George
Metascore
Generally Favorable
71
User score
Generally Favorable
6.3
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
100% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Dec 5, 2024
80
Do stars Shea Whigham and Carrie Coon manage to make the material feel both fresh and engaging? Yes.
Dec 5, 2024
75
It’s Coon who runs away with the film. As Phyllis, she’s caustic and just unpredictable enough to keep Reiner’s material consistently engaging, elevating Lake George from a substandard neo-noir to a darkly funny and fresh take on the genre.
User score
Generally Favorable
50% Positive
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
30% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
20% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Jan 3, 2025
10
This movie stands tall in its genre (neo-noir). The movie's greatest strength is the chemistry between the two main characters and how their relationships develop throughout the movie. This is a love letter to some of the most beautiful areas in Southern and Central California and is shot beautifully. The cinematography on display seems to ramp up throughout the movie and gradually becomes grander. The plot of the movie did more than enough to keep me interested. The ending had me thinking for a few days, which is always a sign that the movie stuck with me.This is one of Shea Whigham's best performances. Carrie Coon is also great. I have not watched Jeffrey Reiner's work in TV, but this guy is a capable movie director and I hope he makes his transition to movie directing permanent.
Dec 12, 2024
8
IN A NUTSHELL:
The story is about two criminal misfits who embark on a road trip of revenge. They strike a dubious deal too enticing to refuse, and find redemption amid shady circumstances. The film was directed, produced, and written by multiple award winner Jeffrey Reiner. In press notes, he shared that he watched the movie The Killers was immediately hooked on the film noir genre. He said, “The film was dark, dangerous, violent, sexy, and funny.” That description describes Lake George well. THINGS I LIKED: Shea Whigham does a terrific job and gives us an underdog character we want to root for. Carrie Coon never disappoints. She’s great at creating multi-layered, interesting characters. Other outstanding cast members are Joey Oglesby, Glenn Fleshler, Max Casella, The road-trip duo holds our attention and offers a lot of humor and charm. They’re fantastic together. Beautiful cinematography by Tod Campbell. There are a few entertaining twists that surprised me. THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
Most people will find it extremely difficult to relate to any of the criminal characters. This is the kind of movie that makes you laugh and feel sad at the same time. TIPS FOR PARENTS:
This movie is absolutely not appropriate for kids
Crude language, profanity, and F-bombs
Violence with blood splatters and death
Lots of criminal activities
We see a couple start to go at it (dressed) in a hallway
Dec 5, 2024
70
Embedded in its humor is a sense of melancholy that heightens the emotions prevalent throughout the film, surprisingly tugging at our heartstrings.
Dec 5, 2024
70
This is a story with numerous stinging ironies, albeit one told in a refreshingly nuanced, non-hyperbolic fashion that pays off very nicely indeed.
Dec 5, 2024
70
It’s Coon’s charming performance of the eccentric victim-to-be that brings the film, written and directed by Jeffrey Reiner, into fuller focus as a crime comedy.
Nov 27, 2024
63
If you’re looking for a clinic on how you don’t need a whole season of “Fargo” or “True Detective” to immerse you in a criminal milieu and the sorts of fixes folks living and working there get themselves into, you could do a lot worse than planning a trip to Lake George.
Apr 10, 2025
7
Shea Whigham’s character has just gotten out of jail and can’t catch a break. He’s finally offered the chance to retrieve some needed bucks if he’ll kill a woman (Carrie Coon). Being that she’s slick and a step ahead, she talks him into joining her for a revenge theft. This is the type of dark crime comedy that’s been done many times, but the two leads keep it interesting. Coon is always good and this film gives her a chance to take the lead with force and charm. Whigham plays the downtrodden accomplice with sweet frustration. Writer/director Jeffrey Reiner has kept much of the standard aspects of the genre, including moments of dark humor. He offers sufficient character involvement and plot developments to make this a minor, but engaging neo-noir.
Production Company:
- Lucky Buck Productions
- Gray Fox Films
- Wilhil Productions
Release Date:Dec 6, 2024
Duration:1 h 58 m
Tagline:There are no clean murders.
