‘The G’ Review – Predatory Scammers Piss Off the Wrong Grandmother [Panic Fest ’25]

The elderly have plenty of things to worry about with health concerns and trying to figure out how to afford basic necessities like food, medication, and housing. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there attempting to scam senior citizens out of their money. It’s big business. Karl R. Hearne’s latest film, The G, is a devastating story of an elderly couple who lose everything when they are preyed upon by cold-hearted scammers, who find out they might have chosen the wrong seniors to take advantage of.

Written and directed by Hearne (Touched), The G focuses on elderly couple Ann, in a powerful performance from Dale Dickey (Bloodline, No Exit), and Chip (Greg Ellwand). Chip is on oxygen and confined to a wheelchair and Ann is his primary caregiver. Ann is estranged from her family, including her stepson, but has a good relationship with her granddaughter Emma (Romane Denis), who comes to visit every week. Emma calls Ann “The G” because she used to leave her notes when she was a kid and always signed them that way. Emma tells her grandmother she thinks she’s ruthless because she doesn’t take shit from anyone. At Ann’s most recent doctor’s appointment, her doctor tells her she is losing weight, and she drinks and smokes too much and should instead concentrate on taking care of her husband. Ann does drink a lot, but she loves her husband and is devoted to caring for him.

When two men burst into the house in the middle of the night, saying they have a court order, and force Ann and Chip into the back of a van without letting them grab any personal belongings, they have no idea what is going on. One of the men identifies himself as Rivera (Bruce Ramsay) and seems to be the leader. They take the couple to what they call an elder care facility, a rundown building with little food and without the medications Chip needs and they are locked in their room. Later, Ann sees an elderly person wearing only a shirt and underwear and wearing a mask over their head, being led down the hallway by what appears to be a leash by an orderly dressed in scrubs. This is the kind of place where old people are brought to die, and it’s run by absolute ghouls.

Rivera and his goons realize that Ann and her husband don’t have as much money as they thought and question them about it. When Ann tells them they don’t have any more money, they beat Chip so badly that he soon dies. Ann’s stepson blames her for his father’s death and wants nothing to do with her. After Emma tells her Rivera sold her house and all her belongings, Ann decides she has nowhere else to go and decides to stay at the facility. Soon, Ann makes friends with an elderly gentleman there named Joseph (Roc Lafortune), who likes Ann but tells her she swears too much. Ann has no desire to stop using the word fuck in almost every sentence and tells Joseph she’s not a nice person and she’s done bad things. Undaunted, Joseph begins a romantic relationship with Ann.

Dale Dickey is fierce and fearless in her portrayal of Ann, an alcoholic with a questionable past, who genuinely loves her husband and is tasked with being his caregiver when he can no longer take care of himself. Her performance feels authentic and drives The G.

The G features engaging storytelling that is executed well and a fantastic performance from Dickey, culminating in a shocking conclusion. Scams targeting the elderly by horrible people are all too common and The G does a great job showcasing the darker side of humanity and what happens when one pissed off older woman is pushed past her limit.

The G premiered at Panic Fest 2025, which offered a hybrid festival experience again this year.

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