Lake George is a 2024 American crime thriller movie that was directed and written by Jeffrey Reiner. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and stars Shea Whigham and Carrie Coon as two people who go on a road trip to steal from an Armenian gangster.
Synopsis.
Fresh out of jail after serving a ten year stint, former insurance adjuster Don has found that there are few options open to him. None of his former associates are of any help, so Don decides to collect on a debt owed to him by an Armenian gangster named Arman. Fully aware that Don is in desperate need of cash, Arman tells him that he will pay Don back - but only if he kills Arman's girlfriend Phyllis. He reluctantly agrees, but when the time comes Don finds himself unable to pull the trigger. Phyllis then suggests that she and Don turn the tables on Arman and steal cash that he has stashed at various safe locations. 
Production.
Reiner first came up with the concept for "Lake George" during the COVID-19 pandemic and has stated that he took inspiration from noir films such as "Point Blank", "Midnight Run", and "The Asphalt Jungle". While Reiner did not create the character of Don specifically for Whigham, he did create the character with Whigham in mind, as he liked the actor's performance as Eli in "Boardwalk Empire". Coon was brought on to portray Phyllis after Whigham gave her a copy of the script to review.
Filming for "Lake George" took place in California; Whigham stated that Reiner used his and his sister's house for filming. They also used Reiner's car.
Release.
"Lake George" premiered in New York City at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 9, 2024, followed by a streaming and limited theatrical release on December 6 of the same year.
Reception.
Critical reception for "Lake George" has been positive and as of January 2025 the film holds a rating of 96% "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 25 reviews. Common praise for the film centered upon the chemistry and interactions between Whigham and Coon. Dennis Harvey of "Variety" noted that the film "comes off less as a thriller than a rueful black comedy of errors, with even the most violent characters carrying a certain pathos." The film also received praise from Dread Central for a scene where the two leads must stage a photo providing proof of Phyllis's death, stating that it was "a humorous sequence where the grandiose nature of one’s schemes clashes with the messy logistics of implementation". 
References.
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