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The retribution visited upon exploiters of seniors by June Squibb in current sleeper hit “Thelma” has but Nerf-ball impact compared to the brass-knuckles style of vengeance practiced by Dale Dickey in “The G.” This considerably less cozy tale has the star as a vinegary veteran of hard living who turns out to be very much the wrong person for organized criminals to safely prey upon.

Canadian writer-director Karl R. Hearne’s second feature recalls much 1970s cinema in its emphasis on gritty character detail over suspense mechanics, resulting in an ostensible thriller that’s not very thrilling. Still, its storytelling has the same grim satisfaction that drives its heroine, a woman who’s not particularly ingratiating but is quite capable of doling out punishment to deserving parties.

Known as “the G” to granddaughter Emma (Romane Denis), 72-year-old Ann Hunter is less fondly regarded by others, including in-laws who blame frail...

“If you let your anger out, you live longer.” This growled assessment could be the life motto of Ann Hunter - or as her step-granddaughter Emma (Romane Denis) calls her “The G”. Played with a fierce intensity by Dale Dickey, who continues to shine in leading roles after years playing memorable character support, Ann is not your average gran.

Inspired by genuine real-life cases and the forceful personality of his own gran, Karl R Hearne’s taut and enjoyably complex thriller outlines a legal scam that sees Ann and her sick husband Chip (Greg Ellwand) branded incapable of looking after themselves and thrust into a care home under the instruction of a “guardian”, who is convinced that the couple have a secret stash of assets.

That Ann is essentially a tough-talking, permanently smoking, heavy drinking old boot, who hates most people but also cares deeply, and for, Chip, makes it.

Pro wrestling legend Chris Jericho is set to star in the upcoming UPtv original movie “Country Hearts,” Variety has learned exclusively.

The film, which will premiere this fall, follows “the daughters of country music and rock & roll royalty who find themselves at a crossroads, torn between following their dreams of performing or helping their father run their up-and-coming horse breeding business,” per the official description. “Between old flames, new love, best friends and family – they’ll all need the strength of each other to face the next steps.”

Along with Jericho, the cast for the film also includes Lanie McAuley, Katerina Maria, Brendan Morgan, Jeff Irving, Craig Strickland, David Pinard, Michelle Nolden, Genevieve Fisher, Roy Lewis, Lara Amersey, Greg Ellwand, Bebsabe Duque, Celine Bauwmans, and Neil Whitely. A sequel, “Country Hearts Christmas,” has been greenlit already.

“After playing evil priests, insane asylum security chiefs, redneck social media whistle blowers and cult leaders,...

"They're harvesting energy." Saban Films has debuted the trailer for an indie sci-fi thriller titled Project Ithaca, which seems to fit in with Netflix's "Love, Death & Robots" series more than anything. First titled Grim Trigger in development, the film is about a group of strangers who awaken on an alien spacecraft. They must figure out what's going on and how to escape, or they'll be trapped there and tormented forever. Or something like that. This looks a bit like the "Beyond the Aquila Rift" short from "Love, Death & Robots", and io9 describes it: "the idea behind Saw, set it on a spaceship, replace torture devices with psychological torment." Starring James Gallanders, Deragh Campbell, Daniel Fathers, Alex Woods, Caroline Raynaud, Konima Parkinson-Jones, Greg Ellwand, and Sofie Holland. This looks okay, though I'm not sure if it's going to be as good as it truly should be with this concept.