Shimmer Lake

As the sun dips below the horizon on a fateful Friday evening, Andy Sikes (Ron Livingston) finds himself lost in tidying up the cluttered corners of his basement. Above him, the hushed tones of his wife Martha converse with her brother, Sheriff Zeke Sikes (Rainn Wilson). Unbeknownst to him, their young daughter Sally makes a sudden appearance, prompting Andy to silence her in haste and extract a solemn vow: she must keep his hidden presence a secret. Meanwhile, Zeke’s growing curiosity about Andy’s suspicious activities leads him into an investigation that uncovers a shocking connection between Andy and a bungled bank heist — a crime for which Zeke himself sustained serious injuries.

As the fallout of this chaotic day reverberates through their small town, Zeke convenes with his steadfast partner Reed Ethington and FBI agents Kyle Walker (Benjamin Walker) and Kurt Biltmore to delve into the unsettling circumstances surrounding Judge Brad Dawkins’ untimely death. The grim discovery of the judge’s lifeless body within the confines of his home sends ripples of fear throughout the community, igniting heated disagreements among Zeke, Reed, and the federal agents regarding the investigation’s direction.

In an equally gripping subplot, Andy finds himself secluded in a forest with Steph Burton, the mysterious wife of his supposed accomplice, Ed Burton. As he prepares to hand over the illicit bank funds to her, a sudden violence erupts as an assailant, adorned with the ominous tattoo reading “State Champs”, strikes him down. The assailant’s motive remains cloaked in shadow, leaving both Andy’s fate and true identity uncertain.

The following day, Zeke and his team turn their sights on Chris Morrow, a suspect linked to the bank robbery and known for his drug-fueled state. Their search leads to a shocking discovery: Chris is found dead, leading Zeke to unveil Andy’s tarnished past as a former prosecutor, marred by allegations of corruption after a scandalous plea deal that allowed Ed and Chris to escape justice following a tragic meth lab explosion that claimed Steph’s and Ed’s son.

As the investigation thickens, Judge Dawkins finds himself in a frantic scramble to eliminate a blackmailing tape, while Steph’s unsettling behavior escalates as she inflicts harm upon herself. The pressure mounts when Zeke, Reed, and the FBI arrive at her door, where she confesses that Ed had violently assaulted her when she refused to leave with him, and under duress, she reveals his intentions to flee to Mexico.

In a shocking turn of events, Judge Dawkins’ secret teenage boyfriend is caught off guard by Andy’s unexpected presence, leading to a violent confrontation that results in the judge’s demise. Cornered and desperate, Andy retreats to the supposed safety of his basement to face the brewing storm of consequences for his actions and the pervasive danger lurking nearby.

As the tumultuous aftermath of the heist unfolds, Chris and Andy grapple with shattered trust, their unity fractured by Ed’s treachery. In a distressing twist of fate, news breaks that Ed has been accused of shooting his own brother, Zeke, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Judge Dawkins. As Andy scrambles for clarity amid the chaos, Chris receives a surprising phone call from Steph, enticing him with an offer to split the stolen loot, all while stealthily manipulating his guilt regarding her son’s tragic fate.

This orchestrated chaos ignites a fierce confrontation culminating in Judge Dawkins’ murder, propelling Steph’s sinister plans into motion. Leading up to the ill-fated heist, the trio—Andy, Chris, and Ed—craft their elaborate scheme, even as Steph tries in vain to dissuade them. Ed ultimately reveals that their heist is their sole means of escaping the crushing weight of their haunted pasts. In a deceptive exchange with Dawkins, Ed promises to deliver an incriminating tape in return for access to the bank’s safe, a Faustian bargain sealing their ultimate fate.

As Zeke revels in a moment of calm, it all shatters when Ed’s duplicity reveals itself, leaving him gravely injured at the hands of a former ally. United in their pursuit of vengeance, Zeke and Steph, who are grieving parents, prepare to hunt down those responsible for their emotional destruction, with Ed’s lifeless body hidden away, and Zeke’s relentless investigation taking root in the soil of vengeance.

Last Updated: November 19, 2024 at 12:02