Shimmer Lake

Shimmer Lake has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Rainn Wilson's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Shimmer Lake arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Shimmer Lake treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. Shot in reverse day-by-day through a week—a local sheriff embarks on a quest to unlock the mystery of three small-town criminals and a bank heist gone wrong. Rainn Wilson and Benjamin Walker lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2017. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Shimmer Lake passes that test consistently. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, Shimmer Lake delivers. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Rainn Wilson's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.