(Credit: Netflix)

Some nights, the last thing you want is another blockbuster on Netflix. Something you half-remember and have already sat through three times. In these moments, you crave a film that sneaks up on you. A film you discover by accident and then cannot stop bringing up in conversation the next day. That is exactly the energy Shimmer Lake carries.

You won’t find this film plastered across Netflix’s homepage. It is sitting quietly in a corner and is easy to miss. But the moment you press play, it pulls you in. It is dark and funny and sharper than you bargain for. The kind of story that feels like a secret you cannot wait to share.

Here is the thing about Shimmer Lake. It doesn’t tell its story in the way you are used to. Most crime thrillers line up the events and let you follow the trail of breadcrumbs forward. What makes Shimmer Lake stand out is the way it tells the story. Instead of moving forward, it rewinds. Each episode takes you a day earlier, so you are slowly stitching together what actually went down. It feels less like watching a film and more like solving a puzzle in real time.

Every scene in this film feels like it is giving you answers. But that’s all until you realise it is also giving you new questions. That rhythm is addictive. It makes you feel like you are leaning closer to the truth. The payoff seems worthy when you try to connect the dots, and the speculations turn out to be right.

But the format is not the only thing that works. It is the way the film slips the humour in to balance the tension. The jokes land perfectly which is fun, but that does not defeat the purpose of the film which is basically a crime thriller. That way, the audience remains hooked and does not divert from the main storyline. It wants you to feel the absurdity of people making terrible choices and trying to get away with them.

The cast is another reason this one deserves your time. You get Rainn Wilson far away from his Office persona, showing a different edge. Benjamin Walker plays the sheriff who looks quiet at first but becomes more complicated as the story rolls back. He and the rest of the cast give those small-time vibes where everyone is involved in each other’s lives, but seems to know some parts of the story.

Shimmer Lake feels like a discovery. You won’t find it trending on Netflix’s Top 10 or plastered all over billboards. It is one of those films that slipped under the radar but stayed with the people who actually gave it a chance. And sometimes that is exactly what you want on a random night. Less hype and just a story that pulls you in and leaves you chewing on it long after.

So if you are scrolling tonight, tired of the same suggestions, stop when you see Shimmer Lake. Don’t overthink it. Just press play. Let the story take you backwards, let the tension build, and let yourself enjoy a film that knows how to surprise you.