The Apology

Released Dec 16, 2022

1 hr. 31 min.

Holiday

Mystery & Thriller

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List

52%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

37%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

Twenty years after the disappearance of her daughter, recovering alcoholic Darlene Hagen is preparing to host her family's Christmas celebration with her best friend Gretchen. Late Christmas Eve, Darlene's estranged ex-brother-in-law, Jack, arrives unannounced, bearing nostalgic gifts and a heavy secret. Soon, Darlene finds herself caught between reason and ruthless instinct. Trapped together by a dangerous storm, a battle of wits escalates to a violent game of revenge.

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David B

Edge of your seat thriller!! Wonderful acting and intelligent script!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/19/22

Full Review

Diana S

Gunn and Roache are excellent, though the writing is sometimes trite. It's a good premise, and I think the story is well-handled overall, but the attempts at levity with the completely superfluous best-friend character are more distracting than anything else. In my opinion, it would have been much more effective to keep the pressure on the two leads to hash it out without interference or a voice of reason.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

Ken B

This was definitely a Shudder film - delightfully low budget and immensely mediocre! The potential for success was there in the storyline but it just wasn't executed very well. And this movie is listed as a HORROR/THRILLER. I think that's stretching it just a tad. The Apology was a DRAMA in every sense of the word.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/24

Full Review

Mortal

The movie is basically over after the 20th minute. The acting is not as good as they say. I know that Anna Gun is a top-notch actress but in this case, she basically cries without crying and in general, the movie tries to counterbalance the fact that it has not build up and no actual emotion by making the actors "try" and cry all the time. Do not see it.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/09/24

Full Review

Aj W

It felt like watching a play with more space and movement. Super small yet talented cast with a well-rounded story. A quick and delightful watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/18/23

Full Review

JimBob D

A total waste of time. Even Anna Gunn couldn't bail this one out. The script is just plain awful. One of the most painful and improbable movie experiences I have endured.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/05/23

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Alison Locke

Director

Anna Gunn

Darlene Hagen

Linus Roache

Jack Kingsley

Janeane Garofalo

Gretchen Sullivan

Holland Bailey

Sally Hagen

Esmé McSherry

Young Sally

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Christmas Bloody Christmas

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Simon Abrams

RogerEbert.com

A grim and mostly satisfying locked-room thriller.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 16, 2022

Full Review

Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

The characters’ despair and passion remains gripping throughout, as they force each other into some overdue reckonings with the past.

Dec 16, 2022

Full Review

Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

When the resolution of a movie depends in part on a fortuitously constipated dog, the only apology required is from whoever convinced you to watch in the first place.

Dec 15, 2022

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Common Sense Media

This drama/thriller, ironically adorned from top to bottom with cheerful holiday decorations, is a tough watch. But it does an admirable job of tapping into deep-seated emotions.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 2, 2023

Full Review

Paul Lê

Bloody Disgusting

Alison Locke drops one of the most agonizing Christmas stories in recent years, but also includes a glimmer of hope. The magic of the holidays still manages to come out, even in a thriller as bleak as The Apology.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 20, 2023

Full Review

Lex Briscuso

The Playlist

It’s hard to stay invested in a narrative this rote and predictable.

Rated: C

Dec 21, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Twenty years after the disappearance of her daughter, recovering alcoholic Darlene Hagen is preparing to host her family's Christmas celebration with her best friend Gretchen. Late Christmas Eve, Darlene's estranged ex-brother-in-law, Jack, arrives unannounced, bearing nostalgic gifts and a heavy secret. Soon, Darlene finds herself caught between reason and ruthless instinct. Trapped together by a dangerous storm, a battle of wits escalates to a violent game of revenge.

Director: Alison Locke
Executive Producer: Mark Ward, Michael M. McGuire
Screenwriter: Alison Locke
Distributor: RLJE Films
Production Co: Company X
Genre: Holiday, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 16, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 16, 2022

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