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The Apology is a thriller movie directed by Alison Locke, starring Anna Gunn, Linus Roache and Janeane Garofalo.

A chamber play movie – Kammerspielfilm – that relies entirely on the dialogue, performances and the secrets, the supposed many secrets….

Premise

It has been twenty years since the disappearance of her daughter and recovering alcoholic Darlene is preparing to host her family’s Christmas celebration with her best friend Gretchen. Late Christmas Eve, Jack, Darlene’s estranged ex-brother-in-law, 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.

Movie Review

The story is set in a confined location, a secluded house in the woods, with few characters, and there is a story to be told. The intended tension that should be running high throughout soon dims in the first act.

Over numerous appearances in film and television, Linus Roache has become somewhat of a chameleonic actor that can lose himself in a role. After memorable turns as Thomas Wayne in "Batman Begins" and the obsessive cult leader Jeremiah Sand in "Mandy," he's shown the ability to convey a calm, compassionate presence in one film and transform into a manipulative villain in another. In Alison Locke's directorial debut "The Apology," Roache has the opportunity to explore both ends of the spectrum, playing a likable character who slowly starts to reveal his true, dastardly self.

Still trying to pick up the pieces after the mysterious disappearance of her daughter 20 years ago, recovering alcoholic Darlene Hagen (Anna Gunn) is planning on making a family Christmas dinner with the help of her best friend, Gretchen (Janeane Garafalo). Late on Christmas Eve, an ominous knock at the door (never a good sign) sets off...

The unexpected visitor: it’s a well-loved and much-explored horror trope that’s the jumping-off point for many a terrifying tale over the years. In Alison Star Locke’s new horror thriller “The Apology,” audiences get a new version of that story bolstered by two inspired and impactful performances. But it’s hard to stay invested in a narrative this rote and predictable. The plot’s predictability doesn’t make its events any less troubling, but that, too, is not enough to save the film from ultimately becoming a boring slog.

Continue reading ‘The Apology’ Review: Anna Gunn & Linus Roache Can’t Invite In New Resonance To This Rote Uninvited Visitor Drama at The Playlist.

The very first shot of The Apology suggests the kind of movie that would make many thriller and horror fans happy. It may not seem like much, but the aerial take instantly establishes that whatever happens next will be in a cold and isolated place, so you’ll know that screaming for help is no use. With one shot, director Alison Locke defines the quiet oppression of the setting, which already makes us fear for the protagonist’s safety, and puts us on the edge of our seats as we wonder what’s about to happen. That’s why it’s so disappointing that the movie’s best moments end right there.

Stars: Anna Gunn, Janeane Garofalo, Holland Bailey, Linus Roache | Written and Directed by Alison Star Locke

The flood of sinister Christmas-themed films continues with The Apology, a thriller about Darlene Hagen. She’s a recovering alcoholic and, with some help from her best friend Gretchen, is hosting the family festivities for the first time in twenty years. But tonight she’s struggling to maintain that sobriety. Twenty years ago her daughter Sally disappeared. In the years since there has been explanation or evidence that might offer even a suggestion as to what happened to her. Now, with a storm whipping up outside her former brother-in-law Jack whom she hasn’t spoken to in nineteen years turns up with gifts and a dark secret.

The Apology is the first feature for writer/director Alison Star Locke and she’s picked a deceptively simple-looking project for her debut. One location and a very small cast,...

Christmas fairy tales best connect with their audiences when their stories are grounded in true emotions, particularly drama and grief, and their visuals reflect people’s dark nature, in both a thematic and literal sense. That’s certainly the case for the estranged family in the upcoming thriller, ‘The Apology.’ The family has long lost its patience […]

The post Exclusive Interview with The Apology’s Writer-Director Alison Star Locke appeared first on Shockya.com.

Be it sadness or happiness, Christmas tends to bring out intense emotions. What’s often seen as a joyous time for some people can be the loneliest day of the year for others. In the movie The Apology, Darlene Hagen hasn’t had a happy Christmas since she experienced every parent’s worst nightmare. This one particular holiday is already hard enough to get through, but now this heartbroken mother is paid an unexpected visit from a ghost of Christmas past.

Alison Locke’s first long feature lives on the less celebrated side of Christmas storytelling. As cheerless and severe as The Apology is, though, it also taps into that sort of unexplained magic often found in holiday movies. Some kind of unnatural force has to be at work when watching Anna Gunn’s character receive the most complicated Christmas gift imaginable. But her unique present comes with strings attached...

(L-r:) Anna Gunn and Linus Roache in The Apology Image: Courtesy of Rlje Films / Shudder /AMC+ Single-location thrillers are a high-risk, high-reward proposition. If you do it right, you create the sense that the audience is just as incapable of escaping the scenario as the characters, so when the tension ratchets up,...

The first official trailer for the upcoming thriller film The Apology sees Breaking Bad star Anna Gunn desperately searching for revenge. Gunn began making a name for herself with the recurring role of Assistant District Attorney Jean Ward on the hit ABC series The Practice and the HBO’s hit western series Deadwood, as series regular Martha Bullock, before landing the iconic role that Gunn will forever be tied to. Best known for her portrayal of Skyler White in the famed AMC drama Breaking Bad, Gunn went on to clinch three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her iconic portrayal, of which she won two. It was previously announced that Gunn would be leading the upcoming Christmas thriller The Apology, with no other word on the film’s future, until now.

Rlje Films has now released the first official trailer for the upcoming thriller film The Apology which stars Gunn.

The Apology Trailer — Alison Star Locke‘s The Apology (2022) movie trailer has been released by Rlje Films. The Apology trailer stars Anna Gunn, Linus Roache, Holland Bailey, and Janeane Garofalo. Crew Alison Star Locke wrote the screenplay for The Apology. “It’s produced by Stacy Jorgensen, Kim Sherman, and Lisa Whalen.” Plot Synopsis The Apology‘s plot synopsis: “Twenty [...]

Continue reading: The Apology (2022) Movie Trailer: Anna Gunn stars in Rlje Films’ Holiday Revenge Thriller...

Rlje Films, Shudder and AMC+ have partnered and fully financed the highly anticipated thriller The Apology, we had recently learned. The film will be released by Rlje Films on December 16 in theaters and streaming on Shudder and AMC+ the same day.

Watch the official trailer below to start the holiday season off on a dread-filled note.

Directed and written by Alison Star Locke, in her feature film writing/directing debut, The Apology stars Anna Gunn (“Breaking Bad,” Sully), Linus Roache (My Policeman, “Homeland”), and Janeane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer, Reality Bites).

In The Apology, twenty years after the disappearance of her daughter, recovering alcoholic Darlene Hagen (Anna Gunn) is preparing to host her family’s Christmas celebration with her best friend Gretchen (Janeane Garofalo). Late Christmas Eve, Darlene’s estranged ex-brother-in-law, Jack (Linus Roache) arrives unannounced, bearing nostalgic gifts and a heavy secret. Soon, Darlene finds herself caught between reason and ruthless instinct.

Probably best known for playing Skyler White on Breaking Bad and Martha Bullock on Deadwood, Anna Gunn (who also has a small role in Kevin Smith’s Red State) is the lead in the thriller The Apology, which is set to reach theatres, courtesy of Rlje Films, on December 16th. That same day, The Apology will also be available to watch on the Shudder and AMC+ streaming services.

The feature writing and directing debut of Alison Star Locke, The Apology has the following 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.

Rlje Films, Shudder and AMC+ have partnered and fully financed the highly anticipated thriller The Apology, we’ve learned today. The film will be released by Rlje Films on December 16 in theaters and streaming on Shudder and AMC+ the same day.

Directed and written by Alison Star Locke, in her feature film writing/directing debut, The Apology stars Anna Gunn, Linus Roache, and Janeane Garofalo.

In The Apology, twenty years after the disappearance of her daughter, recovering alcoholic Darlene Hagen (Anna Gunn) is preparing to host her family’s Christmas celebration with her best friend Gretchen (Janeane Garofalo). Late Christmas Eve, Darlene’s estranged ex-brother-in-law, Jack (Linus Roache) 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.

“The Apology is like nothing else...

Exclusive: Rlje Films, Shudder and AMC+ have fully financed and picked up distribution rights to The Apology, a previously unannounced thriller starring Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad), Linus Roache (My Policeman) and Janeane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer). Rlje Films will release the pic in theaters on December 16, with the title becoming available for streaming on Shudder and AMC+ the same day.

The Apology picks up with recovering alcoholic Darlene Hagen (Gunn) 20 years after the disappearance of her daughter, as she’s preparing to host her family’s Christmas celebration with her best friend Gretchen (Garofalo). Late Christmas Eve, Darlene’s estranged ex-brother-in-law Jack (Roache) 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.

Awarded the ReFrame Stamp for gender-balanced production, The Apology is...

The 17th annual Boston Underground Film Festival is set to explode all over the Brattle Theater in Harvard Square on March 25-29.

Opening Night: The fun kicks off on the 25th at 7:30 p.m. with the exciting new flick from the always amazing Astron-6 collective, The Editor, an homage to the brutal Giallo movies of the ’70s and ’80s directed by Adam Brooks and Matthew Kennedy. This will be followed by the restored version of the legendary cult classic Gone With the Pope by the notorious Duke Mitchell.

Closing Night: Goodnight Mommy the debut feature film by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz, will screen at 8:30 p.m. on the 29th and is a nightmarish vision of familial dread when twin brothers believe their cosmetically altered mother is literally not the woman she used to be.

Other features include a mix of horror, like Matt O’Mahoney’s...