MOVIE REVIEW: We try to keep taut thriller 'The Apology's' secrets from spilling out. Simple-but-captivating debut flick for writer-director Alison Locke.
Ian Bunting
20:50, 12 Jun 2026
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Anna Gunn stars as 'Darlene Hagen' in thriller 'The Apology'
The Apology is a hard film to review as its simple-but-captivating story is best left unspoiled. All you really need to know is it’s a thriller and the general plot sees recovering alcoholic Darlene (Anna Gunn) marking the 20th anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance at Christmas time when her estranged former brother-in-law Jack (Linus Roache) unexpectedly arrives on her doorstep.
With its single house location and miniscule cast, The Apology is reminiscent of a stage play - and like theatre’s best, heavily relies on the quality of its cast. Breaking Bad’s Gunn and Mandy’s Roache are absolutely sensational throughout two very different performances. The pair have a past and endure just about every emotion imaginable as the unforgettable winter night unfolds. The only other main cast member is Janeane Garofalo (Gretchen), an actress I have always been a fan of, and the New Jersey-born star plays a small-but-important part in proceedings.
After helming a pair of short films, writer-director Alison Locke makes her feature-length flick debut with a very powerful piece of work. Setting it during Christmas tugs on reflective family heart strings and the blizzard battering outside ensures the claustrophobic belief that no-one can go anywhere.
If I was to be uber critical, Locke’s film does start to run out of steam before the climax as there is only so much mileage you can get out of such a small cast and the developments between them. Overall, however, I am not sorry to say I really enjoyed The Apology. As much as it’s great to get swept up in blockbusters like The Mandalorian and Grogu or the latest MCU offering, sometimes taking a step back to small scale fare is just what the movie doctor ordered.
● What are your thoughts on flicks with a small cast and single location? Do you prefer the intimacy, or larger scale filmmaking? Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers. Cara Gilhooley got in touch to say: “Scarpetta on Amazon Prime is a great show. As a fan of the books it is based on, they nailed all of the main characters really well.”
● The Apology is showing on Shudder.
