'The Apology' (2022) - Movie Review: A Slow, Slow-Burn Psychological Thriller

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. It is though, a good addition to the Shudder catalogue, despite not being the best number of the genre.

With believable characterizations that are brought into relief by the good performances of a scarce cast of three: Anna Gunn, Linus Roache and Janeane Garofalo, creating an quasi-tense atmosphere – the story gradually loses further tension – leaving us with the uncomfortable intimacy of the arrangement, when we were initially under the impression we were in for a clever unfolding of the plot. With its rather slow pace it is a piece that requires the patience and resilience of the spectator, forever waiting for the culmination, which indeed does take place, but falls rather flat in its in depth examination of what is close to a “true crime” number. We sit there like a fly on the wall witnessing with searing anticipation the unveiling of truths, and we are left unsurprised.

Give me Hitchcock’s ‘Rope‘ (1948) anytime, or both adaptations of ‘Sleuth‘ (1972 and 2007), or the fantastic mess of a drama between the protagonists in ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?‘ (1966) – those unforgettable one location gems.

‘The Apology’ is a brave attempt at a slow-burn psychological thriller, and as said, it does succeed to a certain extent, but the movie will not leave a mark in us. Had there been a more playful dialogue, it would have added a magnificent extra layer to the film that would have given it a much welcome edge.

Granted that Anna Gunn‘s performance is commendable; she plays the role of Darlene with admirable involvement, bringing forth the credibility of the character.