Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Apology’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Apology’.
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The holiday season is more than just a season of giving and a time for unity. For it is also a time for great reflection and a chance to really seek out truth and direction. Because once the gift giving is over, all we have are our memories and time to reflect upon them and the year, and the life we’ve enjoyed, and that in turn prompts us to ponder upon if we are happy with where we are at and whether or not we need to make changes to our lives to find what we need. Not to mention, those same thoughts leave us wondering if we’ve settled all of our affairs that are outstanding at the moment and for some… they find satisfaction on such matters while others… find themselves in stir.
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For they are in fact, not happy with the direction of their lives and/or come to realize… they have a lot of unfinished business in this life that needs to be resolved. Which is why the New Year’s Resolution exists, to get us started on finding what we need. But for some, waiting is not enough, they must have their answers now or must resolve the unresolved right away and that… can lead to an emotional and potentially painful end to the year in question, and the season. Simply because those thoughts are fresh and handling unfinished business that’s been lingering too long is often ugly and uncomfortable. But it is essential to healing and to finding peace in life, if we handle it right, and really, that particular aspect of the human experience during the holiday season is top of mind today, because a new film on Shudder explores such matters in the darkest way imaginable in The Apology.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a woman on Christmas Eve named Darlene Hagen. Who is a recovering alcoholic and a person in pain. For this Christmas marks the 20th year without her daughter Sally, who went missing all those years ago and well, Darlene is indeed… in a reflective place on this night. For she desperately wants answers regarding the status of her daughter, and she wants justice if someone bothered to harm her and while she is at her lowest in this reflective time, quite the surprise arrives at her doorstep. For her former brother-in-law, Jack Kingsley, has shown up out of the blue courtesy of a horrible storm outside that has stopped him in his tracks and Darlene of course, invites him to stay. Which gives him the opportunity to express that he too is looking for resolution and peace on this night, by confessing some ugly secrets to Darlene. The kind that will forever change her outlook on Jack and give her the opportunity to decide how she wants to handle justice, with the truth in hand. 

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Which is… the perfect way to explore the troubles that come about from seeking the truth and fighting for a different tomorrow. Because the surprise that Jack offers up to Sally, which is horrifying to say the least, really does give her want she wants and she is ill prepared to handle the reality of what happened to her daughter, nor is she ready to face the fact that someone she trusted was involved in such harm. Which leads to some powerfully bleak moments for certain, the kind that makes this film appear as though it is going to focus upon the horrors of the truth and searching for it and how that can destroy some. But there was mention of the fact that the truth is necessary for growth, as is the search for it, if we learn from what we uncover and that leads to a satisfying turn for Darlene… who finds agency within the freedom of the truth and acts accordingly.
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However, all of those elements do make this seem as though this is a motion picture that is grounded more in dramatic elements over horror, but make no mistake about it, the scary stuff is there, and it all comes forth via Jack. For his involvement in this matter and the secrets he carries, and the darkness in his soul, leads to some genuinely horrific moments. The kind that reminds us of the cruelty that men are capable of and the audacity that men like Jack thrive within, and that really does make him a terrifying villain for certain. Who often leaves the viewer unsure of how far he is willing to go on this night, and he leaves the audience disgusted as well, when it becomes clear what a pathetic coward this man truly is. But what matters more is that the scares he generates are impactful and realistic in nature and absolutely leave you on the edge of your seat. 

If anything, this is just a stunning horror film when all is said and done. For it is intense, emotional, and utterly horrifying, courtesy of Jack and his actions. In fact, we need to take a moment and fire off a quick warning regarding this film because of him. For his secret in this movie really is devastating and uncomfortable and triggering if you aren’t good with discussions regarding sexual assault. So, please exercise caution there. But if you’re willing to go along on one dark ride that will leave you squirming and angry, give this one a look. Because it really is quite the experience and it will terrify you in ways you never thought possible, courtesy of a bold plot that goes to incredibly dark places to help Darlene find the light.  

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