Anna Gunn, star of Breaking Bad, leads The Apology, the latest Shudder Original movie to arrive on the platform. After years of being kept in the shadow of Bryan Cranston’s Walter White, Gunn finally gets the spotlight to showcase her talents. That all the praise was heaped onto the men of Breaking Bad is a disservice to the female characters, especially Gunn, as her turn as Walter’s wife Skyler, was incredible. In The Apology, without the distraction of Cranston or Aaron Paul, Gunn shines as she plays yet another put-upon woman. Here she stars as Darlene, a somewhat recluse whose Christmas preparations come unstuck when she receives a visitor from her past.
An exploration of grief and guilt, The Apology joins Darlene as she journeys into the darkness of her nightmares. A recovering alcoholic with almost twenty years sober, Darlene lives out a somewhat isolated life. She gets on well with her closest neighbour, Gretchen (Janeane Garofalo), and is looking forward to hosting Christmas for her extended family for the first time in almost two decades. It isn’t all festive cheer though as a black cloud lingers over Darlene’s life. Twenty years prior, Darlene’s daughter, Sally, disappeared. Not knowing whether her child is alive or dead has ravaged her, and the anniversary stirs up emotions. Then comes a knock on the door from her estranged former brother-in-law, Jack (Linus Roache), who has a life-shattering story….
Written and directed by Alison Locke, The Apology is a tense, ever-turning thriller. Set within only a handful of rooms within Darlene’s modest house in the sticks, there’s a strong element of claustrophobia that quickly sets in. This setting helps the story marinate, creating the perfect pressure cooker environment for Darlene and Jack to converse within. Their conversation begins innocently with small talk and catching up, but it soon transitions into something more interesting. The Apology delves into the murky world of missing children, exploring the toll that takes on the parents left behind. Twenty years of not knowing if your child is alive or not must be torture and Gunn nails these emotions. Suddenly faced with new information, Darlene has to deal with it and its ramifications. With so much complexity, someone of Gunn’s calibre is vital to convey Darlene as the strong, stoic, and determined woman she is.
Much of The Apology relies on the script and the performer’s ability to deliver it. Locke’s writing is tight, the pace kept swift and the set-up minimal; the story quickly getting down to business. Gunn and co-star Roache bring the script to life beautifully, their exchanges keeping the viewer hooked as they try to figure out exactly how events will end. The action is kept light, Locke favouring to highlight the prowess of her cast, and with Gunn and Roache, she has two titans on the screen.
Towards the end, the story gets a little rushed and some plot elements feel a tad too simplistic and convoluted. These niggles though are minor as Gunn and Roache manage to sell even the most ridiculous of scenarios. The ever changing dynamic between the two actors also helps iron over any creases. Darlene and Jack’s relationship journeys through several stages during the course of the narrative, and as each new layer is revealed, the intensity ratchets up and keeps the viewer held in a vice-like grip. A taut chamber-piece full of parental nightmares, The Apology offers a feast for fans of emotional and psychological thrillers.
The Apology
Summary
An exploration of grief, guilt, and gender dynamics, with a killer performance from Anna Gunn, The Apology is a gut-wrenching and intriguing Christmas-set tale that explores devastating secrets from the past.
The Apology is available to watch on Shudder now.
