This is one family who are turning an “apology” into a family war as RLJE Films, Shudder, and AMC+ have scored the holiday thriller The Apology.

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. 

Awarded the ReFrame Stamp for gender-balanced production, THE APOLOGY was produced by Lisa Whalen, Kim Sherman and Stacy Jorgensen of Company X Productions, the all-female production company behind films like No Man of God and Seven Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss. Alison Star Locke wrote and directed the film.

The film will have a simultaneous theatrical release and streaming on both Shudder and AMC+ on December 16.