[1][2] Twenty years after her daughter's mysterious disappearance, Darlene Hagen (Anna Gunn), a recovering alcoholic, is preparing to hold a family Christmas celebration with her best friend Gretchen (Janeane Garofalo).

But her former brother-in-law Jack (Linus Roache) shows up for the dinner without warning and brings an unexpected and dangerous twist to the event—as he arrives not only with gifts but also with a terrible secret.

Simon Abrams of Rogerebert.com gave the film three stars out of four and stated, "The Apology" is a grim and mostly satisfying locked-room thriller about Darlene and Jack's complex and often unpleasant conversation.

Nineteen years have passed since Darlene and Jack last spoke to each other, a long time to live in fear and misery, but maybe not enough to confer wisdom or perspective.

When the resolution of a movie depends in part on a fortuitously constipated dog, the only apology required is from whoever convinced you to watch in the first place.