Castle Falls

Last updated
Castle Falls
Castle Falls.jpeg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Dolph Lundgren
Written byAndrew Knauer
Produced by
  • Andre Relis
  • Dolph Lundgren
  • Craig Baumgarten
Starring
CinematographyFrances Chen
Edited byMatthew Lorentz
Music byDavid Rosengren
Production
companies
  • Bondlt Media Capital
  • Buffalo 8 Productions
  • VMI Worldwide
  • Verdi Productions
  • Wonder Street
  • Yale Productions
Distributed by Shout! Factory [1]
Release date
  • December 3, 2021 (2021-12-03)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$4 million
Box office$2,643 [2]

Castle Falls is a 2021 American action film starring and directed by Dolph Lundgren in his first film as director since 2010, [3] who produced with Andre Relis and Craig Baumgarten. [4] The film co-stars Scott Adkins, Jim Chandler, Kim Delonghi, Dave Halls, Scott Hunter, Robert Berlin and Lundgren's real life daughter Ida Lundgren. [5] [6]

Contents

Plot

After decades of neglect, Castle Heights Hospital, this symbol of the city's segregated past has been packed with dynamite and it is ready to be demolished. No one knows that a gang leader (Berlin) now in prison, hid the 3 million dollars in cash he stole from his rivals inside the abandoned building. Now, three desperate parties want the money - a blue collared ex-fighter (Adkins) who finds it while working as part of the demolition crew, a prison guard (Lundgren) willing to do anything to pay for his daughter's cancer treatment and a ruthless gang who claim to be the rightful owners. The demolition charges are set, everyone clears out and the Castle is set to fall in 90 minutes. The three parties all try to find the cash and get out alive.

Production

In early press junkets for the film, The film was to be set in a condominium with Lundgren playing "Shea", one of two rival gang leaders and Adkins playing an ex-fighter working as a janitor who then accidentally stumbles upon the cash. This original synopsis can still be seen on some streaming services.

Cast

Release

Theatrical

The film has a limited release in the United States on December 3, 2021. [7]

Home media

It was released on Blu-ray and video on demand on December 28, 2021. [8]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 88% of 8 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.50/10. [9]

Debopriyaa Dutta of Screen Rant gave the film a positive review and rate it 2.5 stars out of 5 stars and she wrote: Sporting skilled choreographed action sequences, Castle Falls offers a mildly satisfying viewing experience despite a weak and muddled storyline. [10] Jacob Walker of Starburst rate the film 3 out of 5 rating and praised the film's thrills, decent action and the chemistry of Lundgren and Adkins and he wrote: Once the action kicks off in the last third of the film, however, it’s loads of fun. Adkins delivers his modern blend of taekwondo kicks and MMA techniques with gusto, and the gunfights and battles are relentless until the end. Lundgren and Adkins work really well together, Dolph’s world-weariness complimenting Scott’s energy and determinism. You will be cheering this bromance on until the credits roll, they just needed to be on-screen together a little earlier. [11]

Phil Hoad of The Guardian satisfied at the film and gave the film a rating of 3 out of 5 and he wrote: Dolph Lundgren and Scott Adkins make a fine odd couple in this meatily satisfying action film - once it gets moving. [12]

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References

  1. "Castle Falls - Blu-ray :: Shout! Factory".
  2. "Castle Falls (2021)". The Numbers. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  3. "Castle Falls - VMI Worldwide". Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  4. "Castle Falls (2022)".
  5. Ritman, Alex (February 22, 2020). "Berlin: Global Buyers Fall for Dolph Lundgren's 'Castle Falls' (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter .
  6. "our films - Verdi films".
  7. Arnold, Justin (October 6, 2021). "Shout! Sets Dec. 3 Theatrical, Digital Release for Action Thriller 'Castle Falls'". www.mediaplaynews.com.
  8. "Castle Falls Blu-ray".
  9. "Castle Falls - RT". Rotten Tomatoes .
  10. Dutta, Debopriyya (December 3, 2021). "Castle Falls Review: Well-Crafted Action Thriller Lacks Narrative Clarity". Screen Rant . Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  11. Walker, Jacob (December 3, 2021). "CASTLE FALLS". Starburst . Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  12. Hoad, Phil (December 13, 2021). "Castle Falls review – Dolph Lundgren puts on his specs and flexes his pecs". The Guardian . Retrieved October 12, 2023.