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Horror Cult Classic

Confessions turn deadly in a New York artist's provocative phone-in art installation.

APOLOGY

1986 · 1h 38m · PG-1 · Horror / Thriller

For her upcoming exhibition, "Apology," Lily, a New York conceptual artist, is designing a sound and sculpture installation inspired by the testimony of anonymous phone callers who, after responding to a public advert inviting them to spill their guts, leave messages on her answering machine. When one caller confesses to a murder, Lily begins to suspect that the mystery man may be intending a little "performance" of his own: her death.

 

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What is Apology about?

Apology is a 1986 American horror-thriller film directed by Robert Bierman about a New York conceptual artist whose anonymous confession hotline becomes entangled with a series of murders.

Synopsis

In New York City, avant garde sculptor Lily McGuire (Lesley Ann Warren) lives a complicated and frustrating life as she tries to not only provide for herself and her daughter, but debut her latest artwork known as Apology. The design is a two-part exhibit consisting of a walkthrough sculpture of advanced mechanical design and a phone service that allows callers to anonymously leave confessions of whatever they desire on the answering machine. However, someone has been calling the line and using it to announce a string of recent high-profile killings. After contacting the police, Detective Hungate (Peter Weller) advises Lily to take the threats seriously. Eventually, the serial killer stops his phone calls and intends to murder Lily to the sounds of the exhibit's programmed confessions.[4] Charles S. Dutton, Harvey Fierstein, and Chris Noth co-star. 

 
Details & Specs
Director
Robert Bierman
Writer
Mark Medoff
Release
1986
Runtime
1h 38m
Genres
Horror, Thriller

Why Cult

Confessional Art Gone Wrong

Lily's experimental installation inviting anonymous confessions turns sinister when a caller uses it to reveal murder.

Urban Manhattan Mood

Set in New York City, the film immerses you in the city's edgy 1980s art and crime scenes.

Lesley Ann Warren Lead

Lesley Ann Warren commands the screen as Lily, a sculptor confronting both artistic ambition and mortal danger.

Phone Hotline Terror

The anonymous phone service at the heart of Lily's artwork becomes the conduit for chilling threats and confessions.

Themes & Keywords

Trailer

Questions from the Vault

What is Apology about? +

Apology follows a New York sculptor who creates an art installation based on anonymous confessions, only to become embroiled in a series of murders linked to her project.

When was Apology released? +

Apology was released in 1986.

Who directed Apology? +

Apology was directed by Robert Bierman.

How long is Apology? +

Apology has a runtime of 98 minutes.

What genre is Apology? +

Apology is a horror-thriller.

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