The Apostate: Call of the Revenant (2015) User Reviews

My Review Of "The Apostate: Call Of The Revenant"

[ASouthernHorrorFan · 7/10 · 23 January 2015]

The story is a strong, emotional one filled with plenty of melodrama, suspense, and stark realism. "The Apostate: Call Of The Revenant" is a slow burning, fluid piece that tales Cooper's story in a serious of gritty, horrific flashbacks shrouded in mystery, all of which are framed around an interrogation upon Cooper being brought back to police headquarters. The cast give powerful, invoking performances that pull you into the film. There is a witty approach that attempts to mask the truth, giving view to both the reality of the evidence, and the reality of Lance Cooper's belief of events leading up to the truth.

The special effects used in "The Apostate" are practical, raw effects that give plenty of blood and gore. The flashback scenes offer up a bit of "Saw" styled grue that for the most part work perfectly. The atmosphere surrounding these affectual moments is one of true horror. They are on the cheaper side of indie budgeted effects, but due to careful choices by Cooper, and his team, all uses are believable. The soundtrack and music score are stripped down, expected instrumental tones and melodies that push the macabre of the story to chilling levels.

Overall "The Apostate: Call Of The Revenant" gives us a strong, indie true life crime in gory, dramatic honesty. Andy Cooper's directing shines as does the talents of the cast and crew bringing this nightmare to life. The story is captivating and the special effects are choice. There are moments when the effects-when shown straight on-look cheap. Very few moments but I would be remiss not to point them out. The beginning does move slowly so fans of high energy horror will be bored. The big reveal that gives us truth doesn't stay elusive beyond the 40 minute mark, and even before that there are hints to the truth visible. That of course is to all who are not familiar with the crimes in this film. "The Apostate: Call Of The Revenant" is, however, a worthy film that warrants watching.

I am very impressed

[millerstephanie6878 · 7/10 · 17 January 2015]

I grew up watching the good classic horror movies with my dad. So, naturally I feel pretty desensitized from scary movies. This one however, had me really scared. Did it leave me with any sort of lasting impression, not really just some really weird nightmares the night I saw it.

James Bryhan did an excellent job. His use of body language was amazing and really helped to tell the story. The cinematography was wonderful.

Overall, I would definitely go see it again and buy the movie. If you miss the classic horror movies go see it. Finally, a horror movie that does what it supposed to do. It wasn't lost in gore and blood. The simplicity really makes this movie amazing.

Overall i thought that this film was great and i say that you should check it out.

A must see film!

Another British horror. But a very well done one.

[filmlover-207-724670 · 7/10 · 8 January 2015]

As in a recent review I did for 'Locke' - I mentioned I happened to see this movie at the same festival and, as with the other British indie 'Locke', I was transfixed for 80 odd minutes. While this doesn't hold the star power of the previously mentioned film (it does have Terri Dwyer in it and after a quick IMDb search, she is a Brit TV actor) the actors in the movie are strong and believable. Directer, Andy Dodd has written a sharp little movie (he also lens'd and edited it among other things) which keeps the viewer guessing until the end. Lance Cooper (Jay Bryhan) is a man who wakes up with no understanding of who he is or how he came to be there (there being a dingy bathroom in an underground car park) - Yes, the premise isn't original and it's a little 'SAW I' - but that didn't put me off (or anyone else watching, it would seem). What follow is a series of flashbacks and Police interviews with Lance and we slowly piece together the mystery. A film which keeps you guessing (and it does, and the revelation is unexpected) is always interesting as long as it doesn't treat the audience like 'fools' - this doesn't. It MAKES you want to know what happened. If I wanted to be critical, the ending wrapped up a little too quickly for me - but it's a small criticism.

Low budget genius

[sadthefilms · 9/10 · 18 October 2019]

This film is quite magnificent. A film that should have been seen on the big silver screen. A well made, cinematic and brilliant acting, especially by James Bryhan as Lance Cooper. An almost wordless performance, but wonderful in the way his emotions emanate on the screen is truly hypnotic. The film reminded me a lot of SAW but completely different in style and story telling. The actors were all wonderful in their performances and it took me by surprise when a twist involving lance Cooper throw me a curveball. (You'll have to watch the film to see what happens). The scenes with Bryhan and Terri dwyer ( Hollyoaks) are tense, nerve racking and impeccable. Overall, a brilliant script, fantastic acting and a film that most certainly deserved a bigger audience.

"the Apostate" is Daring and Honest...

[hello34356434 · 9/10 · 16 February 2015]

First-time feature director, Andy Dodd has game whenever he decides to apply his talents,see 'it's a love thing'. "The Apostate" once again proves that an emotionally engaging horror movie can be made on a low budget. Dodd pulled no punches. He made his movie and challenged audiences to ride the emotional roller-coaster. He always upped the ante where other less courageous filmmakers would back down. There was drama, gore, and horror, all marching in formation to a satisfying climax. The acting was compelling throughout. By the end credits, I was emotionally drained, yet forever impressed with Andy Dodd's bold, brutally honest vision. It makes you think about the events for many days after the credits have rolled. The beginning might be a little slow for some horror enthusiasts mind, but it's definitely worth sticking with it.

Not what I was expecting and I mean that in a good way.

[skbeqtfl · 7/10 · 16 February 2015]

As some of us know, "apostasy" or "an apostate" is a recognisable phrase that dates all the way back and means "somebody who has lost their faith" either in religion or in a cause etc.Throughout the centuries this has taken many different forms and I think it's safe to say that Director/Producer Andy Dodd has set a new tone for its meaning.

The story follows Lance, who wakes up in a 'rest-room' with no idea of who he is or how he got there. Flash-forward to a police interview room where inspector Andrews is interviewing him, trying to 'coax' out the truth.

This is when the movie takes a completely different twist than what you would expect out of an indie film of this ilk. The truths that come out during the course of the movie will shock you. This movie not only f**ks with your mind psychologically making you do double takes and shake your head in a mixture of disbelief and disgust while saying to yourself "You gotta be kidding me...really?!" but it also hits you right afterward with a good dose of blood and gore.

Why not a 10 you ask? Well that's mainly because to see a 10 usually sets off the alarms that a review has been submitted biased. Me, I enjoyed this film from beginning to end, as I love my psychologically disturbing films just as much as I love my torture gore movies...and the Apostate delivers a blissful combination of both. I am an opinionated curmudgeon, and ALWAYS have something negative to say about where an indie horror flick could have tightened up this or that, but at the end, every end was tied up, the conclusion was satisfying "now I know why Lance was in that damn room!" -it was easily the best indie horror film I have seen in the past few years. Zero budget - great inventiveness. Some of the digital effects were not great, but the practical effects looked real enough. It could do with a 'trim' at the beginning.

Jay Bryhan who plays Lance deserves a standing ovation and a projectile vomit or two for the fantastic performances he gives, which make the film as genuine as it is.

Great little indie movie!

[jas3892 · 8/10 · 5 January 2015]

This one is probably slipping 'under the radar' a little bit. I first heard about 'the Apostate' while reading 'ain't it cool news' where it received deserved praise, and the synopsis was intriguing enough for me to want to see it. Lance Cooper, played brilliantly by James Bryhan, awakes in a room not knowing who he is or how he got there. It shouts of 'SAW' and it does have its similarities, but the two films are very different beasts. He has a cut to one of his legs and is losing blood quickly - so he need to get out. That's the premise. What follows is a series of flashbacks, ranging from his police interview to other events that finally leads us to finale, which is very unexpected. It's low budget fare, but the 'look'is cinematic and the practical FX is very well done. Tight script and it moves along at a pace which never bores. Getting a low budget short made is hard. Getting a low budget feature made is nigh-on impossible. This deserves a wider audience and never falls into the trap of other low-budget movies. I.e. teens in the wood. If you get a chance to see it, you should. It's won't disappoint.

Some people....

[bananaoftheyear · 6/10 · 4 February 2015]

just DO NOT know what the hell they're talking about.

As an avid horror fan and a, I would say 'social', reader of of ain't it cool news, latino review and other sites - mainly horror - I recently saw a review on UK Horror Scene that stated it as 'the worst movie made' - this interested me. It's like slowing down for a car crash or wanting to watch 'a Serbian film' or the 'human centipede'. It's a 'so bad, it's good' moment.

Well. I'm a little annoyed. What I found was a completely competent film. OK, it's low budget. OK, it doesn't have the greatest production value. But if the reviewer thinks it's the worst film made. He A: hasn't watched many movies. B: He's a moron. Elliot Garlick - you are literally the worst reviewer on the internet. That's me basing this film on your review.

The reviewer complained of the film having 'flashbacks'. It's a film told in flashback! It's allowed. We need to make up our own mind if the character is an unreliable narrator, not be told by Elliot Garlick whether we should like it or not.

This film is OK. Far better than some. I'm angry because I don't get to witness the 'car crash' the UK horror scene said I would.

A truly scary horror film

[nningtext · 10/10 · 17 January 2015]

I love horror movies and this was quite good but not really scary. It's a great horror/ thriller movie.

Complex and complicated, and how we tend to mess it up even more. The rhythm is good. Just let it go, sit down on a quiet evening when it's pouring rain outside, and enjoy this movie will give you.

I really did not know what was going to happen next. Some parts was kind of boring but some parts grabbed my attention as well.This is definitely a movie which I recommend for Horror Movie fans. I will probably watch this again in the nearby future. One of the best in a long time.

Zero budget - but good movie...

[miamiguy-207-922252 · 6/10 · 18 January 2015]

First of all - this movie isn't going to win any Oscars. Let's get that out of the way. Secondly, it won't get a BAFTA for production design. If you haven't got any cash and you want to make a movie, what do you do? Well, you do what Andy Dodd did. Make one anyway. You don't need a lot of money to make something that keeps people intrigued.

Man wakes up. Man doesn't know who or where he is. Man needs to find out. That's the idea. Jay Bryhan, who plays the 'man', plays him with a lot of gusto and effort, even if he feels a little 'forced' occasionally. The story is told in flashbacks and to's and fro's between a police interview and the man trying to make sense of his surroundings. It's intriguing. It MAKES you want to know what the heel has happened. AND nothing prepares you for the second half of the film - I just didn't see it coming.

The Apostate is a low budget movie. But a pretty darn good film. I don't understand why this isn't on VOD or something - maybe that's to come.

Bravo.

A Twisted flashback of a film

[haughtonlaurence677 · 6/10 · 16 February 2015]

This film is getting good ratings. And there's a reason why. Within the first 10 minutes, this film establishes the core of the film, and then doesn't let up until the end. But while most horror films stick to the, "more gore less story" ideals, Andy Dodd has crafted a story that makes you want to care for the main character of Cooper. But, while I was watching the Apostate, another movie came to mind that shared a similar premise, and that was the first SAW movie. While the Apostate shares some similarities to James Wan's, the Apostate refuses to let the audience turn away, and even though there's a lot of blood and violence in the film, you can tell Dodd wanted to tell a good story as well, and there's a lot of character development, and well crafted dialog throughout the film. But what makes the film so twisted, beyond the gore and violence, is what I'm not including in this review. You'll have to see it for yourself...around the 40 minute mark.

But, at the end of the day, even though I liked it, would I recommend it to others? And that is a yes, and no. Yes, it is a very cool film, and has things that every horror fan would love, but not for everyone. There's a lot of adult content that younger horror fans just wouldn't get, as the beginning is quite slow.

The Apostate is a great feature directorial debut for Andy Dodd, and I'm excited to see his future works. The Apostate is a violent, monolith of an indie film, but it's also very smart, respecting the fans of the genre. And if you get a chance to see it on the big screen, I highly suggest it! I noticed Andy Dodd has done some recent work on the 'force awakens' - fair play.

kind of like wrecked...

[doutoreniorubens · 7/10 · 19 January 2015]

But better. The first half of the Apostate plays like the Adrian Brody movie 'wrecked' - same scenario. Man trapped and is bleeding - no memory of how he got there etc.

But. Halfway through, the film changes and it's quite shocking. There's something not right about 'the man' - then we find out why. Jay Bryhan plays the 'man' very well. A physical performance. It's the script and great direction by Andy Dodd that really pulls it through. We never miss a moment and can feel the 'hopelessness' of the mans' situation.

Terri Dwyer (hollyoaks, loose women) - plays the detective, who we see in flashback, trying to coax the true story from the trapped man. There are a few gory bits (well, it's a horror/thriller) and maybe a few slower moments at the beginning, but it always captivates.

The Apostate. Low budget. But very well done.

Not your ordinary horror flick.

[adgczckrz222 · 7/10 · 16 February 2015]

"Was Lance telling the truth?" is all I could think of when the movie ended. The Apostate takes you through a maze of craziness you'll be having flashbacks about the flashbacks for weeks afterward. Each turn takes the viewer down a different path. I questioned the mind of the writer when Lance eats somebody's stomach for dinner! What kind of sick depraved mind could come up with this stuff? The characters were believable, the gore was disgusting and this viewer was left wishing she'd gotten a "vomit bag" before the movie - oh the 'eye'! My 2 daughters are HUGE horror fans and they loved it. She has a collection of horror films so I know she must be just as sick as Andy Dodd who Directed and wrote this multi-layered horror film. It's too bad this isn't being released generally. Clever and slow-burning.

My Review Of "The Apostate: Call Of The Revenant"

[apostaterevenant · 5 May 2015]

The Apostate turns out to be a powerful, disturbing, thoughtful and thought-provoking study of psychopathic behaviour. The film is highlighted by the fantastic performances of both leads, James Bryhan and Terri Dwyer. The realism and authenticity of both actors deserve some sort of award.It's a brilliant solo performance from Bryhan who convinces utterly as the amnesiac victim of some brutal attacker. Andy Dodd is one of those magnificent film makers who brought Dwyer and Bryhan together and made, for me, absolute movie magic.

The Apostate proved to be a well-crafted film that more than repaid the time I spent watching

James Bryan fantastic!!

[mcnallyfaith · 6 June 2015]

it looks like summit have found a new Ramirez for the Highlander remake, rumoured to be unknown actor James Bryhan. It appears that Tom Cruise has not agreed to taking part has he has other commitments. Bryhan a talented actor and I had the pleasure of watching award winner Andy Dodds The Apostate where he and co-star ,Terri Dwyer gave a fantastic performance which if you get the chance SEE IT!! YOU WON'T BE Disappointed!! It's more thriller than horror, but boy when those gruesome scenes hit, they hit HARD!! Bryhan has made appearances in Red 2, Peaky Blinders and starred in award winner Andy do dd's thriller/horror The Apostate with holly oaks Terri Dwyer.