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]

Castle Falls
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDolph 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 byShout! 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]

Plot

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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

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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. This original synopsis can still be seen on some streaming services.

Cast

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  • Dolph Lundgren as Richard Ericson
  • Scott Adkins as Mike Wade
  • Jim Chandler as Foreman
  • Kim Delonghi as Kat
  • Dave Halls as Vince
  • Kevin Wayne as James
  • Scott Hunter as Deacon Glass
  • Luke Hawx as Inmate #2
  • Billy Culbertson as Inmate / Busted Lip
  • Leslie Sides as Mayor's Assistant
  • Melanie Jeffcoat as Doctor
  • Ida Lundgren as Emily
  • Evan Elise Owens as Cop
  • Justin B. Wooten as Duke
  • Bill Billions as Walsh
  • Evan Dane Taylor as Fighter
  • Eric Gray as Lando
  • Meagan Bown as News Reporter
  • Robert Berlin as Damian Glass
  • Vas Sanchez as George
  • Alicia Roye as George's Wife
  • Meg Deusner as Social Worker
  • Nathan Harris as Construction worker
  • Ethan Melisano as MMA Fighter
  • Samuel Puccio as MMA Coach
  • A. Todd Baker as Mayor Lloyd Holmes
  • Hassel Kromer as Construction worker
  • Edward Hall as Security Guard
  • Bruce Cooper as Mayor's Security
  • Kourtney Harper
  • Derrick Goodman Jr. as Prisoner

Release

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Theatrical

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

Home media

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

Reception

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Critical response

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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]

References

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  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.
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