Castle Falls is a 2021 American action film starring and directed by Dolph Lundgren. It was produced by Lundgren with Andre Relis and Craig Baumgarten. The film co-stars Scott Adkins, Jim Chandler, Kim Delonghi, Dave Halls, Scott Hunter, Robert Berlin and Lundgren's real life daughter Ida Lundgren.
Contents
Plot
Former MMA fighter Mike Wade works on the demolition crew for Castle Heights Hospital, an abandoned facility scheduled to be blown up in just a few hours. The crumbling building hides $3 million in cash stashed away by a now-imprisoned gang leader who intended to retrieve it one day.
Mike discovers the money and decides to take it. Richard Ericson, a corrections officer whose daughter is battling cancer, also learns of the money’s location. Richard heads to the hospital to secure the cash before the building comes down.
The gang that originally hid the money sends a team of armed men to recover the loot before the place is leveled. Mike and Richard cross paths and realize they must work together to survive.
With only 90 minutes left before the demolition, the two unlikely allies navigate the maze-like corridors, fend off attackers, and make tough decisions in a brutal race against time to escape the building alive with or without the money.
Eventually Mike fights Deacon on the rooftop of the building and severely beats him, leaving him writhing on the ground and unable to move. He jumps in a vehicle driven by Ericson as the 90 minutes ran out;the building is detonated, leaving Deacon to die. Deacon's men also die in the climax.
Ericson uses his share of the money to pay for his daughter's medical treatment, while Mike finds a renewed sense of purpose and hope for the future.
Cast
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 Ericson
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
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 stumbles upon the cash.
Release
Theatrical
The film had a limited release in the United States on December 3, 2021.
Home media
It was released on Blu-ray and video on demand on December 28, 2021.
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.
Debopriyaa Dutta of Screen Rant gave the film a positive review and rated it 2.5 stars out of 5 stars. She wrote, "Sporting skilled choreographed action sequences, Castle Falls offers a mildly satisfying viewing experience despite a weak and muddled storyline". Jacob Walker of Starburst rated the film 3 out of 5 rating and praised the film's thrills, decent action and the chemistry of Lundgren and Adkins: "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".
Phil Hoad of The Guardian gave the film a rating of 3 out of 5 and wrote, "Dolph Lundgren and Scott Adkins make a fine odd couple in this meatily satisfying action film - once it gets moving".