{{short description|2021 American action film directed by Dolph Lundgren}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Castle Falls | image = Castle Falls.jpeg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Dolph Lundgren | writer = Andrew Knauer | producer = {{Plainlist| * Andre Relis * Dolph Lundgren * Craig Baumgarten }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Dolph Lundgren * Scott Adkins * Jim Chandler * Kim Delonghi * Dave Halls * Scott Hunter * Robert Berlin * Ida Lundgren }} | cinematography = Frances Chen | editing = Matthew Lorentz | music = David Rosengren | studio = {{Plainlist| * Bondlt Media Capital * Buffalo 8 Productions * VMI Worldwide * Verdi Productions * Wonder Street * Yale Productions }} | distributor = Shout! Factory<ref>{{cite web|title=Castle Falls - Blu-ray :: Shout! Factory |url=https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/castle-falls?product_id=7740}}</ref> | released = {{Film date|2021|12|03}} | runtime = 89 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $4 million | gross = $2,643<ref>{{cite web|title=Castle Falls (2021) |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Castle-Falls-(2021)#tab=summary |website=The Numbers |access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref> }}
'''''Castle Falls''''' is a 2021 American action film starring and directed by Dolph Lundgren.<ref>{{cite web |title=Castle Falls - VMI Worldwide |url=http://vmiworldwide.com/index.php/titles/detail/?id=5b9c4ce1-60cb-e911-949e-0e563b5fb261 |access-date=2021-12-06 |archive-date=2021-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110070752/http://vmiworldwide.com/index.php/titles/detail/?id=5b9c4ce1-60cb-e911-949e-0e563b5fb261 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was produced by Lundgren with Andre Relis and Craig Baumgarten.<ref>{{cite web|title=Castle Falls (2022) |url=https://www.defiant-ent.com/product/castle-falls/}}</ref> The film co-stars Scott Adkins, Jim Chandler, Kim Delonghi, Dave Halls, Scott Hunter, Robert Berlin and Lundgren's real life daughter Ida Lundgren.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ritman |first=Alex |title=Berlin: Global Buyers Fall for Dolph Lundgren's 'Castle Falls' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/berlin-global-buyers-fall-dolph-lundgrens-castle-falls-1280601/ |website=Hollywood Reporter |date=February 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=our films - Verdi films |url=https://www.verdifilms.com/feed}}</ref>
==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== {{div col}} * 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 * 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 {{div col end}}
==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.{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}
==Release== ===Theatrical=== The film had a limited release in the United States on December 3, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last= Arnold |first=Justin |title=Shout! Sets Dec. 3 Theatrical, Digital Release for Action Thriller 'Castle Falls' |url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/shout-sets-dec-3-theatrical-digital-release-for-action-thriller-castle-falls/ |website=www.mediaplaynews.com |date=October 6, 2021}}</ref>
===Home media=== It was released on Blu-ray and video on demand on December 28, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Castle Falls Blu-ray |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Castle-Falls-Blu-ray/303468/}}</ref>
==Reception== ===Critical response=== {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|88|5.50|8}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Castle Falls - RT |website=Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/castle_falls}}</ref>
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".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dutta |first=Debopriyya |date=December 3, 2021 |title=Castle Falls Review: Well-Crafted Action Thriller Lacks Narrative Clarity |url=https://screenrant.com/castle-falls-2021-movie-reviews/ |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Walker |first=Jacob |date=December 3, 2021 |title=CASTLE FALLS |url=https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/castle-falls/ |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=Starburst}}</ref>
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".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hoad |first=Phil |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Castle Falls review – Dolph Lundgren puts on his specs and flexes his pecs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/dec/13/castle-falls-review-dolph-lundgren-scott-adkins |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|11377298}}
{{Dolph Lundgren}}
Category:2021 films Category:2021 action films Category:2021 American films Category:2021 English-language films Category:2020s prison films Category:American films about revenge Category:American action films Category:American prison films Category:English-language action films Category:Films about father–daughter relationships Category:Films about orphans Category:Films directed by Dolph Lundgren Category:Films set in Alabama Category:Films set in hospitals