This film was recommended to me and from the film's poster, I could tell that this wasn't going to be a mind blowing movie. Be that as it may, I was searching for a film to pass the time with and this was a good fit.
One thing I can say is that I had no outstanding regrets after seeing the film and this counts for something. Without further ado, let me introduce you to the film “Apex”.
Apex is a 2026 survival action thriller film, directed by Baltasar Kormákur and written by Jeremy Robbins. The film stars stellar casts like Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, Eric Baba and Caitlin Stacey.
The movie is a straight to the point type of movie with a runtime of 95 minutes. The movie was released on the 24th of April, 2026, streaming exclusively on Netflix.
Theron, plays Sasha, a grieving mountain climber who heads out for a kind of personal reckoning on the mountains, hoping to reconnect with the wild and in a way, with herself. While on this journey, she stops for directions at a gas station and crosses parts with a very friendly, kind and warm local, Ben. He points her towards what he calls a hidden gem campsite.
It will not surprise you to learn that Ben is not exactly who he presents himself to be and because she crosses paths with him, Sasha's peaceful solo trip through the wilderness turns into something very dangerous. Now Sasha is forced to fight for her life amidst her grief.
I'd like to start with the character Sasha who climbs very dangerous mountains for fun. I know many people do some scary things for fun but once I was introduced to Sasha and her very interesting hobby, the question that kept running through my mind was "what if she falls?". For someone who hasn't yet conquered her fear of height, Sasha's hobby seemed like an exhilarating but also disturbing one. To think that Theron did most of the stunts without a stunt double made the film somewhat more captivating.
Taron Egerton is the other half of the equation. From previous movies I've seen him feature in, he plays the charming gentleman, so watching him lean into something genuinely unsettling comes with a shock.
The film explores themes such as grief, survival and exploration.
Apex is a structurally familiar film. If you've seen any movie where a person is being hunted through the wilderness before, you'd be familiar with and even recognize Apex’s emotional beats, the ominous warnings, the slow reveal of the villain and eventually the climax where the power dynamics flip.
One aspect of the movie that made me raise an eyebrow was the pursuit scene towards the end. The geography of the chase was muddled, and it seems like the pursuit was stretched longer than it should have been
Also, the stories behind the characters' motives aren't fully explored. Viewers are given very little details and then nothing more. I feel like the movie would have been a tad bit better if certain motives and emotions were properly explored.
I'd give this film 3 out of five stars. It's not a masterpiece but it's a genuinely well-crafted, intense and physically impressive piece of entertainment carried by two performers who gave it everything they've got.
If you're looking for a thriller to pass the time with or you're a fan on any of the two main characters, then this would be a good watch for you.
