Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton clash in the Australian wilderness in APEX, a pulse-pounding, twisted cat-and-mouse thriller you can’t miss.
When I sat down to watch APEX, the new Netflix action-thriller arriving this Friday, April 24th, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Directed by Baltasar Kormákur – a filmmaker who has already proven himself with captivating survival stories like Everest and Adrift – the film promised a high-stakes game of cat and mouse set against the rugged, unforgiving backdrop of the Australian wilderness. After spending ninety minutes in this world, I can confidently say that while it isn’t without its frustrating flaws, APEX is an absolute blast.
The film stars Charlize Theron as Sasha, a grieving woman seeking solitude in the outback, and Taron Egerton as Ben, the man who quickly transforms her retreat into a nightmare. To be completely honest, the film takes a little while to get going. The first act is heavy on setup, focusing on Sasha’s emotional state and her background as a risk-taking survivalist. While it felt slow in the moment, looking back, I appreciate the foundation Kormákur built. We needed to know who Sasha was before we could truly appreciate the physical and mental gauntlet she is about to be put through.
Once the setup is out of the way, the second and third acts explode with intensity. My heart was genuinely pounding for the majority of the middle of the movie. APEX is at its absolute best when it narrows its focus down to just Sasha and Ben, turning the Australian wilderness into a claustrophobic cage despite its vastness.
The standout performance – and the one that really anchors the film’s twisted energy – is Taron Egerton. He plays Ben with a terrifying, unhinged glee. From the very first moment we meet him, there is a sinister undercurrent to his helpful demeanor.
He is a total wild card: volatile, deeply disturbed, and clearly harboring some severe underlying issues that make his descent into hunter mode all the more chilling. It is genuinely impressive to watch him lean into such a dark, chaotic role.
Charlize Theron, as always, is brilliant. She makes Sasha an inspiring, capable survivor, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the “yell at your screen” moments. Sasha is a seasoned survivalist, yet she occasionally makes choices so bafflingly foolish that they reminded me of those classic horror movie tropes where a character runs upstairs instead of out the front door.
At times, these decisions were undeniably frustrating, but I had to remind myself that if she made the perfectly logical choice every single time, this would be a very short movie. The absurdity of these moments actually adds to the thrill, keeping the tension dialed up to an eleven.
APEX is taken to the next level by gorgeous cinematography that makes New South Wales look both breathtaking and utterly lethal. There were moments of genuine, gnarly brutality that forced me to cover my eyes – this is not a film for the faint of heart.
Eric Bana also appears in a supporting role at the start. While his screen time is limited, he is excellent when he’s there, acting as the perfect catalyst for the chaos that follows.
My only real gripe is the pacing toward the very end. The film stretches out its conclusion a bit too much, attempting to provide closure that arguably wasn’t needed. For a ninety-minute movie, it shouldn’t drag, but this final segment felt slightly over-extended. Despite that minor stumble, APEX is a twisted, captivating thrill ride.
It’s a showcase for two incredible actors who clearly had a lot of fun pushing each other to the limit. By the time the credits rolled, I found myself legitimately wishing for a prequel. I want to know more about Ben – who he was before the events of this film and exactly what led him to become such a cold-blooded predator. If you’re looking for a pulse-pounding, high-tension watch this weekend, APEX is exactly what you need.
About APEX
A grieving woman testing her limits in the Australian wilderness is suddenly ensnared in a deadly game with a ruthless predator.
APEX starts streaming on Netflix April 24th.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.