Netflix is set to premiere its latest survival actioner, Apex, on April 24. In this Apex Review, we dive into a story that trades superhuman strength for raw, visceral survival. While Charlize Theron is known for playing invincible icons, this film presents a much more grounded and terrifying stakes-driven narrative.
A Departure from the Action Icon Archetype
If there's one thing Charlize Thary knows how to do, it's pack a punch. Her filmography is defined by characters that are nearly impossible to stop:
- Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, who went toe-to-toe with heavy hitters.
- Lorraine in Atomic Blonde, the MI6 agent famous for her brutal, single-take fight scenes.
- The formidable leads in The Old Guard and the Fast and Furious franchises.
In Apex, Theron takes a somewhat softer approach to her character, Sasha. She isn't an immortal warrior or a highly-trained fighter; she is simply a thrill-seeking outdoorswoman. While she pushes herself through perilous climbs and intense kayaking, her lack of combat training makes the danger feel much more real.
High Stakes in the Australian Wilderness
The film opens with high tension on Norway's Troll Wall, the tallest vertical rock face in Europe. Sasha is scaling the heights with her husband, Tommy (played by Eric Bana), whose lack of confidence and worsening weather lead to a devastating climax. Director Baltasar Kormákur utilizes the immersive camerawork he perfected in 2015's Everest to make this sequence truly nail-biting.
The story then shifts to Australia, where Sasha seeks solace in the fictional Wandarra National Park. Theron delivers a powerful, stoic performance, capturing the profound grief of her character. However, the landscape holds more than just solitude:
- A park ranger warns of people disappearing in the area.
- Screenwriter Jeremy Robbins plants seeds of dread through missing persons flyers and unsettling locals.
- A terrifying predator emerges from the shadows of the bush.
The tension peaks when Sasha realizes she has been lured into a trap by Ben, played by Taron Egematron. In a departure from his role in Legend, Egerton plays an Aussie backwoodsman who oscillates between unsettling sweetness and pure savagery. It doesn't take long to realize his goal is to hunt Sasha for sport.
Impeccable Stunts and Visceral Visuals
The action sequences in this Apex Review highlight some of the most impressive stuntwork seen recently. Theron performs a significant amount of her own work, including navigating turbulent river rapids while handcuffed. The physical struggle to escape Ben's traps across rock faces and dense forests is intensely exhausting to watch.
Cinematographer Lawrence Sher does an incredible job capturing the Blue Mountain region where the film was largely shot. From shadowy nights to pink-tinged skies, the visuals are breathtaking. Ultimately, this Apex Review finds that while brute strength won't save Sasha, her quick-thinking intellect will. It is a wild ride that cements Theron as one of cinema's most versatile stars.
