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Top, new Survival movie From director Baltasar Kormakur, his debut Netflix Friday. Movie stars Charlize Theron As Sasha, a grief-stricken woman who, after a predictable accident on a mountain, travels to Australia to find closure. Once there, she finds herself engaged in a stressful game of cat and mouse as she is pursued by a ruthless local named Ben (played by Taron Egerton).
There are a lot of things the film could have explored in its roughly 90-minute running time, especially regarding loss and abandonment. Unfortunately, everything is superficial and without depth. It’s frustrating, but at least this deck looks cool.
Let’s step back for a minute and discuss the opening moments of the film. We quickly meet Sasha, who wakes up in a tent tied to the side of a mountain. This is normal life for her and her husband Tommy (played by Eric Bana), and it’s understandable that the couple does a lot of rock climbing. But Sasha reaches a rocky side that she can’t climb, and out of frustration, they stay on the side of the mountain for too long.
All the while, a blizzard is approaching.
Maybe I watch too much Disaster moviesBut the story developed in a predictable way from there. Due to the rockslide and bad weather conditions, Tommy is knocked unconscious (or killed instantly) and Sasha must either give up his rope or die with him.
This is a cover by Eric Bana.
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Eric Bana stars in Apex.
This opening scene took place in just a few minutes, which, in my opinion, was nowhere near enough time to establish the emotional connection between the two characters that would then inspire her to take a solo trip into the wilderness of Australia. But we all deal with grief differently, I think.
Needless to say, once she gets there, Sasha finds herself in a situation she was not prepared for. Red flags abound across the wall crowded with missing persons posters at the local police station and a group of suspicious men she soon meets during her camping trip in an unfamiliar area.
And this is where the seemingly harmless Ben Egerton enters the picture. Soon Apex turns into something of a horror movie, and Ben (along with his trusty crossbow) chases the American deep into the woods, because that’s what he does to pass the time.
That’s all you really need to know about the story. I’ll leave some heavy spoilers so you can figure out what direction the film takes from there.
Taron Egerton and Charlize Theron star in Apex.
I take no pleasure in writing a negative review. Firstly, I fully understand how difficult it is to make a film. Not to mention, Apex was shot entirely on location; Theron and Egerton have run through the Australian bush and battled on all types of terrain, from mountain sides to whitewater rapids.
Theron has done many of her own stunts and has been reasonably trained to portray a rock climber, and she’s certainly succeeded on that front. This focus on realism in the field results in a wealth of stunning images that are worth seeing on the big screen. But unfortunately, Apex is a streaming version.
Still, all of this is commendable, considering how many Netflix titles are produced entirely on soundstages in front of a blue screen, with digital effects added later to build the story world. But I can’t help but feel that the focus on concrete details here came at the expense of the emotional depth that a story like this needs.
Apex relies heavily on the acting talents of its leads, and Theron and Egerton undoubtedly deliver the goods. Without their strengths opposing each other, I don’t think Apex would be worth the time at all. This may be Theron’s movie, but Egerton steals the show. More about him in a second.
Charlize Theron stars in Apex.
When you take a look at Theron’s IMDb page, it’s clear that her acting career has been filled with a variety of roles. She could hold her own in an indie comedy, an artsy drama, a Marvel blockbuster, and even Arrested Development. She brings a haunted stillness to Sasha, demonstrating the strength of the character without spoon-feeding the audience.
All she has to do is stand and stare at Egerton and her silence speaks volumes. Without a lot of dialogue, it easily makes for a rooting entry point that the viewer can connect with.
Meanwhile, Egerton insists Ben is terrible. He is Hannibal Lecter who lives in the isolated forest, and he has his own unique recipe. It should be noted that Egerton is British, and speaks with a semi-reasonable Australian accent, which is no easy feat. There are a host of other terrifying quirks that make Ben scary, on the same level, at times, as Norman Bates. You can tell Egerton is having fun playing this character. I enjoyed watching it.
However, shows can only take things so far. Aside from the chemistry between Theron and Egerton, the stunning visuals, and the strong camera work, Apex is somewhat hollow. It’s sad to write this, considering the idea that this is a story about loss, grief, and survival.
I wouldn’t say that Apex isn’t worth your time. If you want some empty-calorie horror to get you through the weekend, you can find it here. Just don’t expect much more than that.