Movie Review: Apex

Do you ever watch a movie and find yourself yelling, “Get out of there, it’s not safe!”? I do it all the time while watching movies, but in this case, I felt a dreadful crawl up my skin watching Charlize Theron fight against nature to survive a psychotic serial killer with a penchant for weird dances, music, and a thirst for the hunt.

Quick Recap

Sasha and her boyfriend Tommy encounter an avalanche while climbing the Troll Wall in Norway, leading to Tommy’s death. Months later, she decides to travel to Australia to leave Tommy’s things behind, but encounters terrain far deadlier than nature in the form of a hunter, Ben (Taron), who is a serial killer and takes pleasure in hunting his victims.

Eric Bana’s Death

You know I’ll hate you when you decide to kill Bana the first chance you get, and this made Sasha come off as a little selfish, careless, and excessively carefree because when push came to shove, she cut the cord, literally letting Tommy fall to his death. But fine, accidents happen during climbs, so we’ll chalk it up to that.

The Park

Solo travellers have a level of courage that I cannot begin to fathom. Female solo travellers even more. From the first encounter with the bully-like men to Ben’s explanation of the terrain, I felt the creeps and wondered why her sixth sense did not kick in at that moment. For someone who has travelled a lot, you would think Ben’s behaviour would trigger red flags in her mind, but nope.

Even after arriving at the park and running into them there, I thought she would scram, but she was determined and resolved to stay the course. Then we had those insane kayaking rides. I mean, oh my gosh. They looked intimidating, and she has said in multiple interviews that she would not be doing those again.

Taron Egerton

So, we love Taron. I loved him as Eggsy in Kingsman and often wondered why he did not get more recurring roles across streaming platforms and studios, but somehow, he slowed down, and we stopped seeing so much of him. But here’s the thing: he has mostly played good guys in his movies, which is welcoming and even comforting. Now imagine the shock of watching him become a terrifying creep.

The only other creepy performance I can compare this to, though worlds apart, is McAvoy in Split. Again, McAvoy in Split is untouchable. His acting across multiple personalities can never be topped, but Taron brought a devilish energy to APEX.

I had doubts he would pull it off, considering his cute face, but there was nothing cute about him in APEX. Everything was eerie: his manner of speaking, gait, body posture, line delivery, every single thing.

The Dance Scene

You know it’s bad when a killer gives you a time limit based on the duration of a song. From the minute he started talking about beef jerky and offering her something to eat, I was uncomfortable. At first, I thought he had drugged the meal or the water, but finding out he fed her so she would make a worthy hunt made me squirm. And the dance? That dance was devious and maniacal in every way. If I used to love that song, I would stop liking it ASAP.

Surviving

When he took Sasha to that grave, I signed off on her death because how exactly does someone come out of that? But she found his weak point. He talked way too much. And the entire display of the sharpened-down teeth was disgusting. Seeing those bodies hung up there for future dinners had me sick to my stomach. My gosh.

Sasha’s gamble while trying to escape was worth it when she took the risk to break his leg. That right there was strategic because if he cannot move, he cannot pursue her. But then again, they were chained together, which posed a second issue.

That climb uphill was insane, and the fact that Taron decided to do it rather than let his stunt double handle it was applaudable. I would not have dared it.

Generally, survival movies have a pretty straightforward idea: survive. The difference lies in how each movie chooses to present its story, cause, and tension. In this case, Charlize and Taron pair off well in this clash between a serial killer and a solo traveller. They are an unlikely duo, two people I would not have imagined pairing in a movie, but somehow they work well against each other with contrasting acting chops and delivery that made APEX enjoyable.

Summary

APEX is a tense survival thriller that pairs breathtaking wilderness danger with a deeply unsettling serial killer, elevated by Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton’s intense performances.

What begins as a grief-driven solo trip quickly spirals into a nightmare when Sasha finds herself trapped in the Australian wilderness with a serial killer who treats hunting people like sport. APEX blends survival thriller elements with psychological horror, creating an atmosphere that feels tense, eerie, and deeply uncomfortable from start to finish.

Charlize Theron delivers a strong performance as Sasha, balancing vulnerability with resilience, while Taron Egerton shocks in a role far removed from his usual charming characters. His portrayal of Ben is disturbing in the best way possible, from his mannerisms to his unsettling calmness and bizarre dance sequences that somehow make the entire situation even creepier.

The film works because it keeps the danger grounded. There are no supernatural twists, just nature, fear, and a man who enjoys the chase far too much. While the story follows familiar survival movie beats, the chemistry between the leads and the growing dread make it gripping to watch.

Dark, uncomfortable, and suspenseful, APEX succeeds as a survival thriller that keeps you anxious long after the credits roll.