“With every slipped finger or missed ledge you feel yourself holding your breath“

Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur is no stranger to a good survival thriller, having brought us in the past films such as Everest, Adrift, Beast, Icelandic thriller The Deep. The common theme with these films is that they push their protagonists to the extreme limit against nature.

Baltasar’s latest action thriller Apex has just landed on Netflix and throws both Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton deep into the Australian wilderness. In the fictional National Park Wandarra Sasha (Theron) and Ben (Egerton) have to survive each other in a dangerous game of cat and mouse and test their survival skills in the harsh jungle. 

Charlize Theron has been open about how much fun she had whilst filming, even saying in one interview “This movie was truly my favourite movie that I’ve ever made” 

And it’s not hard to imagine why. This looks like it’s by far Theron’s most athletically challenging film production to date, with rock climbing, hiking and river rafting through some beautiful but extreme terrain.

Theron even does a big part of the actual rock climbing in the film herself, having trained with professional rock climber Beth Rodden before production. This comes through in Theron’s acting as her character Sasha shows so much determination to not only survive but also get through her recent tragic loss. So much determination that the audience are glued with her on her journey. 

Taron Egerton plays the local Ben who, like Sasha, is there for the thrill, though their definition of thrill might differ slightly. Egerton plays his character well even for the lack of his character backstory in the script. Granted, sometimes the backstory is left out to add to a character’s mystery. I do however demand an answer to the same question Sasha asks Ben in the film, and that’s where on earth did he get his dentist?

If you are a fan of the indie horror thriller The Descent, then this film will be right up your alley. It follows a very similar plotline, though it never delves too much into the horror that left those with claustrophobia gasping for air—APEX is out in the open and switches that claustrophobia for acrophobia instead.

The cinematography in the climbing sequences throughout is excellent, they really manage to give you a good idea of how high up you are. As some shots make you feel as if you are peaking over the edge yourself, so with every slipped finger or missed ledge you feel yourself holding your breath.

But it’s not just about the fun thrills of the high climbs or dangerous rivers, we are also given a glimpse into some of the real dangers for women travelling by themselves. Which ends up being the case for Sasha as the film continues and she takes advice from the local Ben who has his own agenda. The more we get to know Ben, the more sinister the film becomes. 

Sasha, realising the dangerous situation she is in, just like a climber, manages to keep her cool and focus while navigating through the jungle and planning her next move. She is resourceful and acts quickly, which is refreshing, as the cliché with ‘the most dangerous game’ films is that the lead is often very helpless at the start. But Sasha is not helpless, which makes it more believable when she starts playing Ben’s game. Having said that (and I am by no means an expert) but would you really pack your jeans for this kind of trip? I was astonished that Sasha managed all she did in her jeans. 

The score is made by Högni Egilsson who has worked with Baltasar on numerous occasions in the past, such as the recent TV- series King & Conqueror,  the feature film Touch and the Netflix series Katla. The score does a good job at enhancing the danger of the jungle whilst Sasha is running from her predator. Högni also manages to underline the beauty of nature in the in-between moments, helping the audience to catch their breaths. But as good as Högni’s score is, I’m afraid that the Chemical Brothers song ‘GO’ stole the scene. Taron Egerton’s dance scene while playing the Chemical brothers song has already become iconic. 

Charlize Theron and Baltasar Kormákur have already teamed up together again for a new film, a book adaptation ‘Six clean Kills’. Seeing how well they worked together on Apex I’m sure that one will be a blast as well. 

If you are looking for a nice popcorn thrill to watch at home I would recommend Apex.

APEX is out now on Netflix globally