US EditionThis Netflix outback thriller can’t quite escape its own clichés
Charlize Theron plays a grieving climber who is hunted by Taron Egerton’s killer in a 95-minute survival thriller, Netflix said.
- Netflix debuted the survival thriller Apex on Friday, April 24, 2026, starring Charlize Theron as a grieving climber stalked through the Australian outback by Taron Egerton in a 95-minute cat-and-mouse chase.
- Five months after her partner Tommy died in a tragic accident on Norway's Troll Wall, Sasha travels to Australia seeking solitude in nature, unaware of the danger awaiting her.
- Sasha encounters Ben, a friendly local who offers assistance, only to reveal sadistic motives and force her into a lethal game with a crossbow. Egerton balances rough-edged charm with off-putting humor and psychological menace.
- Director Baltasar Kormakur emphasizes visceral, CGI-free stunts, showcasing Theron's athleticism as she navigates treacherous Blue Mountains landscapes. The production leans into survival-thriller conventions established by films like Wolf Creek and The River Wild.
- Egerton's portrayal required significant effort, with the actor noting, "It's the hardest accent I've ever done," after working with dialect coach Felicity. Critics have noted Kormakur's expertise in nature-survival thrillers positions Apex as a showcase for both leads.
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11 Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
This Netflix outback thriller can’t quite escape its own clichés
At least Taron Egerton is doing a decent Australian accent.
'Apex' Is A Mostly-OK Action Flick Elevated By Charlize Theron
NetflixHanging from the ominously named Troll Wall rockface in Norway, Sasha (Charlize Theron) struggles to hold up the weight of her unconscious husband (Eric Bana), dodging chunks of ice as they hurtle down from the precipice above. “Tommy, wake up!” she yells. “You’re dragging us off the mountain!” Right off the bat, this prologue sets the tone for a thriller where the action is convincingly perilous, but the dialogue leaves much to be desire…
‘Apex’ Review: Woman Is the Most Dangerous Game in Charlize Theron’s Threadbare Netflix Thriller
It’s nice to know that some tried-and-true movie rules have survived the streaming resolution. For example: If two or more people are climbing a mountain together in the first scene of a film, at least one of them won’t live to see the title card (see: “Cliffhanger,” “Vertical Limit,” “The Living Daylights,” etc.). So it goes in Baltasar Kormákur’s “Apex,” a rope-thin but gnarly enough Netflix thriller that opens with Sasha (Charlize Theron) and…
‘Apex’ Review: Charlize Theron Faces Punishing Rock Climbs, Treacherous Rapids and Psychotic Taron Egerton in Crackling Survival Thriller
An adrenaline junkie’s Australian wilderness journey turns ugly when she’s hunted by a serial killer in Baltasar Kormákur’s Netflix original, also featuring Eric Bana.
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