Apex
A taut, terrifying serial killer thriller blended with a wilderness survival tale in stunning Australian locations, APEX isn't quite the predator it wants to be, but it's got some serious teeth.
As the film opens, we meet Sasha (Charlize Theron) and her husband Tommy (Eric Bana) in the middle of an incredible climb. They are attempting to reach the peak of the Troll Wall, the highest vertical face in Norway.
Wrapped in an approaching blizzard, Sasha pushes them forward, far past Tommy's comfort level. Tragedy strikes.
Fast forward to Sasha on a solo excursion in the sun baked Australian countryside.
She's on a personal quest, withdrawn from the world and people, preferring the solitary adventure. It's obvious she is still just as driven as she was on that Norway climb, trying to prove something to herself.
Sasha targets the most treacherous river and sets out on her own, but not before she's met some threatening locals that seem more dangerous than any of those killer animals in the bush.
Local man Ben (Taron Egerton) manages to intervene and get the restless mob away from Sasha as she heads out on her wilderness trek.
What follows is a taut, well shot adventure that combines all the ferocity of the Australian landscape, stunning rivers with fast rapids and deep dark caves that hide plenty of secrets.
Ben is no ordinary local. He's a twisted, sociopathic killer who's killed a lot of tourists that wander into his realm. But in Sasha, he's met his physical match, a woman who's already suffered enormous loss and puts it all on the line to survive.
Egerton (Rocketman, Kingsman) is terrific as Ben. Packed with explosive outbursts, deadly charm and gruesome fates for his victims, Egerton carves out a very scary character. His lair is probably the scariest one I've seen since Kurt Russell faced off against his adversaries in 2015's "Bone Tomahawk". Egerton improvised a lot of the loud noises and sudden outbursts on set, keeping his co-star and director on edge. It's effective and terrifying.
Theron matches Egerton as Sasha, conveying all the terror that we're feeling as Ben peels off layer after layer of his socially acceptable facade to reveal the literal monster waiting beneath. She trained for many months with professional climbers and it shows. I never understood the desire so many have to hang off the side of a mountain, but it looks fantastic on film.
The Australian settings are stunning. We visited The Blue Mountains of Katoomba in New South Wales earlier this year and the sheer size and spectacle of a Grand Canyon like forest was jaw dropping. The production team puts the scenery to excellent use throughout.
While some of the film falls into survival cliches and familiar territory, Egerton and the cave where he becomes his true self unexpectedly elevates the terror. I wanted out of there just as much as Sasha.
Action sequences, stunts and editing are first rate and Icelandic Director Baltasar Kormakur delivers a stylish thriller that hums quickly through its sleek, 95 minute running time.
Not for the squeamish, APEX delivers plenty of bloody thrills it's treacherous path. I'll give it a B-.
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