REVIEW: ‘Apex’ Is Your Typical Cat-And-Mouse Thriller

High-stakes adventures always pose a risk, but what happens when that risk comes in the form of a serial killer? Apex (2026), directed by Baltasar Kormákur and written by Jeremy Robbins, certainly runs as fast as it can with that concept. But it’s not entirely successful at being more than predictable.

Apex (2026) follows Sasha (Charlize Theron), a grieving thrill-seeker, looking to be alone in the Australian wilderness. Unfortunately, her attempt is stifled when a serial killer forces her to play a cat-and-mouse game. Survival thrillers and horror films can be effective because characters are left to rely on their own instincts, especially when the film takes place in the ruthless environment of the wilderness. In Kormákur’s film, it becomes more cliché, with scattered ideas.

The film begins with Sasha and her lover, Tommy (Eric Bana), on their latest adventure on Troll Wall in Norway. Everything goes sideways when they’re scaling the wall again, and Tommy tragically meets his demise due to the disastrous weather conditions. Thus presenting us with the reason for Sasha’s grief.

Apex reveals Sasha’s backstory, which leads her into dangerous territory. 

Despite her grief, Sasha is quite independent and doesn’t back down in the face of a challenge. And those aspects of her character aid her throughout her unexpected peril throughout the film. 

Sasha’s first meeting with Ben (Taron Egerton) is relatively smooth, considering they’re in a public area. It isn’t until Ben follows her out to the wilderness that the nightmare begins. Rather than outright trying to kill Sasha, Ben plays his own games by secretly stealing her things and eventually offering to let her borrow some of his gear.

Egerton’s commitment to building up to Ben’s unsettling behavior helps create an uneasy atmosphere. We’re aware that he’s bad news, but Sasha doesn’t clue in until it’s too late, and she has to flee. The scene when the mask fully drops, and he instructs her to get far away before “Go” by The Chemical Brothers stops playing over the portable speaker, is thrilling.

Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton deliver strong performances despite a weak script.

Though, even with the pulse-pounding moments and unsettling realization that Ben is well-seasoned in murder, Apex makes a lot of predictable narrative choices. From Sasha’s backstory, to the dangerous decision of making it known to strangers that you’re traveling alone and will be in a secluded area, and how the film ultimately plays out in the end. Especially in the latter half of Apex, where you know that she’ll likely survive her circumstances.

The performances by Theron and Egerton help when the script is lacking. Their understanding of where their characters’ heads are at helps make for some intense moments. All of which are necessary since the film is a survival action thriller. Though, unfortunately, neither Theron nor Egerton can entirely save the film from the puzzling as well as paint-by-numbers writing. 

Despite what works, Apex ends up another middle-of-the-road thriller for Netflix.

Apex is certainly not a horrific time, and it isn’t an insult to survival thrillers of its kind. It’s mainly paint-by-numbers. However, the striking visuals, some creepy shots, good performances, and an incredibly unhinged serial killer as the villain help Apex be watchable. But if all of those aspects were taken away, there wouldn’t be much else to cling to.

Apex is a middle-of-the-road experience that doesn’t require repeat viewing to grasp the themes or the film in its entirety. For those who want to see Theron in perilous situations and Egerton play a gleeful serial killer, you’re on the right adventure. If you want more from a survival thriller, you’re not missing anything if you choose to skip. 

Apex premieres on Netflix on April 24, 2026.