When my dad sent my sister and me two Netflix trailers and told us to “pick one for a required family movie night,” I did not expect the night to end with my sister covering her eyes and running from the room. Despite my sister and mom not withstanding the duration of Apex, it was—without a doubt—thrilling and one of the most engaging horror movies I have ever seen.
Following Sasha (Charlize Theron), a rock climber and explorer who lost her husband Tommy (Eric Bana) in an avalanche five months ago, the story pieces together her attempt to forget the past. Trekking out to the breathtaking Australian wilderness, Sasha encounters the seemingly friendly Ben (Taron Egerton), whom she met at the gas station the day prior. When her pack goes missing, later to be found in Ben’s shelter, it becomes clear to Sasha that something has gone wrong. Ben returns her pack, but not before declaring his intent to kill her. As Sasha traverses the wilderness with a serial killer tracing her footsteps, she is entering a game of cat-and-mouse to survive.
My major qualm with this movie is not its plot; the concept of a chase in the wilderness between a grief-riddled adrenaline junkie and a serial killer is unique and not typical for a slasher film. However, the execution of unpredictability fell short as the inceptive idea for the film was not furthered in any way. The plot twist of Ben’s intentions came early in the story and was even included in both the trailer and film synopsis, so can it even be considered a twist? No other moments kept me on the edge of my seat, and I kept hoping for a surprise or last-ditch outcome that would make Apex less easy to follow.
Most major plot points can be guessed with little critical thinking, and it was relatively clear throughout the film that everything would be neatly resolved.
However, I am not sure this is inherently an issue.
A film like Apex doesn’t necessarily need shocking plot twists and unpredictability. It does need subtle horror, character development, and scenes that can turn the viewers’ stomachs. In this sense, Apex was phenomenal, mostly due to the standout acting.
Theron and Egerton executed their roles down to the smallest mannerisms of their respective characters and were a large reason the film felt tension-filled. I would make no tweaks to the casting for the two leads; Theron perfectly encapsulates Sasha’s grit, and Egerton’s portrayal of a serial killer was spot-on. Sasha’s growth and portrayal of grief developed her character seamlessly, while Egerton’s nuanced character and story arc even had me pitying him in certain scenes.
Apex is not the type of movie to shock you every other scene. But in other respects, the tension of the film is unparalleled in recent thriller releases. With phenomenal acting, visuals, and character development, Apex was certainly one of my favorite thriller movies I’ve seen this year.
