PR in the Philippines

(SeaPRwire) –   Suspended from Norway’s treacherous Troll Wall, Sasha (Charlize Theron) fights to support the weight of her unconscious husband, Eric Bana, while dodging falling ice. “Tommy, wake up!” she screams. “You’re dragging us off the mountain!” This opening sequence immediately establishes a thriller defined by intense, realistic action, even if the dialogue feels somewhat lackluster.

Director Baltasar Kormákur is a veteran of survival cinema, having helmed The Deep, Adrift, and the climbing drama Everest, as well as the more far-fetched Beast. While these films aren’t typically categorized as high art, Kormákur excels at outdoor action, grounding his latest Netflix project, Apex, in the gritty realities of kayaking and extreme rock climbing.

Penned by Jeremy Robbins (The Purge), Apex follows climber Sasha as she treks through the Australian wilderness, still reeling from her near-death experience in Norway. Entering a beautiful but lethal national park, she brushes off the warnings posted on a wall of missing persons flyers. Whether she is overconfident or courting danger, she is unprepared for the reality of her situation: instead of just battling the elements, she is being hunted by a serial killer (Taron Egerton) who stalks campers.

Known for heroic, lighter roles in films like Kingsman: The Secret Service and Rocketman, Egerton takes a dark turn here as a sadist who exploits Sasha’s vulnerability as a solo female traveler. The film’s most compelling tension arises from this dynamic, particularly when Sasha is harassed by aggressive hunters at a convenience store. Their patronizing “help” and predatory undertones provide a tense introduction to the dangers she faces.

When these men refuse to leave her alone, Ben (Egerton) intervenes, posing as a friendly hiker who defends Sasha. However, it soon becomes clear that his “respect” for her is twisted; he views her as the ultimate target in his ritualistic human hunts.

The premise echoes the viral “man or bear” internet debate, which questions whether women would rather encounter a man or a bear in the woods. With many social media users choosing the bear, the discourse highlights deep-seated concerns regarding male violence. In Apex—a title referencing both mountain summits and Ben’s self-perception as an “apex predator”—the man is undeniably the greater threat.

Sasha is right to distrust the sleazy hunters and wrong to trust Ben’s charming facade. Both encounters illustrate how sexism puts her at risk, from the men who doubt her capabilities to her own tendency to ignore safety warnings from local rangers.

Theron leans into her reputation for physically demanding roles, spending much of the film climbing and paddling for survival, while Egerton delivers a menacing, intense performance. Unlike many streaming action films that feel like mere paychecks, both leads are fully committed. This dedication saves Apex, as the script falters during quieter moments—such as when Ben attempts to justify his murderous habits with a bizarre Freudian reference to his mother.

While Apex may not reach the peak of Theron’s action filmography, it is a solid streaming release that improves upon recent genre disappointments. The production team clearly understands the assignment, focusing on authentic stunts to tell a story that serves as a dark parody of the worst-case scenario for solo hikers.

Beyond the more outlandish aspects of Ben’s traps, the film creates a thematic bridge between the two leads. Both are obsessed with testing their limits and defying conventional safety. Isolated from society, they become evenly matched adversaries, using their strength and survival skills to prove their dominance.

Apex premieres on Netflix April 24.