To be frank, my expectations for Netflix Original Movies aren’t particularly high. However, I find myself curious about APEX due to its cast. The last film featuring Charlize Theron was the dreadful The Old Guard 2, so I thought it couldn’t possibly be worse than that. On the flip side, Taron Edgerton has starred in some intriguing films, making them an interesting duo. Eric Bana‘s role as Sasha’s mountaineering boyfriend is largely underutilized, as he meets his end within the first 10 minutes of the movie.

Fast forward a few months, and the still-mourning Sasha leaves Norway for the Blue Mountains in Australia. In no time, she encounters some creepy hunters but is rescued by a seemingly kind-hearted guy named Ben (Edgerton), who ultimately turns out to be a psychopath hunting her as part of a sick ritual in the wilderness. Apex serves as a testament to Charlize’s physical prowess, as I learned that she performed most of her own stunts, including all the climbing scenes.

I’m not one for the outdoors, especially when she’s been warned that many people have disappeared in this dangerous region. Watching Sasha camp and kayak alone makes me queasy. Strangely, there’s not a single scary animal around while the characters are in the woods. No kangaroos, wild dogs, bats, snakes, or spiders? That’s hard to believe in a place known for having a lot of dangerous creatures.

The visuals are impressive, though; the cinematography by Lawrence Sher stands out as one of the film’s greatest strengths. Shot in New South Wales, the vast and expansive landscapes give us a good sense of scale and visual authenticity. The sound design is quite effective as well, occasionally highlighting a heartbeat sound to underscore the protagonist’s physical and emotional condition.

Charlize convincingly portrays a person capable of enduring such a horrifying ordeal, although I think she could’ve easily taken out Ben much more swiftly. Her character is a bit closed off and expressionless, but that’s likely how she’s written. Taron relishes playing a feral, deranged maniac; the setting in his grimy hideout tucked away in the mountains is pretty grisly. The Welsh actor pulls off an Aussie accent, but then again, anyone who could effortlessly pronounce this Welsh town’s name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, can probably master any accent.

Given that the surprise element of Ben being a sadistic psycho has already been revealed in the trailer, the film manages to still deliver the thrill of the chase. The plot itself follows a predictable path and is certainly not groundbreaking for a survival thriller. This isn’t the first time that Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur has ventured into this genre. His 2022 thriller Beast pitted Idris against rogue lions in South Africa. It’s quite a change, though, from his latest feature, the graceful cross-cultural romantic drama Touch, so he’s a pretty versatile filmmaker.

Lawrence Sher’s script crafts Apex as a wild ride through perilous terrains. There’s no room for character development; Sasha has no backstory apart from being a grieving woman consumed by guilt. As for Ben, we only get a fleeting mention of his mother, which reveals nothing about how he becomes a cannibal with entrepreneurial spirit (hint: that’s NOT beef jerky he’s selling at gas stations).

The adrenaline rush you feel really depends on how comfortable you are in the wild, so it definitely hits me more intensely. The conclusion is pretty predictable, but I appreciate the redemptive part, not just for Sasha but also for those who have been missing for months or even years. Overall, I think the fast-paced Apex is quite enjoyable despite its flaws, and at just 95 minutes long, it makes for a fun little midweek escape.