Taron Egerton Shows A Different Side In New Film Apex!

Apex is the latest offering from Netflix, currently trending number 1 in the UK. A psychological thriller starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton.

Theron plays an adrenaline-seeking mountain climber, Sasha (Theron), who suffers a terrible loss while climbing a gnarly-looking mountain in Norway. Her climbing partner, Tommy (Eric Bana), quotes in the opening scene: “Luck is like everything else, you take up a mountain, eventually it runs out…”

And Sasha’s luck certainly runs out when she takes a solo trip to Wandarra National Park, a fictional park in Australia (yes, I had to Google) to recover from her trauma. It’s here she meets some of the rather unsavoury locals. Egerton (complete with a rather impressive Australian accent, in my opinion) attempts to chase away the locals and introduces himself as ‘Ben’. Whilst seeking directions, Ben shares his local knowledge with Sasha. Just a tip, if you are in the wilderness and a charming, attractive stranger shares a “well-kept secret” campsite…RUN!

But this is that type of movie. Sasha is caught up in a ‘Cat-and-Mouse’ game with a deranged serial killer, all to the electronic pulse of The Chemical Brothers!

Is it pretty predictable? Yes. Is the serial killer pretty standard in his reasoning for bloodshed? Well, yes, but he does make animal noises! Does the woman who is drowning in grief and has been rough camping for days/weeks still have perfectly groomed eyebrows and hairless armpits? Of course! But it’s a watchable 1 hr and 35 mins. The cinematography is beautiful with the backdrop of the Australian wilderness, and the tension is kept up with the use of rapids, fingers dangling from cliffs, and enough gore to justify any B-movie’s runtime. 

Egerton was an interesting choice for an antagonist. For an attractive and talented man, he certainly gives off some Ed Gein vibes with his shaved head and cap. He is creepy as well as strangely fragile and affable in his delivery, particularly when enquiring if a funeral was ‘hot or cold’. Though it has just occurred to me: did they add the line about him being brought from Britain as a child to excuse his slight slip of accent at times? Hmm.

I was hoping for some kind of twist at the end to reframe the entire movie, but alas, no. However, if you are looking for a well-made popcorn thriller to while away your evening, here it is!

⭐⭐ ½