Apex: XXL landscapes for a too wise hunt (critic)

Taron Egerton hunts Charlize Theron in the wilderness in this beautiful and immersive Netflix action thriller… but too wise to really think outside the box.

It’s beautiful. It’s impressive. But so vain.

Netflix has just released a new wilderness survival action thriller. A 1h30 walk in the Australian outback which unfortunately does not go far enough to make an impression.

In ApexCharlize Theron plays Sasha, a mountaineer faced with the traumatic loss of her companion (Eric Bana), after a high mountain climb that turned into tragedy. Six months later, she arrived in Australia for a solo kayaking expedition, in a completely wild region. She will come across a local who is very nice at first glance… but completely turned on in reality: the man is a psychopath who stalks tourists in a game of cat and mouse as twisted as it is sordid…

Apex is not the first film to climb the mountain of survivalism, but it does so with a certain mastery, both behind and in front of the camera. This mix between The Wild River (1994) and Vertical Limit (2000) embraces its entertainment side without shame, for which Charlize Theron gave of herself, perfecting her climbing skills for the occasion and performing a large part of her stunts herself (including the final high altitude ascent). Opposite, Taron Egerton is freewheeling, playing a totally crazy sociopath.

Except that the thriller quickly becomes disappointing. The manhunt is dull, without inventiveness. Even though Theron and Egerton have fun, they fail to save Apex of any scenario and too neutral an action. There is probably a version of this film capable of shifting into something crazier, almost “camp”, assuming a deliberately excessive style. But Apex remains resolutely on point. Almost too wise, while the production nevertheless seems to want to offer a good big dose of natural sensations.

Baltasar Kormákur makes real efforts to do justice to this breathtaking environment. In high and low angles, he plays intelligently with the steep terrain of this fantastic backdrop which very quickly becomes the real star of the film. The director makes the most of the Australian outback, favoring filming on real locations to fuel the action. It’s an approach he had already used in his previous films, notably Everest (2015), and this is certainly the great success ofApex : having been able to capture exceptional images in New South Wales (Australia). The film was primarily filmed in the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, with its Grand Canyon Walking Track. Located about 90 minutes from Sydney, the region offers an almost unreal setting made up of impressive rock formations, deep gorges and waterfalls galore.

A spectacular postcard. But not much more.

Apex, by Baltasar Kormákur, currently watching on Netflix.