Apex

Director Baltasar Kormákur has a penchant for survival films, whether it be stranded up Mount Everest during a blizzard (Everest), getting lost at sea (Adrift), or hunted by a blood thirsty lion (Beast). The Icelandic filmmaker’s new one Apex combines survival and horror elements, as Charlize Theron’s Sasha is hunted across the Australian wilderness by Taron Egerton’s psychopathic woodsman Ben.

After the tragic passing of Sasha’s climber husband Tommy (a brief appearance by Eric Bana), Sasha takes an extreme adventure ‘holiday’ in Australia. Whilst running away from turmoil she unwittingly waltzed into more deep in Australian outback. This turmoil comes in the form of Ben, a hunter who develops a liking for Sasha and the chase begins.

The plot is pretty flimsy and nicely sign posted along the way, the bit about the jerky seems a bit on the nose. This though is just foil for the brutal game of cat and mouse that ensues, with the film coming across like The Predator – Ben toying with his victim, and relishing in the challenge. Taron Egerton is obviously having a blast, and hams up his psycho killer to the nth degree. The scenes in the rapids are exhilarating and the climbing scenes are tense, terrifying and exhausting in equal measure. It has never been in any doubt but Charlize Theron is a bona fide action star, and has charisma to spare.

A forgetful and quite predictable storyline is just an excuse for the intense and brutal, Predator like, hunt that unfolds either side of it. It won’t make any end of year lists, or leave a lasting impression, but you will have a blast.

6.5/10