Real stunts, real tension. Theron climbs her way through a flawed but fun thriller.
Horror has many faces. Sometimes it wears a mask. Other times, it hides in the vast emptiness of the Australian outback. Survival thrillers occupy a unique space in genre cinema. They trade supernatural screams for real-world dread. Dehydration, exposure, a broken leg miles from nowhere. That kind of terror cuts deeper in his latest – Apex
Baltasar Kormákur knows this. The Icelandic director has built a career on survival stories. The Deep followed a fisherman who swam for six hours in freezing water after his boat capsized. Everest recreated the 1996 disaster with crushing authenticity, using real altitude and weather conditions. Adrift stranded Shailene Woodley on a damaged yacht in the middle of the Pacific. Beast pitted Idris Elba against a rogue lion on the savanna. In every case, Kormákur focuses on the physical toll. The grit. The sheer will to live. He does not rely on CGI for the big moments. He puts his actors in real danger, within reason, and films the result.
His latest, Apex, continues this pattern. But it adds a new ingredient. A human predator. The horror genre has long played with man versus nature. Think The Edge, where a bear hunts two men. The Revenant, where nature itself seems to conspire against Leonardo DiCaprio. Or Backcountry, where a couple wanders into a bear’s territory. These films find horror in the wild. Kormákur flips the script. Nature remains brutal. But the real monster might wear a friendly smile. That shift offers fresh ground. Especially when you cast Taron Egerton as the smiling threat.
Why does this matter? Because survival horror works best when the antagonist feels real. A supernatural killer can be scary. But a person who helps you one moment and hunts you the next? That gets under your skin. Kormákur understands this dynamic. He also knows that audiences need to believe the physical struggle. No amount of acting can fake the exhaustion of climbing a rock face for real. The director demands authenticity from his crew and his cast.
Still, Kormákur never forgets his strength. He films action with a documentary-like eye. He lets his actors suffer for real. No green screens if he can avoid it. That approach demands performers who can handle the physical load. Who can hang from a cliff and make you believe. Who can run through forests, fall down rapids, and still sell the fear.
Charlize Theron fits that description perfectly.
“Charlize Theron’s real rock climbing and Taron Egerton’s cherubic menace elevate Apex above its script. A fun, physically demanding thriller.”
Apex Review: Charlize Theron’s Real Stunts Save This Netflix Thriller
A Horror Movie Review by Hope Madden
What is it about Charlize Theron that you totally buy her badassedness? Maybe it’s her natural athleticism. She was a ballerina, leaving her with grace and fitness that suggest power. She hangs by fingertips from a rock face, and you think, yep, that’s Charlize Theron. Not, that’s a really skilled stunt performer.
That’s probably because it is Charlize Theron. According to her interview with Outside Magazine, Theron learned to rock climb for the new Netflix thriller Apex, so nearly all of that dizzying and astonishing footage is, indeed, the actor herself.
Baltasar Kormákur’s outback survival film pits Theron’s Sasha, an extreme adventure enthusiast, against Ben (Taron Egerton), an extreme psychopath.
Sasha, still stinging from the death of her partner (Eric Bana), is looking to do some solo Outback water adventuring. Ben seems like a helpful Boy Scout type, and when Sasha finds her gear missing, she hikes up to Ben’s shelter to ask for assistance. Ben is less than helpful.
Like Theron, Egerton also does his own stunt work. The reality this offers the film, framed to emphasize its death-defying glory by cinematographer Lawrence Sher (Joker, The Bride), elevates Apex above its spare Aussie horror script.
Jeremy Robbins’s screenplay takes a mid-story genre turn that doesn’t entirely work. Egerton more than convinces as the sweet-faced psycho, but the plot turn asks a little more than he can deliver. Theron’s sharp acting instincts—and a well-timed bite—almost salvage the scene.
But Apex rights itself pretty quickly. As long as we’re watching Theron tearing through forests, up rock faces, and down rapids with Egerton in jolly pursuit, all is well. And honestly, that’s about half the film.
Kormákur’s passion has always been the survival thriller: The Deep, Everest, Adrift, Beast. In every case, it’s the writing, not the directing, that’s been the drawback. Apex suffers less from writing woes. Robbins gives Theron a character to dig into, and Egerton’s dialog is deeply unnerving, particularly as it’s delivered with such a cherubic grin.
But it’s definitely the way Kormákur frames the action, and the way his actors push themselves physically, that make Apex such a fun watch.
Horror Movie Reviews from the Fright Club Podcast and Ginger Nuts of Horror
For horror fans seeking the ultimate guide to the genre, look no further than the horror movie reviews on Ginger Nuts of Horror. Our platform is the premier destination for in-depth horror film analysis, curated by our dedicated team of critics from the Fright Club Podcast.
Why Trust Our Horror Movie Reviews?
Our horror movie review team is powered by the seasoned expertise of the Fright Club Podcast, featuring Hope Madden and George Wolf from Maddwolf.com. This collective brings a relentless passion for the macabre to every critique. The Fright Club Podcast experts dissect the very fabric of fear in film, going beyond simple plot summary to analyse the unsettling cinematography, masterful sound design, thematic depth, and cultural impact that define both modern classics and hidden indie gems.
Discover Your Next Favourite Fright
Whether you’re a casual horror viewer or a dedicated aficionado, our reviews serve as your essential compass. We cover the full spectrum of the genre—from mainstream horror blockbusters to groundbreaking independent horror films. The Fright Club Podcast team’s insights reveal layers of meaning and directorial intention, enriching your viewing experience and helping you discover underrated horror movies you might otherwise miss.
Stay Ahead of the Horror Curve
The Ginger Nuts of Horror review website is your frontline for upcoming horror releases and emerging genre trends. Our critiques, fueled by discussions on the Fright Club Podcast, offer more than just a rating; they provide a comprehensive discussion that prepares you for what’s lurking in the theatrical and streaming shadows.
Deepen Your Horror Journey with the Fright Club Podcast
Exploring our horror film reviews is a vital step toward a deeper, more nuanced appreciation of horror. Let Hope Madden, George Wolf, and the Fright Club Podcast team guide you through the nightmares. Bookmark our section for the best horror movie reviews and join a community dedicated to the art of fear.
Ready to get scared? Browse the definitive collection of horror movie critiques on Ginger Nuts of Horror, and don’t forget to listen to the Fright Club Podcast for even more terrifying insights.
Jim "The Don" Mcleod has been reading horror for over 35 years, and reviewing horror for over 16 years. When he is not spending his time promoting the horror genre, he is either annoying his family or mucking about with his two dogs Casper and Molly.
