The most dangerously silly game
AV Club • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Apex, directed by Baltasar Kormákur and starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton, is a survival thriller that benefits greatly from a big-screen, immersive viewing experience, especially due to its stunning cinematography by Lawrence Sher.
- The film opens with a visually striking scene of Theron's character, Sasha, rock climbing in Norway, highlighting the film's impressive natural world depictions that are less impactful on streaming platforms like Netflix.
- Apex combines elements from Kormákur's previous survival films, blending romantic drama, psychological exploration of thrill-seekers, and intense life-or-death situations reminiscent of movies like Adrift and Everest.
- The movie takes a wild turn due in part to Taron Egerton's eccentric performance, injecting a B-movie energy similar to Kormákur's earlier work Beast, which may divide audiences.
- While the film starts strong, its momentum falters as it progresses, with the lack of a communal viewing atmosphere diminishing the impact of its suspenseful and shocking moments.
