"Apex" Captures the Primal Fear of Being a Woman

There’s nothing quite like adrenaline. It’s the hormone that motivates us, propelling us to reach new heights and accomplish feats we never even imagined were possible. The flip side of that feeling is fear, an all-encompassing terror that can at once be energizing and paralyzing. In Apex, Sasha (Charlize Theron) is forced to battle with both sensations as she attempts her journey to Grand Isle Narrows in Wandarra National Park.  

This review will remain as spoiler-free as possible. If you’re someone who wants to know what happens ahead of time, Jo Moses already wrote a great summary of Apex!

Sasha is a woman of very few words, forcing Charlize Theron to act more with her facial expressions and body language than anything else. As could be expected from someone who’s been nominated for three academy awards, Theron does a fantastic job of this. The subtleties in the way she olds herself convey more than a word ever could. That, combined with the music choices, make every moment sickeningly eerie. I expected this to be a movie I could put on in the background, but it kept me engaged every step of the way.

At the start of Apex, Sasha is on a dangerous mountain climb with her boyfriend. He is clearly the anchor, encouraging them to go back to camp before it’s too late and to take the necessary precautions to survive. When the climb goes awry, a mistake from Sasha causes him to plummet to his death. Her journey through Australia is an attempt to grieve her Aussie partner. As a result, her kayaking already felt desperate before she realized how much danger she was truly in. 

A year or so ago, there was a trend on TikTok where women would decide whether they wanted to be trapped in the forest alone with a bear or a strange man. Nearly everyone chose the bear, much to the surprise of the men on the app. This movie gives an (extreme) example of why. A bear may hurt you, but if you behave reasonably the odds you can coexist are high. With a man, you can do everything right and still be hunted through the wilderness.

I appreciate the film’s commitment to making Sasha’s journey at least somewhat realistic. The average person is ill-equipped to handle the dangers of the outdoors, especially when running for their life. Making it clear that Sasha is an outdoorsy adrenaline junkie from the start alleviated many of these potential plot holes. Despite her obvious competence and physical strength, Sasha is still scared in the situations that most women would be scared in. The tone of the film grounds it in realism, turning an adventure film into a real-life horror movie. 

This film is certainly not for the faint of heart. It’s difficult to watch; the villain’s performance is so captivating that it made me ill. For those that want a bone-chilling horror movie that takes place in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, Apex is exactly what you’re looking for.