'Apex' is too predictable to thrill
Netflix
One person’s lean is another’s thin. “Apex” doesn’t aim to do a whole lot beyond creating a nightmare scenario so we can watch the attempted escape. But we’ve been here before, many times, and “Apex” never overcomes an opening act that’s one obvious move after another.
So as not to spoil anything: Sasha (Charlize Theron) is in Australia and in a bit of a bad situation. You can look at the picture above and decide if you think Ben (Taron Egerton) is helping or hurting. You can also look to Netflix’s recent “Don’t Move” for a somewhat similar concept that found tension in stillness instead of perpetual motion or inevitable beats that feel preprogrammed instead of impactful. (Numerous interactions here really don’t pass the smell test, and each person’s psychology is half-baked at best.)
To be fair and clear: Both actors are giving their all physically, and it’s not without merit to see Theron scaling rocks or Egerton sneering with glee. But “Apex” is a movie that often looks painful for the characters and frequently is grueling to watch as well. Both here and “Free Solo” and many documents of risky outdoors athleticism showcase the power of being in the moment when everything is at stake; in “Apex” the suspense and risk are always defeated by the formula, making it awfully hard to be present and elevate much at all.
C
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