Apex is a survival thriller drama following an adventurer named Sasha.
The film opens with experienced rock climber Sasha attempting a grueling up Norway’s Troll wall with her partner, Tommy. The climb ends in tragedy when Tommy falls to his death.
Consumed by grief and survivor’s guilt, Sasha travels to a remote national park in Australia five months later to process her loss by going on a solo kayaking trip, a nod to her partner’s homeland.
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While at a local convenience store, Sasha encounters several unpleasant locals, including Ben, who presents himself as a friendly park ranger. Ben suggests she kayak down a quieter, off-the-beaten-path river, pitching it as a hidden gem. Trusting his advice, Sasha heads into the isolated wilderness, unaware that she has walked directly into a trap.
Overnight Ben steals Sasha’s equipment and turns the vast wilderness into his hunting ground. He begins to stalk her through canyons, over cliffs and across rapids revealing himself to be a sadistic serial killer and cannibal who uses his prey for sustenance and trophies.
Sasha fights to stay alive, enduring a grueling physical and psychological ordeal. Sasha finally managed to overpower Ben. She seriously injures him and the two become chained together at the bottom of a canyon.
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Sasha forces Ben into a tandem climb before cutting the rope, dropping him to his death.
Sasha manages to climb the rest of the rock face on her own, ultimately reaching civilization and alerting the authorities, she leads a rescue operation that exposes Ben’s hidden cave, finally revealing the grim fate of the region’s missing tourists.
Having confronted her fears and survived the ultimate test, Sasha finds a quiet sense of closure and drops her late partner’s compass into the ocean.
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Directed by: Baltasar Kormakur
Cast: Charlize Theron, Tarim Egerton, Eric Bana, Matt Whelan, Bessie Holland
Running time: 95 minutes
Watch trailer here: Apex | Official Trailer | Netflix
