Let’s be real for a second. We’ve all been there on a Friday night: scrolling endlessly through Netflix, looking for something that looks expensive, has big stars, and promises a little adrenaline. That’s exactly how I ended up watching Apex, the new survival thriller starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton.

And after 90 minutes? I’ve got thoughts. Spoiler alert: It’s complicated.

The Setup: A Widow, The Wilderness, and a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Here’s the gist. Theron plays Sasha, a steel-nerved adrenaline junkie who loses her husband (Eric Bana) in a tragic climbing accident. Five months later, to honor his memory, she heads deep into the fictional Wandarra national park in the Australian wilderness.

But the locals? Not so friendly.

Enter Taron Egerton as Ben—scruffy, charming, and speaking surprisingly convincing Australian (“Strayan” for the initiated). He seems like a helpful bloke at first, pointing her toward a secluded camping spot. Of course, this being a Netflix thriller, that “well-kept secret” turns out to be the setup for a terrifying cat-and-mouse game. Ben quickly sheds his nice-guy act and becomes a full-blown menace, chasing Sasha through the bush like a violent game of tag.

The Good: Charlize Is Always Reliable

Look, even when a movie is struggling, Charlize Theron refuses to be the weak link. She’s been here before—literally. We’ve watched her go furiously hard in Mad Max: Fury Road (hello, Imperator Furiosa) and Atomic Blonde. In Apex, she brings that same granite-tough resolve. You believe she can take a beating, run for miles, and eventually turn the tables. She’s not exactly stretching her acting muscles here, but she’s also not phoning it in. She’s just… Theron-ing. And honestly? That’s enough to keep you watching.

Taron Egerton also deserves a nod. The Aussie accent is notoriously hard to master (we’re still having flashbacks to Quentin Tarantino’s bizarre cameo in Django Unchained), but Egerton pulls it off. He’s convincingly creepy, flipping from matey to menacing on a dime.

The Not-So-Good: Empty Calories and Mountain Dew Commercials

Here’s where Apex lost me a little.

Director Baltasar Kormákur really loves the glossy look. The entire film is bathed in a sun-lit sheen that feels less like the harsh Australian outback and more like… a Mountain Dew commercial. You know the type: golden hour filters, sweaty skin gleaming, everything looking pretty rather than dangerous.

And that’s the core problem. For a survival movie set in one of the most unforgiving landscapes on earth, Apex feels weirdly soulless. There’s no real grit. You never feel the heat, the thirst, or the primal terror of being truly lost. The plot is boilerplate: tragic backstory, naive decision, chase sequence, table turn. Even a late-game twist (no spoilers, promise) feels like it came from a template.

It’s an empty-calorie thriller. It fills you up in the moment, but five minutes after the credits roll, you’ve forgotten what it tasted like.

Should You Stream Apex on Netflix?

Honestly? That depends on your expectations.

If you’re looking for a deep, character-driven drama like The Revenant or a truly terrifying Aussie horror like Wolf Creek, you’ll be disappointed. Apex doesn’t have the guts for that.

But if you want a slick, fast-paced popcorn movie where two charismatic movie stars play a violent game of hide-and-seek, and you don’t mind a little style over substance? Throw it on. It’s perfect background viewing while you scroll your phone or fold laundry.

Just don’t expect to feel the fear. Or the heat. Or much of anything, really.

Rating: ⭐⭐½ (Slick, shiny, and forgettable)

Have you watched Apex yet? Do you agree that it’s a beautiful but hollow ride, or am I being too harsh on this cat-and-mouse thriller? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your take.