April 27th: Apex
Apex
Released: 2026
Directed by: Baltasar Kormákur
Starring: Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, Eric Bana, Matt Whelan
There have been many adaptations of The Most Dangerous Game, a 1924 short story by Richard Connell. The idea of man hunting man like a wild animal is such a strong premise that it’s been revisited countless times. Apex takes that concept and brings it into the modern day, adds a few additional ingredients, and ultimately delivers an entertaining thriller.
Charlize Theron plays Sasha, an experienced thrill seeker who loses her husband in a mountain climbing accident within the first ten minutes. Five months later, she travels alone to his home country of Australia while still grieving. There, she meets Ben, played by Taron Egerton, who initially appears friendly and helpful. Of course, he is neither, and soon begins hunting her in a twisted game. Theron delivers a strong performance that lives up to the tough reputation she has built since Mad Max: Fury Road. She balances the confident adventurer and the grieving widow well, making Sasha feel grounded and believable throughout. Egerton is delightfully unhinged once the game begins — both childlike and menacing in a way that feels deeply unsettling.
⚠️ SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT UNTIL THE OVERALL RANK SECTION
Get Nathan Boegel’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
The twist reveals the reason Ben is playing this sick game with Sasha. There is one explicit explanation given, and another that is more heavily implied. He claims he consumes the livers of those he hunts in order to keep important people “alive” within him, and frames this as a tradition drawn from various tribal practices. A second, more personal motivation is hinted at through his relationship with his mother. It becomes increasingly clear he sees his mother reflected in Sasha. Despite everything, he shows her a strange form of respect, even embracing her when he reveals his full scheme. This is where his childlike behavior surfaces most clearly — beneath the violence, there is a sense of arrested grief and emotional fixation. He seems to have lost something fundamental and projects that loss onto Sasha. In turn, it is Sasha’s ability to confront and partially unburden herself from her own grief that allows her to ultimately resist and overcome his plan.
Small Observations:
- The reference to “tribal practices” immediately raises red flags for me, especially given that the film is set in Australia, where First Nations and Aboriginal peoples have historically been subject to similarly one-dimensional portrayals in cinema, much like Native American communities in Westerns and action films. While there are documented instances of endocannibalistic practices in certain cultures historically, including some in parts of Australia and elsewhere, it is difficult to find clear or consistent evidence suggesting how widespread or representative this was across Indigenous groups. As a result, the film’s use of this framing risks feeling more like a shorthand for “otherness” than a grounded cultural reference.
- The cinematography is spectacular, which is expected for a harrowing wilderness survival film, but what surprised me most was how strong the sound mixing is — crisp, clear, and consistently effective throughout.
- It is mentioned that Ben makes jerky, though he never specifies the animal. In a brief shot, it becomes strongly implied that it’s made from some of his earlier victims, which he then sells at a gas station. At that point, you almost hope it’s labeled “long pig,” just for honesty’s sake.
⚠️ SPOILERS END HERE
- MCU actors: 1 with 1 from Ang Lee’s Hulk
Overall Rank: A
A tense survival thriller anchored by two strong performances from Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton, the film delivers a consistently engaging ride even when its structure leans familiar. The twist is effective — not completely unexpected, but still well-executed and impactful in context. Recommended.
