【Film Review】APEX： Japanese Audience Left Behind the Language Barrier

The Netflix film "Apex" starring Charlize Theron and co-starring Taron Egerton is compelling. The trailer alone had me really excited. It looked like a pretty simple survival thriller but I knew actors of their caliber would bring something extra to it. For once I actually had high expectations.

No predictable formula but a powerful presence

Every year I watch a large number of films, moving between genres with no real restriction—from human dramas and comedies to action, science fiction, horror, and musicals, and what always strikes me is the expressive power and sheer depth of character building in Hollywood. Seeing so many films allows me to instantly recognize actors across different roles from the lead to a minor character. An actor who was sleek and sharp in one movie can completely transform into an unexpected character, showing a level of craftsmanship that brings a totally different face and presence to another role.
I always keep an eye on Charlize Theron, a constant lead at the very top. She has played immortal warriors and worn-out mothers as well as lethal spy or mirror-gazing queen and even Oscar-winning serial killer. It is always her with no predictable formula but a powerful screen presence. She will surely be the same in “Apex”. Her films never disappoint.

The Unsettling and Terrifying Presence of Taron Egerton

The protagonist always survives in a wilderness survival story. The tragedy at the opening leads to a climax where the will to live conquers fear—and “Apex” is no different. The film starts with rock climber Sasha losing her partner to a rockfall and an avalanche during a storm on Norway’s Troll Wall. Burdened with trauma and guilt, she ventures alone into an Australian national park for climbing and kayaking to honor his memory. There she encounters Ben where this encounter drags her into his twisted survival game marking the beginning of her terror. Taron Egerton as Ben is genuinely creepy. He acts friendly but chooses malicious words for just a split second leaving it unclear whether it is a slip of the tongue or pure intent leaving a precise unsettling pause that is terrifying.

The moment the power game switches

Sasha is forced to be Ben's prey and flee through the wilderness using every ability that she has—not knowing Ben’s true motives the audience is drawn into her escape. When his pure malice is revealed the audience is stunned. The question "What happened to you?" arises, exactly the same question asked by Sasha, but just leaving the audience with zero empathy for him. This leads the audience to fully support the protagonist and this support only hardens. Taron Egerton deserves high praise for crafting such creepy discomfort to his character. What makes this film satisfying is the sudden shift in the dynamic between Ben and Sasha. Her counterattack forces him into weakness. The exact moment the power game switches hands is deeply exhilarating—a reminder that humans are nothing before grand nature. 

A　flawless title “APEX” but language barrier making it dimmed

This film was as gripping as expected. High praise goes not only to Charlize Theron but to Taron Egerton who transformed his physique and aura for this haunting performance. This survival thriller perfectly delivers hand-sweating tension and an unsettling feeling making it a masterpiece with my only disappointment being the Japanese title changed to "Apex Predator."
Japanese and English, these two languages have a totally different structure. I understand it is difficult for the Japanese audience to grasp the multiple meanings from the single word "Apex" alone. The distributor likely chose a title easier for the Japanese audience to understand. However, I find it unwise to use the title "Apex Predator." Using this term to mean Ben is at the top of the food chain is too cliché and too obvious for anyone who knows the true depth of "APEX"—the unreachable ’apex' of the Troll Wall, the ’apex' Sasha reaches after her ’apex’ survival, the anatomical ’apex’ of organs, and Ben as 'apex' predator. The original title pierces the core of the film. It is a pity that such a flawless title lost its essential beauty behind the language barrier.