Saagar Kote
Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, Netflix’s ‘Apex’ is the story of a rock climber named Sasha (Charlize Theron), who sets out alone to Grand Isle Narrows in the Australian wilderness to reignite her adventurous spirit and find her rhythm. On the way, at a gas station, she crosses paths with a male stranger named Ben (Taron Egerton), who pretends to help her out by giving her directions. Camping alone after reaching her destination, Sasha senses that something is wrong. She is shocked to find out that Ben is actually playing a cruel game with her. He is armed and shows up near her camp, challenging her to survive his vicious attacks.
Finding herself in a deadly situation with a psychopathic man, Sasha must stretch her physical and psychological limits to survive and counter the brutality of the strange man. With the two of them locked in a battle of egos, nature becomes the stage for violent fights, and fates remain uncertain. The action thriller film is an engaging tale featuring high-stakes and adrenaline-fueled sequences. Looking for more movies similar to ‘Apex’ that are entertaining, thrilling, and wild? We have you covered in this list.
12. Killing Ground (2016)
‘Killing Ground’ is an Australian horror thriller film about a couple whose getaway turns into a fight for survival. Samantha Shaw (Harriet Dyer) and Ian Smith (Ian Meadows) leave the city for a quiet camping trip at a remote beach, hoping for a peaceful break. Their plans change when they come across an abandoned campsite and find a distressed child, prompting concern about what may have happened. As they try to understand the situation, they encounter two local men who display aggressive behavior. What begins as a simple trip quickly becomes dangerous as Sam and Ian are forced to confront the reality of the situation and survive attacks by the local men hunting them for unknown reasons. Helmed by Damien Power, the narrative is connected to ‘Apex’ as it explores survival, surprise attacks, and violent confrontations in an isolated place in Australia.
11. The River Wild (1994)
Directed by Curtis Hanson, ‘The River Wild’ is about the experiences of Gail Hartman (Meryl Streep), a skilled rafting guide who plans a river trip with her family. Hoping to reconnect, she takes her husband, Tom Hartman (David Strathairn), and their son, Roarke Hartman (Joseph Mazzello), on the journey. During the trip, they meet Wade (Kevin Bacon) and Terry (John C. Reilly), two men who claim to be inexperienced rafters. As they travel together, Gail begins to sense something is wrong. The situation escalates when the family discovers the men’s true intentions, and they are forced to continue down the river under pressure. What was meant to be a peaceful trip turns into a dangerous struggle as the family’s safety is put at risk. The thriller movie complements ‘Apex’ through its visually engaging portrayal of survival in dangerous settings and its complex characters.
10. No Exit (2022)
Hulu’s ‘No Exit’ follows the struggles of Darby Thorne (Havana Rose Liu), a recovering drug addict traveling to see her hospitalized mother. During a blizzard, she is forced to stop at a visitor center along with a group of strangers. While there, Darby Thorne discovers a kidnapped child hidden in a van outside. Realizing that one of the people inside is responsible, she tries to figure out who it is. As the storm traps them in the isolated location, the situation becomes increasingly tense. Darby must find a way to rescue the child and escape, while dealing with the uncertainty of who among them can be trusted. Directed by Damien Power, the thriller film is based on the novel of the same name by Taylor Adams. Much like ‘Apex,’ the story centers on the experiences of a female character forced to fight against the odds while facing unforeseen danger in an unfamiliar setting.
9. The Hunt (2020)
‘The Hunt’, directed by Craig Zobel, is an action-horror film about a group of strangers placed in a dangerous situation. Twelve people wake up in an unknown location, restrained and unaware of how they got there. After finding a key and a crate of weapons, they free themselves and begin to understand the threat around them. As surprising external attacks begin, some believe they are part of a human hunting game. While a few try to escape, the danger continues. Among them, Crystal May Creasey (Betty Gilpin) observes what is happening and decides to respond in her own way. As confusion grows and trust becomes uncertain, she faces growing risky situations while trying to survive. Crystal’s journey in the movie, which involves fighting, armed battles, and unpredictability, is spiritually connected to the struggles that Sasha faces in ‘Apex.’
8. Ready or Not (2019)
‘Ready or Not’ chronicles the trials of Grace MacCaullay (Samara Weaving), who marries Alex Le Domas (Mark O’Brien) and joins his wealthy family. On the night of the wedding, she is asked to take part in a traditional game of hide and seek at the family estate. What begins as a simple ritual quickly turns dangerous when Grace realizes that the family intends to hunt her as part of the game. With no preparation, she must rely on her instincts to stay alive inside the house. As the night unfolds, Grace faces a series of challenges while trying to survive the situation. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the horror comedy movie is spiritually connected to ‘Apex’ as it features a lone woman being hunted by dangerous individuals and pushed to fight against the odds.
7. Hunter Hunter (2020)
Written and directed by Shawn Linden, ‘Hunter Hunter’ is the tale of the Mersault family, living in a remote wilderness as fur trappers. Joseph Mersault (Devon Sawa), his wife Anne Mersault (Camille Sullivan), and their daughter Renée Mersault (Summer H. Howell) struggle to maintain their livelihood and suspect that an aggressive wolf is interfering with their traps. Determined to deal with the threat, Joseph leaves to track the animal, leaving his wife and daughter alone. As his absence continues, Anne encounters an injured man, Lou (Nick Stahl), near their cabin, further complicating the situation. The horror thriller film captures the essence of ‘Apex’ by setting it in the wilderness and features female characters fighting to survive against seemingly insurmountable threats.
6. Duel (1971)
‘Duel,’ directed by Steven Spielberg, follows the life of David Mann (Dennis Weaver), a salesman driving through rural California for a business appointment. During his journey, he encounters a tanker truck driven by an unseen driver who becomes aggressive on the road. When David overtakes the truck, the stranger becomes offended and starts closing in on the salesman’s car. With the truck driver repeatedly targeting David, it is made clear that the latter’s life is in danger. As the chase intensifies, David faces a growing threat and is pushed to respond to survive the encounter. Based on the eponymous short story by Richard Matheson, the action thriller film complements the world and characters of ‘Apex’ as it follows two characters facing off in a violent confrontation, where survival is the only option and fate is unpredictable.
5. Revenge (2017)
‘Revenge’ is a French action-thriller horror film that revolves around the struggles of Jen (Matilda Lutz), who travels with her boyfriend Richard (Kevin Janssens) to a remote desert house for a getaway. Their trip is interrupted when Richard’s friends, Stan (Vincent Colombe) and Dimitri (Guillaume Bouchède), arrive early for a hunting trip. The situation turns violent when Jen is attacked, and Richard learns what happened. In the quickly escalating situation, as Jen tries to escape, she is shockingly pursued by Richard and his two friends, who push her off a cliff. However, she survives the attack and begins hunting her attackers, who have no idea what she is capable of. Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat, the movie, akin to ‘Apex,’ is essentially a survival and redemption story in which a lone woman is targeted by men in isolated places and fights for her life at any cost.
4. Hunted (2020)
‘Hunted’, directed by Vincent Paronnaud, delves into the experiences of Eve (Lucie Debay), whose encounter at a bar turns dangerous. What begins as a seemingly harmless interaction quickly changes when she realizes the men she met have harmful intentions. Eve manages to escape into a forest, but the two men continue to pursue her, leading to a prolonged chase through the wilderness. As she tries to survive in the harsh environment, the situation pushes her to her limits. Eve decides to fight back, following which a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues. Akin to ‘Apex,’ the survival thriller film is an entertaining depiction of courage, where a woman faces seemingly more dangerous opponents while trying to maintain her stability in the woods.
3. Blood Star (2024)
‘Blood Star’ deals with the trials and tribulations of Roberta Torres AKA Bobbi (Britni Camacho), an amateur thief driving through the New Mexico desert. Her journey takes a dangerous turn when she is attacked by Sheriff Bilstein (John Schwab), a small-town officer who uses his authority to prey on women he deems weak. After being forced off the road and losing access to her phone and car, Bobbi is left to survive on her own. As the situation turns into a relentless chase, she must rely on her instincts to escape. Directed by Lawrence Jacomelli, the horror thriller film is based on the short story ‘Don’t Look Back.’ Bobbi must conquer her fears and fight a much more powerful male attacker in unfamiliar territory, just as Sasha does on her lonely journey in ‘Apex.’
2. Rust Creek (2018)
‘Rust Creek’ is a crime thriller movie that follows Sawyer Scott (Hermione Corfield), an ambitious college student traveling for a job interview. A wrong turn leaves her stranded in a remote forest, where she becomes lost and cut off from help. Her situation worsens when she is pursued by criminals who believe she may have witnessed their activities. As she struggles against the harsh environment and the threat around her, Sawyer is forced into an uneasy alliance with a mysterious loner named Lowell Pritchert (Jay Paulson). With limited options, she must navigate both the wilderness and the danger she faces. Helmed by Jen McGowan, the narrative is spiritually connected to ‘Apex,’ in that it focuses on the female experience of survival in harsh conditions against merciless attackers whose motivation is to kill.
1. Alone (2020)
Directed by John Hyams, ‘Alone’ is a psychological thriller movie that revolves around Jessica (Jules Willcox), a recently widowed woman who sets out on a solo road trip to get back to the rhythm of life. During her journey, she notices an unknown man (Marc Menchaca) following her, which intensifies her unease. Although he later apologizes to her, Jessica feels something is wrong. Her fears are confirmed when he forcibly takes her.
Nonetheless, Jessica manages to escape into the wilderness as the man continues to pursue her. She is forced to survive in isolation while trying to stay ahead of him in increasingly puzzling situations. Just like ‘Apex,’ the film features a female character trying to survive against a male aggressor during a trip away from home. The similar experiences of Jessica and Sasha, along with the settings and the visual styles, connect the two movies on a deeper level.
Read More: Where Was Netflix’s Apex Filmed?
