Just when I think Netflix has literally lost the plot when it comes to its original film offerings (see our reviews of the too clever to understand, ultra dumbed-down The Rip (2026) and over complicated and intellectually disabled The Old Guard 2 (2025)), I get dragged back in by it’s latest movie Apex, a tight and savage survival thriller stacked with white-knuckle thrills wrapped up in a tight, lil’ ol B-movie reminiscent of The River Wild (1994) and Shoot to Kill (1988). Charlize Theron is the extremely capable adventurer Sasha, who bumps into some ruffians as well as the soft-spoken and helpful Ben (Taron Egerton) on her way to a solo Australian outback expedition (within the fictional Wandarra National Park). We soon find out that the rugged terrain isn’t Sasha’s greatest threat and she’s thrown into a world of non-stop savagery. The exposition is minimal and, thankfully, sympathy for the villain be damned, which is rare these days. B-movie storytellers should take note here because all that matters is we have a cat and a mouse and the running, climbing and kayaking for one’s life amidst some disturbing depravity is narrative enough. It’s not complicated, but instead feels real and frightening and exemplifies exactly why B-movies are the literal best. The fact that a Netflix flick is pretty good in 2026 is something of note given the amount of subpar entertainment Netflix delivers (save it’s stand-up comedy and roasts, it’s great for comedy). For example the biggest Netflix film of the year thus far is War Machine (2026), which was getting there with it’s equally simple action adventure story, but it is in no way a “good movie”. Apex outdoes what it started and is an example of how to level up a straight to streaming offering; it’s not trying to be be smart and it’s not trying to be dumb, but instead hits the sweet spot of respecting that sometimes all we want something smart enough to keep itself simple.

WATCH OR NOT: WATCH