Apex
Theatrical release poster
Directed byEdward John Drake
Written by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyWai Sun Cheng
Edited byJustin William
Music byHugh Wielenga
Production
companies
  • 308 Entertainment
  • BondIt Media Capital
  • Head Gear Films
  • Buffalo 8 Productions
  • Kreo Films FZ
  • Metrol Technology
Distributed byRLJE Films[1]
Release date
  • November 12, 2021 (2021-11-12)
Running time
94 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$11,984[3]

Apex, titled Apex Predator in the UK,[2] is a 2021 American science fiction action film directed by Edward John Drake and written by John Drake and Corey William Large. It stars Neal McDonough and Bruce Willis and was released on November 12, 2021.

Plot

The film opens with Samuel, a self-proclaimed Apex Warrior and pharmaceutical trillionaire, shooting and killing a man. Samuel complains to a computer interface that he is becoming bored with the 'game' and asks the computer to find him a real challenge.

Thomas Malone has spent years of his life in prison, serving a life without parole sentence for multiple crimes he had committed in the past. He longs to be reunited with his family, with whom he has no contact. Thomas is approached by the game-master and offered the opportunity for his freedom. To win, Thomas must survive on a private island while being hunted by five wealthy participants, known as Hunters. Thomas accepts the offer, knowing it is his only chance to be reunited with his family and to gain his freedom.

As the hunt progresses, the hunters start to doubt each other and their own abilities, and begin to turn against one another. Samuel outwits all the other hunters in the game and claims their heads as trophies. He becomes frustrated that Thomas has escaped him so he hires additional hunters called 'Mongrels' to take part in the hunt and help him kill Thomas. Thomas eventually beats the Mongrels and faces-off with Samuel. Samuel taunts Thomas about his experience in prison, informs him that his head will look good in his trophy case, and tells Thomas to beg for his life. Thomas refuses. The confrontation ends in a fast-draw with Thomas firing a larger gun and ultimately killing Samuel. Thomas leaves the game and the island with his freedom.

Cast

Production

The film was shot in Victoria, British Columbia.[6] Filming wrapped in November 2020.[6][7]

Release

Apex was released by RLJE Films on November 12, 2021.[8] The film was released in some regions as Apex Predator.[9]

Box office

As of November 11, 2022, Apex grossed $11,984 in the United Arab Emirates.[3]

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 11% based on 9 reviews.[10]

Leslie Felperin of The Guardian gave it 1 out of 5 and called it "a tedious genre exercise".[11] Sara Michelle Fetters of MovieFreak.com gave it 1 out of 4 and wrote: "Its bad. Lets just leave it at that and call it a day."[12]

A positive review came from Alan Ng of Film Threat who gave it 7 out of 10, saying it "has the right level of seriousness that keeps it from becoming camp and crazy enough to keep it from becoming too serious for its own good."[13]

Accolades

Bruce Willis was nominated for his performance in this movie, as he was for all movies he appeared in, in 2021, in the category Worst Performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 Movie at the Golden Raspberry Awards. The category was later rescinded after he announced his retirement due to aphasia.[14][15]

See also

  • The Running Man (1987 film), an ex-cop (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is transferred to a game of death to fight for freedom and the entertainment of the audience
  • Hard Target (1993 film), an ex-soldier (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is the target in a trophy hunt for a rich client
  • The Hunt (2020 film), rich people hunt deplorables

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Chang, Tom (November 10, 2020). "Apex: Bruce Willis in Sci-Fi Action Thriller, Prey Becomes Hunter". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Apex Predator". British Board of Film Classification.
  3. 1 2 "'Apex' (2021)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Bruce Willis fights for his life. "Apex" Trailer". PrimeMovies.pl. October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  5. ↑ Dawson, Angela (January 9, 2022). "Trevor Gretzky Takes A Swing At Acting, Joins Heavy Hitter Bruce Willis In 'American Siege'". Forbes. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Ritman, Alex (November 10, 2020). "AFM: Bruce Willis to Star in Sci-Fi Action-Thriller 'Apex' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  7. ↑ Sprague, Mike. "Bruce Willis Sci-Fi Thriller APEX Wraps Shooting". Dread Central. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  8. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (September 2, 2021). "Bruce Willis-Neal McDonough Action Thriller 'Apex' Gets U.S. Deal With RLJE Films". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Apex Predator review – chipper Bruce Willis is getting hunted for kicks". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Apex". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  11. ↑ Leslie Felperin (November 10, 2021). "Apex Predator review – chipper Bruce Willis is getting hunted for kicks". the Guardian.
  12. ↑ Sara Michelle Fetters (2021). "Apex (2021) (Blu-ray)". MovieFreak.com.
  13. ↑ Alan Ng (June 22, 2022). "Apex". Film Threat.
  14. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (February 7, 2022). "Razzies: Filmed Version of 'Diana' Stage Musical Tops 2022 Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  15. ↑ Chitwood, Adam (March 31, 2022). "Razzie Awards Backtrack, Rescind Bruce Willis Award – and Shelly Duvall Nomination as Well". The Wrap. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
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