Netflix’s Apex Showcases Australia’s Rugged Wilderness as the Backdrop for a High Stakes Survival Thriller
Netflix’s latest survival thriller Apex places Australia’s rugged natural landscapes front and centre, using remote wilderness locations across New South Wales and the ACT to create the film’s tense and visually striking atmosphere.
Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, known for survival driven films including Everest, Adrift and Beast, the action thriller stars Charlize Theron as Sasha, an adrenaline seeker attempting to recover from personal tragedy by retreating into the Australian wilderness. Her journey quickly takes a dangerous turn when she encounters Ben, a serial killer played by Taron Egerton, triggering a relentless pursuit through rivers, caves, cliffs and dense bushland.
While Australia was not originally intended as the filming location, Kormákur explained that the production required a warm climate during a specific filming window, leading the team to consider locations in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia ultimately emerged as the ideal choice, not only for production reasons, but also because of the distinctive character of its landscapes.
Rather than simply serving as a backdrop, Australia’s terrain became central to the storytelling itself. The film makes extensive use of the country’s dramatic natural features, transforming well known outdoor destinations into hostile and isolated environments that heighten the film’s suspense.
A significant portion of the production was filmed in the Blue Mountains National Park, including scenes shot along the Grand Canyon Walking Track. Located roughly 90 minutes from Sydney, the area’s steep cliffs, waterfalls and dense rainforest terrain provided the setting for several of the film’s most intense sequences, including its climactic final confrontation.
The production also travelled to the historic town of Bowning in regional New South Wales, where the town’s general store and post office were used for the first meeting between Sasha and Ben. Other sequences were filmed at The Needles in Engadine, a remote swimming location surrounded by bushland where several of the film’s river scenes and canoe sequences were staged.
Further south, the production filmed at Ginninderra Falls near the ACT border, where one of the film’s major stunt scenes involving a cliff jump was captured against the backdrop of the dramatic gorge and waterfall landscape.
Kormákur has spoken openly about the challenges of filming in these remote environments, explaining that some locations were so difficult to access that the scouting team had to swim through sections of the terrain just to reach them. He described these physical challenges as an important part of preserving authenticity, helping the cast and crew fully experience the demanding conditions reflected on screen.
That realism carries through in the performances from Theron and Egerton, whose physically demanding scenes are amplified by the harsh and unpredictable natural environments surrounding them.
Beyond delivering high stakes action and suspense, Apex also highlights the scale and versatility of Australia’s production capabilities. From remote wilderness settings to technically demanding outdoor shoots, the film demonstrates how Australian locations continue to support ambitious streaming productions designed for global audiences.
Source: Timeout
