5 movies like ‘Apex’ to watch if you love intense survival thrillers: From 'Don't Move' to 'Eden Lake'
Charlize Theron is back on screen with the intense survival thriller 'Apex,' which keeps viewers on the edge of their seats throughout. The film, written by Jeremy Robbins and directed by Baltasar Kormákur, was released on Netflix on Friday. The story follows Sasha, who, after her husband's unfortunate death, decides to spend time in the Australian wilderness. She reaches Wandarra National Park, where she learns that multiple people have disappeared due to harsh conditions. However, as she continues her journey, she discovers a much more sinister reason behind the disappearances.
Ben, a twisted individual, has been hunting down and killing innocent people. But he is not prepared for the survival instincts of his chosen victim, Sasha. 'Apex' is a fast-paced thriller that doesn't waste a single chance to keep viewers engaged. If you have already watched it and are craving more content in the same category, here are five such films:
1. 'Society of the Snow' (2023)
'Society of the Snow' is a 2023 Spanish survival film that recounts the true story of a Uruguayan rugby team that survived one of the worst aviation disasters. On October 13, 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed in the Andes mountains in Argentina. The survivors endured 72 days of extreme temperatures, killer winds, starvation, and pain before being rescued. Unfortunately, out of 45 people aboard, only 16 lived to tell the tale, which is the subject of this Oscar-nominated film. The film, directed by J. A. Bayona, received universal acclaim and won multiple accolades worldwide. It stars Enzo Vogrincic, Matias Recalt, Agustín Pardella, Tomas Wolf, Agustín Della Corte, Rafael Federman, and several other actors in prominent roles. You can watch the film on Netflix.
2. 'Don't Move' (2024)
'Don't Move' is another well-received film on Netflix, which is probably the closest to 'Apex' in terms of story and execution. Similar to Charlize Theron's film, 'Don't Move' follows a grieving woman who crosses paths with a serial killer. Iris, played by Kelsey Asbille, manages to run away from the killer, but not before being injected with a paralytic agent that will shut her body down limb by limb. She must escape the killer before her body completely shuts down. Directed by Adam Schindler and Brian Netto, the film also stars Finn Wittrock, Moray Treadwell, and Daniel Francis. It is available on Netflix.
3. 'Send Help' (2026)
Directed by Sam Raimi and written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, this 2026 survival drama follows Linda Liddle, who is an employee at a financial management company, and her boss, Bradley Preston. They survive a plane crash but get stranded on a deserted island without food or shelter. The power dynamics between them shift completely when they realize that Linda is much better equipped to survive the new reality than her boss. The film, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, is available for streaming on Prime Video.
4. 'Strange Darling' (2023)
Written and directed by JT Mollner, 'Strange Darling' also follows a woman evading a killer. The twisted part of the story is that the woman, referred to as “the Lady” in the film, had spent a night with the man who turned out to be a psychopathic killer. The cat-and-mouse chase between them is told in a non-linear pattern, which makes the already tense situation even more unbearable. The film stars Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Madisen Beaty, Steven Michael Quezada, Ed Begley Jr., and Barbara Hershey. Stream it on Apple TV+ or Prime Video.
5. 'Eden Lake' (2008)
What makes 'Eden Lake' extremely uncomfortable is that the villains of the story aren't some deranged psychotic men, but a group of ill-mannered kids. This 2008 British horror film, starring Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender, is about a couple who encounter a group of undisciplined teenagers around a remote lake. The hostile teens turn the couple's romantic getaway into a living nightmare. This cult classic is available to stream on Prime Video.
