Few streaming services go to the same dizzying heights as Netflix to promote its films. But last night in Sydney, the team found itself gripped (quite literally) as some of the country’s best climbers attempted to conquer the “Apex Challenge,” an immersive real-world activation inspired by the streamer’s latest action thriller, now sitting at No. 1 on the global English film list with 38.2 million views.
Starring Charlize Theron as Sasha, a grieving rock climber who travels to the rugged Blue Mountains of New South Wales seeking solace, only to find herself ensnared in a terrifying game of cat and mouse with a deranged serial killer (Taron Egerton), Apex is a film that makes the landscape feel as dangerous as the man stalking through it – the third unspoken character.
For Australian viewers, it’s something we know all too well. And Netflix leaned hard into its local angle for its hugely popular Sydney launch.
Heading into Climb Fit in Sydney, I quickly felt as though I had been taken to one of the film’s many NSW filming locations, as the climbing wall had been faithfully transformed into the same rough, unforgiving terrain that Theron is forced to navigate on screen.
Chains, restraints, and uncomfortable nooks and crannies dressed the walls to evoke the film’s gritty Australian bush aesthetic – the kind of hostile environment director Baltasar Kormákur (Everest) shot on location across New South Wales, where the Blue Mountains themselves become a character as formidable as either of its leads. A welcome change in the era of hackneyed VFX.
There was even Australian beef jerky on offer. And while I’m usually the first to welcome a few extra grams of protein, having just watched Apex the night before, I think I’ll be forgiven for politely declining the snacks. If you know, you know…
Before the professionals were let loose, guests and media were invited to attempt the course themselves, navigating a relatively demanding climb to the apex of the wall to ring the bell at the top – much to the cheer of the expectant crowd below. Which, I’m embarrassed to report, I wasn’t good enough to reach, despite an inappropriate amount of psyching up.
The overhang got me. And after three attempts, I felt like it was someone else’s turn. In my defence, it caused several problems for the other climbers, too.
But when the competitive climbers arrived, they made light work of the route, with some even placing it at a 17 on the Ewbank Scale – Australia’s standard grading system for rock climbs, where ratings typically range from 1 (a gentle scramble) up into the low 30s for world-class difficulty. 17 would represent a solid intermediate challenge that would stop most casual gym-goers in their tracks.
The crowd’s groans and shrieks suggested they felt the number was rather generous. “Classic Blue Mountains sandbaggers,” joked the evening’s MC.
What followed was a tense knockout competition that mirrored the film’s relentless pacing. After the first round of timed attempts, the field was narrowed to eight climbers, then four, until just two remained. The winning time, a devastatingly quick 9.70 seconds, was enough to claim the title of Apex Champion for the night.
It’s the kind of visceral, participatory marketing that works precisely for a film of this calibre, because across an hour and a half of tense, realistic action, it earns it.
Theron’s performance as Sasha is built on real physical commitment – she trained extensively with celebrated American rock climber Beth Rodden, and did the majority of the film’s climbing herself, sometimes suspended as high as 30ft in the air, hugging the rock face for support.
In fact, Theron’s dedication to the role extended well beyond the shoot. Though the Oscar-winning actor demonstrated her usual commitment to the release, performing all her own stunts throughout a gruelling schedule in Australia’s famously difficult terrain, after filming had concluded, Theron had to have elbow surgery and even suffered a broken toe for her troubles.
Egerton, meanwhile, delivers one of his most unsettling career turns yet as Ben, an all-too-convincing psychopath that the actor even describes as “just about the most f***ed-up character I’ve ever played.”
But with the news that the film has since debuted at No. 1 in 82 countries, it seems it might have been worth it. And last night in Sydney, on a climbing wall dressed to look like the Australian wilderness that made the whole thing possible, it was easy to understand why.
Apex is now streaming on Netflix.
This article is presented in partnership with Netflix. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Boss Hunting.
