Apex (2021 film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Apex

| image = Apex (film).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Edward John Drake

| writer = {{Plainlist|

Edward John Drake
Corey William Large

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Corey William Large
Sean O'Reilly
Matthew Helderman
Luke Taylor

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = Wai Sun Cheng

| editing = Justin William

| music = Hugh Wielenga

| studio = {{Plainlist|

308 Entertainment
BondIt Media Capital
Head Gear Films
Buffalo 8 Productions
Kreo Films FZ
Metrol Technology

}}

| distributor = RLJE Films

| released = {{Film date|2021|11|12}}

| runtime = 94 minutes{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/apex-predator-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc01mzm2mje|title=Apex Predator|website=British Board of Film Classification}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross = $11,984{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt13265876/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |title='Apex' (2021) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=November 11, 2022}}

}}

Apex, titled Apex Predator in the UK, 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

Bruce Willis as Thomas Malone{{cite web|last=Chang|first=Tom|title=Apex: Bruce Willis in Sci-Fi Action Thriller, Prey Becomes Hunter|date=November 10, 2020|publisher=Bleeding Cool|url=https://bleedingcool.com/movies/apex-bruce-willis-in-sci-fi-action-thriller-prey-becomes-hunter/|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
Neal McDonough as Samuel Rainsford
Corey William Large as Carrion
Lochlyn Munro as Lyle{{cite web|url=https://primemovies.pl/2021/10/19/apex-zwiastun-bruce-willis/|title=Bruce Willis fights for his life. "Apex" Trailer|publisher=PrimeMovies.pl|date=October 19, 2021|access-date=October 19, 2021}}
Trevor Gretzky as Ecka{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/adawson/2022/01/09/trevor-gretzky-takes-a-swing-at-acting-joins-heavy-hitter-bruce-willis-in-american-siege/?sh=50779d7e27ac |title=Trevor Gretzky Takes A Swing At Acting, Joins Heavy Hitter Bruce Willis In 'American Siege' |website=Forbes |first=Angela |last=Dawson |date=January 9, 2022 |access-date=September 26, 2022}}
Nels Lennarson as Bishop
Megan Peta Hill as Jeza
Adam Huel Potter as Warden Nicholls
Joe Munroe as Damien
Alexia Fast as West Zaroff

Production

The film was shot in Victoria, British Columbia.{{cite web|last=Ritman|first=Alex|title=AFM: Bruce Willis to Star in Sci-Fi Action-Thriller 'Apex' (Exclusive)|date=November 10, 2020|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/afm-bruce-willis-to-star-in-sci-fi-action-thriller-apex-exclusive|access-date=November 13, 2020}} Filming wrapped in November 2020.{{cite web|last=Sprague|first=Mike|title=Bruce Willis Sci-Fi Thriller APEX Wraps Shooting|publisher=Dread Central|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/356892/bruce-willis-sci-fi-thriller-apex-wraps-shooting/|access-date=November 13, 2020}}

Release

Apex was released by RLJE Films on November 12, 2021.{{cite web|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|title=Bruce Willis-Neal McDonough Action Thriller ‘Apex’ Gets U.S. Deal With RLJE Films|date=September 2, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/apex-movie-release-date-bruce-willis-neal-mcdonaugh-rlje-films-1234826046/|access-date=September 17, 2021}} The film was released in some regions as Apex Predator.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/nov/10/apex-predator-review-chipper-bruce-willis-is-getting-hunted-for-kicks |website=The Guardian |title=Apex Predator review – chipper Bruce Willis is getting hunted for kicks |url-status=live |access-date=November 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110092244/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/nov/10/apex-predator-review-chipper-bruce-willis-is-getting-hunted-for-kicks |archive-date=November 10, 2021 }}

=Box office=

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

=Critical reception=

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|11|2.7|9|ref=yes|access-date=March 2, 2025}}

Leslie Felperin of The Guardian gave it 1 out of 5 and called it "a tedious genre exercise".{{cite web |date=10 November 2021 |author1=Leslie Felperin |title=Apex Predator review – chipper Bruce Willis is getting hunted for kicks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/nov/10/apex-predator-review-chipper-bruce-willis-is-getting-hunted-for-kicks |website=the Guardian }}

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."{{cite web |date=2021 |author1=Sara Michelle Fetters |title=Apex (2021) (Blu-ray) |work=MovieFreak.com |url=http://moviefreak.com/apex-2021-blu-ray-review/#.Y5UkC8vP2Uk }}

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."{{cite web |date=22 June 2022 |author1=Alan Ng |title=Apex |url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/apex/ |publisher=Film Threat }}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/razzies-2022-nominations-list-nominees-1235088052/|title=Razzies: Filmed Version of ‘Diana’ Stage Musical Tops 2022 Nominees|first=Hilary|last=Lewis|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 7, 2022|accessdate=February 7, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/razzie-awards-rescind-bruce-willis-award-shelley-duvall-nomination/|title=Razzie Awards Backtrack, Rescind Bruce Willis Award – and Shelly Duvall Nomination as Well|first=Adam|last=Chitwood|work=The Wrap|date=March 31, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2022}}