On Location peels back the curtain on some of your favorite films, television shows, and more. This time, we take a look at Apex.
Charlize Theron’s new movie Apex is a story of survival. So it’s fitting that the film’s director, Baltasar Kormákur, brought the production to the depths of the Australian wilderness, primarily using real locations to incite the action. It’s something the Icelandic filmmaker has done on several past movies, including Everest.
“I love that part of filming in nature is that you can only control so much,” Kormákur says. “The fight with nature also starts to make it more interesting, rather than fully controlling everything. I tend to use nature first before we go on to any set. Because then the actor comes informed about what the real challenges are and they can replicate that.”
In Apex, Theron plays Sasha, a rock climber dealing with the horrifying loss of her partner (Eric Bana). She travels to Australia to explore via kayak, but soon finds herself in a deadly game and cat and mouse with a local (Taron Egerton) who wants to hunt and kill her. She is forced to draw on all of her strength and skills, including the rock climbing prowess she buried when her partner died. Many of the scenes were shot in real places around Australia’s Blue Mountains, as well as in Canberra and Engadine. Some of climbing and kayaking was recreated on sets, but Kormákur also insisted on pairing those with actual locations. Theron did a lot of it herself, including the tense final climb, shot at Glenbrook Gorge and on a stage.
Condé Nast Traveler spoke with Theron and Kormákur about the experience of making Apex, how real world locations helped to inform Theron’s acting, and why being physically pushed to the brink can result in a stronger performance onscreen.
Why was the Australian wilderness the right fit for this film?
Baltasar Kormákur: First of all, how remote and rugged it feels. And there were logistics from a financial point of view that it would be a good place to shoot. When we talked about it for the first time, we realized we had to shoot it in the southern hemisphere because there was a lot of water work and Charlize is not a big fan of cold water. That was one of the first things she told me: “I’m not a big fan of cold water.”
Charlize Theron: It was written for a colder place. I was like, “You have the wrong actress. I don’t think I can do this, but if you find a hot place, call me up. I’ll be ready to go.”
What’s the appeal of shooting a film in such a remote place?
CT: It’s incredible. It’s such a gift. Because this movie relied on really immersing yourself into this environment. You can only [get to know the] character in those circumstances. You have to really go out there and you have to feel it. And you’re constantly being informed. Australia is just absolutely an incredible place to spend any time in. I loved the people and where we shot. We shot in such beautiful places. So as an actor it was really helpful.
