Apex (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Apex is a 2021 action thriller directed by Edward Drake, starring Bruce Willis as Malone, Lochlyn Munro and Corey Large. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $11,984 worldwide. Critics gave it 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 3.0/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 33m (93 min)
- Director
- Edward Drake
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- RLJE Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Apex About?
The premise of Apex without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Former cop Thomas Malone finds himself framed for a crime and must fight for his freedom on a remote island. Hunted by six skilled and ruthless adversaries, he relies on his instincts and training to survive. The intense situation quickly turns into a desperate battle where every choice carries life-or-death consequences as he attempts to clear his name and escape the island.
Apex Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- psychological war
- life without parole
- time travel
- hunter versus prey
- unbreakable
- mongrel
- trophy
- tombstone
- eulogy
- prison
- future
- game over
+38 more Show fewer
- criminal
- not guilty
- bloody delight
- blood sport
- teleport
- gambling
- wrongfully convicted of murder
- trillionaire
- algorithm
- hologram
- regain freedom
- apathy
- remote island
- ex policeman
- life sentence
- traps
- remake
- hunting humans
- human hunting a human
- crossbow
- prisoner
- convict
- teleportation device
- montage
- island
- ex cop
- headshot
- shot to death
- shot in the head
- human skull
- reference to hamlet
- reference to shakespeare's hamlet
- tacheon radiation
- hallucinogenic
- sociopath
- drinking from a puddle
- severed head
- trophy room
Apex Cast & Characters
Bruce Willis leads the cast as Malone, with Lochlyn Munro as Lyle and Corey Large as Carrion. Directed by Edward Drake; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Edward Drake
-
Bruce Willis as Malone -
Lochlyn Munro as Lyle -
Corey Large as Carrion -
Neal McDonough as Rainsford
Also Starring in Apex
· 6 more- Alexia Fast West
- Megan Peta Hill Jeza
- Nels Lennarson Bishop
- Trevor Gretzky Ecka
- Eric Buarque
- Adam Huel Potter
Apex Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Apex 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 3.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 20/100, strongest in sensory experience (25) and weakest in story & flow (15).
Apex Echo Score Breakdown
Apex is overwhelmingly perceived as a low‑quality production that fails to deliver on its sci‑fi premise. Critics and viewers alike cite inadequate world‑building, subpar direction, and a reliance on stale action tropes, while the majority of reviews highlight wooden performances and incoherent plotting. A single outlier praises the film’s unintended humor, but this does not offset the dominant criticism. Consequently, the film scores poorly across all dimensions and offers little incentive for repeat viewings.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 15
In terms of art and craft, the film is judged as severely deficient. Reviewers repeatedly describe the cinematography as comparable to a high‑school project, and the direction is labeled formulaic and hurried. Production design receives no positive remarks, and editing is criticized for being unrefined. The cumulative evidence points to a markedly weak technical execution.
- Character & Emotion 20
Character and emotional impact are consistently reported as lacking. Critics and users mention wooden acting, particularly from the lead, and a dearth of meaningful dialogue or chemistry. Although one reviewer notes a modest seriousness that prevents outright camp, the prevailing view is that performances do not engage the audience, resulting in a shallow emotional experience.
- Story & Flow 15
The story and narrative flow are described as disjointed and unoriginal. Reviewers highlight illogical plot points, ineffective pacing, and an underdeveloped sci‑fi setting that feels afterthought. The premise is deemed clichéd, and dialogue is often called childlike or clumsy. Overall, the film fails to present a coherent or compelling storyline.
- Sensory Experience 25
Sensory elements receive limited commentary, yet the few references are negative. Critics note cheap visual effects, such as a rudimentary hologram, and a lackluster soundscape. No reviewer praises the soundtrack or sound design, and visual style is characterized as generic. Consequently, the sensory experience is assessed as below average.
- Rewatch Factor 25
Rewatch factor is low for most viewers, who describe the film as tedious and without lasting appeal. One user finds accidental humor entertaining, but this sentiment is isolated. The majority advise against further viewings, citing boredom and a failure to engage beyond a single watch, leading to minimal replay value.
-
IMDb 3.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 11% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 58%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 52% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 1.6 /5
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 1.9 /5
See on Movie Insider
Apex Plot Summary
What happens in Apex from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film opens with Samuel, a self-proclaimed Apex Warrior and pharmaceutical trillionaire, expressing his boredom with the virtual challenges and asking for something real to test him. Thomas Malone [Bruce Willis] has spent years locked away, serving a life sentence for a string of crimes, and he longs to be reunited with his family. When the game-master pitches him a stark deal, Malone sees a narrow path to freedom: survive a private island while being hunted.
Full summary
The whole story of Apex, scene by scene
Apex Box Office
Apex grossed $11,984 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$12K
- International
- $12K
Apex Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer UK Trailer
How Well Do You Know Apex?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays the convict Thomas Malone in the film?
Cars in Apex
2 cars on screen: the 2020 Ford Explorer and the Bobcat E35.
-
2020 Ford Explorer Minor role -
Bobcat E35 Background role
Apex Also Known As
17 alternative titles, including “Apex Predator” and “獵殺時刻”.
- Also known as
-
- Apex Predator
- 獵殺時刻
- משחק הניצודים
- Преступный квест
- Apex - Vadászok szigete
- Vrcholný predátor
- 에이펙스
- Apex (Depredador alpha)
- 猎杀时刻
- Апекс: Смертельний квест
- אייפקס
- الذروة
+5 more Show fewer
- キル・ゲーム
- Κυνήγι στο Άκρο της Γης
- 終極狩獵團
- Stipriausias plėšrūnas
- ล่าคนอึดพลิกจักรวาล, მწვერვალი
Seen Apex?
Movies Like Apex
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Prey, Surviving the Game and The Hunted.
Apex FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Apex, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Apex?
Apex runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).
When was Apex released?
Apex was released on November 12, 2021.
Who directed Apex?
Apex was directed by Edward Drake.
More films by Edward Drake Who is in the cast of Apex?
Apex stars Bruce Willis as Malone, Lochlyn Munro as Lyle and Corey Large as Carrion, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Apex make at the box office?
Apex grossed $11,984 worldwide.
How is Apex rated?
Apex has 3.0/10 on IMDb, 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, 52% on TMDB and 1.6/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Apex have a post-credit scene?
No. Apex has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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