The survival film sees her pushed to the edge in the wilds of Australia

Charlize Theron is going full survival mode.

In her new thriller Apex, the Oscar winner takes on one of her most physically demanding roles yet, and the first trailer makes it clear this is not going to be an easy watch.

The story follows Sasha, an expert climber who retreats into the Australian wilderness after a personal tragedy.

But the isolation does not last.

What starts as a search for peace quickly turns into a fight for survival when she crosses paths with a man who is not who he seems.

Taron Egerton plays Ben, a seemingly friendly local who is later revealed to be a ruthless serial killer hunting his victims in the wild.

And from there, it escalates fast.

Think brutal terrain, high-stakes chases, and a constant sense of danger, from cliff edges to raging rivers.

For Theron, the role pushed her limits.

She trained extensively in rock climbing to prepare, diving into both the physical and psychological demands of the sport.

And while she felt comfortable in water, kayaking turned out to be one of her biggest challenges during filming.

The shoot also came at a cost.

Theron suffered an elbow injury that required surgery, forcing her to step away from climbing for months before returning to training.

Still, it was worth it.

The film leans heavily into the tension between its two leads, turning a deadly game of cat and mouse into something more complex as their dynamic evolves.

And visually, the setting plays a huge role.

The Australian wilderness is both stunning and unforgiving, the kind of place where survival is never guaranteed.

Apex lands on Netflix April 24.