Apex

It’s hard to figure why Charlize Theron’s starring roles have become so few and far between. In that sense, Apex provides a welcome opportunity to showcase her mix of physical toughness and emotional vulnerability.

Unfortunately, while it spotlights some breathtaking mountain scenery spanning different seasons, this contrived survival thriller from Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur (Everest) struggles to escalate the psychological stakes.

The film sets the tone by opening on a narrow ledge on an intimidating Norwegian peak, with sweeping camera movements accentuating the danger and maximizing the queasiness for those with weak stomachs.

That’s where we are first introduced to Sasha (Theron), a mountaineer and outdoors enthusiast trying to reach the summit with her husband, Tom (Eric Bana).

After surviving a tragic accident, Sasha re-emerges after several months at a wilderness park in Australia — Tom’s homeland — for a solo expedition involving kayaking and backpacking.

Burdened by guilt and grief, Sasha seeks solace as much for soul searching and disconnection as for fun. Is she a curious adventurer or a reckless daredevil? That’s a question to which even she might not know the answer.

She avoids obnoxious catcalls from the locals and just wants to be left alone, but she reluctantly finds a confidant in Ben (Taron Egerton), a frequent visitor who offers some helpful pointers, or so it seems.

However, their encounter turns Sasha into an unlikely target when Ben unleashes an attack with mysterious motives. “This isn’t a game,” he explains. “It’s a ritual.”

Sasha’s resilience and resourcefulness are tested under the most desperate of circumstances. She’s familiar with combatting the elements, but a sadistic human adversary is a new adventure.

Kormakur’s stylish action sequences yield some intermittent excitement, as Sasha navigates land and water, including a perilous ascent that forces her not only to confront her tormenter but also her own fears.

She earns our sympathy. However, rookie screenwriter Jeremy Robbins doesn’t supply much character depth or emotional complexity beneath the tightly wound cat-and-mouse surface, preventing the film from generating consistent tension.

Such nuances aren’t in the playbook in Apex, which emphasizes brawn over brains. It features plenty of running, rowing, driving, and climbing, yet seems to be traveling in circles.

Rated R, 95 minutes.