Apex: the Netflix thriller filmed in the gorges near Canberra

When Charlize Theron''s survival thriller Apex climbed to the top of Netflix''s charts, plenty of Canberrans watching may have recognised the scenery. Much of the film was shot in the rugged gorge country on the capital''s doorstep, putting the region''s wilderness in front of a global audience.

Where it was filmed

The production used locations in the New South Wales country around Canberra, including Ginninderra Falls at Wallaroo, just over the border to the city''s northwest, and the Bowning area near Yass. The deep gorges, caverns and white water of the region stand in for the remote wilderness in which the story unfolds.

The film

Directed by Baltasar Kormakur, Apex stars Theron as Sasha, a woman processing grief who heads into the wild in search of healing, only to be hunted by a crossbow-wielding killer played by Taron Egerton. Australian actor Eric Bana also features. The shoot brought a major international production to the Canberra region.

A win for the region''s screen industry

Big-budget productions like Apex are a boost for the local screen sector, bringing crews, spending and global exposure for landscapes that locals know well. For anyone who has walked the tracks around Ginninderra Falls, seeing them on one of the world''s most-watched streaming services is a reminder of how cinematic the country around Canberra can be.

Sources: timeout.com, region.com.au.

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