Who knew that you could find love at the bottom of a Gorge?
In The Gorge, we meet Levi (Miles Teller), an elite sniper who has lost his taste for ‘the mission’. Things change, however, when he is recruited by Bartholomew (Sigourney Weaver). Tasked with guarding the tower of a highly-classified gorge, he is meant to protect the world from a mysterious evil that lurks down below. Living a solitary life, he is surprised to encounter Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), the sharp-shooter who lives in the tower across the divide. As they bond at a distance, the two attempt to remain focused on their mission. But when they discover the horrible truth about their unseen enemy, they must work together in order to keep the gorge’s secrets.
Directed by Scott Derrickson, The Gorge is a stylistic thriller that has a lot to offer viewers. Part sci-fi action film and part romantic drama, there are moments when the film feels genuinely original, even when it borrows from other pieces. Much of its success lies with its leads. Both Teller and Taylor-Joy have ample action street cred and they put it to good use here. Both have a blend of charisma and brutality that makes them interesting when paired together onscreen. (In particular, Taylor-Joy has moments where she leans into the intensity of her recent performance as Furiosa.)
Though, the real divide within this Gorge is that it can also feel like two different movies, leading to some jarring changes in tone. Whereas the first half of the film leans heavily on the impossible divide between distant lovers, the second half moves into the action side of the horror genre. While both of these styles can work on their own, the juxtaposition of them almost feels as though they’re pitted against one another.
And this is genuinely unfortunate because The Gorge has ample room to play with both styles of filmmaking.
For instance, in the first half, Gorge has some genuinely palpable chemistry within its leads. Set across the great divide with only signs and binoculars to communicate, the connection between the Teller and Taylor-Joy is phenomenal. Tasked with keeping the enemy below, they must not leave their posts, lest danger break loose. Set against its science-fiction backdrop, Gorge balances the ‘will they/won’t they’ with the even more harrowing ‘would they/should they’. But, without saying hardly a word, we become invested in their relationship. We feel the ways that the gap between them tears at their hearts. Long glances and occasional messages create romantic tension in unexpected ways that make the film feel fresh.
In fact, in The Gorge, love is a survival tool. For both Levi and Drasa, their connection brings them to life. Having lived solitary lives as snipers, the two struggle have been unable to make personal relationships so that they could keep moving. But their time stationed in the towers suddenly empowers them with something that’s worth fighting for.
But then, The Gorge pivots its style entirely at the half-way mark of the film. Without giving any spoilers, Gorgeshifts tones entirely by moving into the realm of creature feature. As the director of films like The Black Phoneand Sinister, Derrickson is more than use to dancing with the darkness. As a result, he revels at the chance to play with the monsters of the deep. There are some truly creepy visuals that anchor these moments. By using smoke and bleeding colours, Derrickson keeps the world unsettling. And, it’s worth noting that there are some fun moments to be had as Teller and Taylor-Joy attempt to contain the beasties.
Yet, by putting both genres together in a two-hour film, it feels like neither truly has the chance to shine their brightest. In essence, both styles work effectively but feel slightly rushed when pitted against one another. As a result, The Gorge feels like it somehow misses an opportunity to elevate itself to something ‘more’.
The Gorge is available on Apple TV+ on Friday, February 14th, 2025.
