The Gorge Movie Review: On paper, “The Gorge” should be a blockbuster. It’s the story of two snipers on opposite sides of a huge abyss that could be the gateway to hell. Their job is to protect it at all costs, but when the two begin to form a relationship, those responsibilities begin to fall by the wayside, and all hell breaks loose. The snipers are played by the excellent Miles Teller and the wonderful Anya Taylor-Joy. The director is Scott Derrickson who has continually amazed us with films like Sinister, Doctor Strange, and The Black Phone.
The Gorge Movie Story:
Things start with Drasa (Taylor-Joy) who we see as an assassin in a spectacular feat. Then we meet Levi (Teller), an ex-military man who was recruited for a dangerous mission. Through Levi, we learn about the rules of the abyss, its mythology, and everything that has to do with the task of protecting it. There is a lot of information to digest, but it is all fascinating. One of the main rules is that you cannot interact with your counterpart on the other side of the chasm. But one night, that's exactly what happens.
So while The Gorge starts out as a mysterious, captivating military action movie, things slowly move toward romance. Levi and Drasa, separated by this gaping hole in the Earth, communicate exclusively through notes and binoculars, and despite the distance, they find ways to keep each other entertained. They also entertain us because they surprise and delight us with all the ways these two trained assassins open up to each other.
With all this, it's no surprise that much of The Gorge is interesting. There's intrigue, great locations, and fantastic actors. But at a certain point, a movie that starts out so original falls into overly familiar patterns. Not that that ruins everything, but it does take things almost over the edge.
The Gorge Movie Analysis:
As we get to know the characters and become interested in their relationship, the movie clicks. The fact that there is humor and romance in this massive sci-fi tapestry feels good, but then something changes and out of nowhere things start happening, and Levi falls into the abyss, followed by Drasa. Of course, it's exactly what the audience wants to see: to see what's in the abyss and finally get answers, but this is also where “The Gorge” loses its way.
Drasa and Levi are finally together and exploring the abyss, but the movie stops surprising because the encounters and revelations don't seem that interesting anymore and we almost get to see that the movie's writer, Zach Dean, is resorting to the same old thing. It's all been done a million times before. That doesn't mean there aren't some good action scenes, and twists in the narrative. Yes, there are, but they're not as interesting as they could have been in a movie that made you expect more.
By the end of “The Gorge,” you feel like you liked the movie but you leave with a feeling of “I wanted something more.” Teller and Taylor-Joy bring their considerable talents to the project, with charisma, style and emotion. The visual effects, the production design, everything is excellent, and the music by Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross helps bring the tension and emotion to life.
However, once you know what is in the abyss and what the film is communicating, interest wanes. It is a film that has everything, especially at the beginning, but then does not live up to its potential. We like it, but not as much as we should have.
“The Gorge,” now streaming on Apple TV+.