The Gorge Review: Not Deep, But Still Satisfying
Streaming Movie Review - Apple TV+ - Action/Romance
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Action movies are sometimes a hard sell for me. I like a good story, but that’s not always the most crucial aspect of this genre. Nevertheless, director Scott Derrickson and writer Zach Dean manage to squeeze enough story into The Gorge, now playing on Apple TV+, that it manages to be both an entertaining watch from both an entertainment and narrative perspective.
Levi (Miles Teller) is a former marine and sharpshooter who occasionally does contract work but has been unable to hold a contract after he was declared unfit. When he is called in by a mysterious figure, going by Bartholomew (Sigourney Weaver) offers him a lucrative deal, working in seclusion for one year. He agrees to the job and soon discovers that his position is to keep monsters called The Hollow Men inside of the gorge. Levi learns that he will be working with a counterpart across the rift but that the two of them are not to interact. But one lonely day, Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy) sends Levi a message, and the two begin a friendship that develops into something more profound. When they finally devise a way to bridge the gap between them, they discover something far more sinister is lurking in the gorge.
The Gorge does a great job of striking a balance between a sweet romance between Levi and Drasa while also giving a relatively menacing monster to root against. When the two descend into the depths, the storyline that is opened up there isn’t explored as thoroughly as it could have been, but the premise is engaging enough that it manages to come together and hold attention for the more than two-hour run time.
Without question, the biggest asset of this movie is the cast. Weaver has a long history of excelling in sci-fi films, and whether she is the protagonist or the antagonist, she is always fantastic. Talor-Joy and Teller have wonderful chemistry, and because the film takes its time developing their relationship, we are able to experience that with greater satisfaction. Their charm carries the script in the areas where it is a little underwritten. They can bring the right amount of levity and gravity to the appropriate scenes and make the movie all the more enjoyable.
The effects in The Gorge are decent. There are a few scenes where they leave a little to be desired, but overall, the CGI is well done. There was one firebombing scene in particular that looked solid and added to the sense of dread.
My favorite action movies will always be those that have compelling storylines paired with solid action. My next favorite in the genre are the movies that are so over-the-top in their absurdity that I can’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. The Gorge doesn’t fall into either of those categories but has enough of both to make it a decent weekend watch.
This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on February 15, 2025.