The Gorge: A Sci-Fi Romance That Will Leave You Breathless!

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2 Invisible Marksmen. One Outstanding Film. The latest addition to Apple TV+, titled “The Gorge“, showcases top-tier acting talent but seems to have received insufficient promotion.

The director behind Doctor Strange, Sinister, and The Black Phone, Scott Derrickson, presents an intriguing sci-fi action film featuring Anya Taylor-Joy as Drasa and Miles Teller as Levi, two snipers posted on either side of a deep chasm. Unaware of the contents within, their mission is to prevent whatever lies inside from escaping. Remarkably, this movie manages to avoid the pitfalls that often plague its genre, delivering a well-crafted production instead.

Without a doubt, securing funding for Apple TV+’s movies and shows like “The Gorge” isn’t a struggle given its financial backing. Zach Dean, the writer behind this screenplay, has already demonstrated his knack for combining intricate character development with thrilling action, as seen in “The Tomorrow War.” In “The Gorge,” he introduces us to our main characters – Levi, who lives secluded, and Drasa, who’s on the brink of losing her father.

In this adaptation, Bartholomew (Sigourney Weaver) enlists Levi for a unique assignment: protecting the chasm. The narrative shifts intriguingly at this point. Levi receives an overview of the chasm’s history from the current sentinel, J.D. (Sope Dirisu), who passed on the tale from his predecessor and so forth. It’s captivating to see how the film illustrates the lengthy tradition of information passing down like a game of broken telephony over decades. From then on, Levi is posted on one side, while Drasa stands guard on the other. They are forbidden from communicating, but Drasa tends to disregard rules.

In The Gorge, the story unfolds as if it’s divided into two distinct parts. The initial segment brims with mystery and suspense. Characters Levi and Drasa are at the heart of this phase, their interactions primarily involving silent gestures reminiscent of the iconic Love, Actually scene. This sets up a clue about the film’s underlying theme – it’s a romantic tale. As the story progresses, they develop a heartwarming, authentic bond that stirs empathy in viewers. These two isolated individuals may not be able to hear each other’s voices, but they find happiness and camaraderie in one another. They celebrate Christmas and share joy through their silent exchanges.

The characters in this story aren’t your typical tough, battle-hardened snipers – they are full of humor, with Drasa being particularly witty. Instead of the usual traumatized assassin stereotype, they have a richness to their personalities that feels genuine and human. As they interact more, it’s hard not to be drawn into their unique relationship. The chemistry between Teller and Taylor-Joy is convincing, and both deliver excellent performances. Taylor-Joy stands out in particular, showcasing her impressive acting skills, as demonstrated in her previous films and series.

However, let’s discuss the second part. It’s here that we uncover the secrets of the ravine, with Levi and Drasa confronting whatever lies within. This segment takes a turn towards typical action elements, featuring gunfights and combat scenes, which at times resemble the Resident Evil series. While it may not be as impactful as the initial half, it still delivers well due to Derrickson’s skillful direction. He employs distinct colors to distinguish various locations within the ravine, such as red and purple, lending these sequences a dynamic feel.

This movie isn’t flawless – there are a handful of foreseeable plot points, and occasionally the explanations feel awkward. However, the air of mystery is consistently maintained, although the action sequences may appear somewhat humorous at times. Yet, this film excels due to Teller and Taylor-Joy, two gifted dramatic actors who effortlessly bring life to an action scene and a romantic connection. The scenes focusing on Levi and Drasa’s relationship resonate most strongly with me, even if they might elicit the occasional eye roll from more cynical viewers.

In summary, the last part delivers as expected, but it’s not remarkable. To put it simply, The Gorge left me impressed and I suggest anyone with an Apple TV+ subscription to give it a watch. It surpasses many action movies that go directly to streaming platforms. When I discussed making this film with its director, he likened its structure to Titanic, another movie known for its initial half focusing on romance and the latter half filled with action-packed suspense. The team behind this production grasped the concept that we need to empathize with characters before we can truly appreciate the thrills, and they managed to achieve that successfully.

SCORE: 8/10

According to ComingSoon’s review guidelines, a rating of 8 signifies “Excellent.” Although it has some small flaws, this grade indicates that the artwork accomplishes its purpose effectively and leaves a lasting impression.

Disclosure: ComingSoon received a screener for our The Gorge review.

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2025-02-13 20:42