Review: 'The Gorge'
Scott Derrickson directs Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy in a romantic, intense, and supernatural action thriller.
I love a good monster movie. For over four decades, stories of the supernatural, distant worlds, the future, fantasy, and magic have fascinated me the most. I’m Norwegian, but I can name more Star Wars characters than Norwegian celebrities, and I know the map of Middle-earth better than the map of Norway. Back in school, I was constantly daydreaming about adventures and fantasy worlds.
Still do, to be honest. Maybe I’m just a big nerd?
Most monster movies aren’t exactly known for their quality. Sure, a gem pops up now and then, but for the most part, it seems like screenwriters working on these films are more focused on coming up with a cool concept idea rather than telling a good story with strong, likable, or at least, interesting characters.
With the The Gorge, Scott Derrickson, known for The Black Phone (2021), Sinister (2012), and Doctor Strange (2016), manages to pull off something unexpected—a character-driven, romantic monster-action film set in an original universe, packed with an intriguing backstory and intense, chilling action.
In The Gorge, we meet Levi (played by Miles Teller) and Drasa (played by Anya Taylor-Joy), both elite soldiers, snipers, and mercenaries—careers that inevitably leave psychological scars and trauma, something neither of them has escaped.
These two special forces operatives come from opposite sides of the world. Levi grew up with a father obsessed with hunting, constantly taking his son out to kill in the American wilderness. Drasa, on the other hand, is from Lithuania, raised by a father from the infamous KGB intelligence agency. Few children make it through such an upbringing unscathed, and these two are no exception.
When they are recruited by a private organization led by the cold and calculating "Bartholomew" (played by none other than Sigourney Weaver) to guard opposite sides of a mysterious, fog-filled gorge in an unknown location for a year, they accept the job. And why not? They have no family, no friends. No one will miss them. And the pay is good. Levi is stationed on the west side, Drasa on the east.
There are rules: no contact with the outside world, no communication with the person on the other side of the gorge. And most importantly: do not go down into the gorge.
Of course, things are never that simple. A year in isolation is no easy feat, and soon, Levi and Drasa begin communicating using binoculars and handwritten notes. One thing leads to another, and soon, they arrange a date.
Just one problem: a massive gorge separates them. But when you’re highly trained special forces operatives, challenges like these are just puzzles to be solved. Oh, and the gorge is crawling with monsters.
The Gorge could have easily been lost in the sea of genre films with simple concepts and predictable monsters, but it stands out as something much more. While we’ve seen similar setups before, the film impresses with its strong screenplay, solid direction, and outstanding performances. This is a prime example of how a genre film can be elevated by an experienced director, an original story, and actors who truly deliver. These elements lift the film far above most others in its genre.
Director Scott Derrickson gives us a slow-building suspense that steadily builds tension, giving Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy the space to fully inhabit their roles. While this buildup is important as it establishes the film’s premise, it may test the patience of those expecting action from the first scene.
But good comes to those who wait, as they say. The Gorge delivers plenty of explosive monster action, and once the film’s midpoint hits, it barely slows down until the final scene. And while there are some horror clichés here and there, they work well within the action sequences, delivering some truly intense monster moments.
The creatures, known as the “Hollow Men,” may not be the most original we’ve seen in this genre, but they are effective—especially when viewed through the lens of their creepy and intriguing backstory. There are also a few truly unsettling sequences, including one I definitely wouldn’t recommend for anyone with arachnophobia!
The Gorge really has no right to be as good as it is. Films in this genre are usually forgettable, but thanks to stellar direction, fantastic performances, and a sharp screenplay that was voted the most-liked unproduced film on the Black List (a well-known website for screenwriters) in 2020, the result is something truly special in the action-horror genre.
This is a perfect pick for a Friday night! Grab some popcorn, candy, and maybe even a pillow—especially if you’re easily scared or afraid of giant spiders.
You can find the film on Apple TV+ from the 14th of February.