The Gorge

Review by Mark Woodring

This is another Apple original film (in partnership with Skydance) that has gone mostly unnoticed, with little lead up to it.

You probably know by now how often Apple does us right.

Do they maintain that record with The Gorge?

**NOTE: You can read Mark’s review below, then use the player to listen as he and Ryan discuss the film in more depth. Remember, though, you can listen to all our discussions of this and every other movie directly over on ACAST. Stay tuned.**

The Gorge - Review
The Gorge (Apple TV+)

 

127 Minutes, Rated PG-13
Written by Zach Dean
Directed by Scott Derrickson

Synopsis:

Two highly-trained operatives become close after being sent to protect opposite sides of a mysterious gorge. When an evil emerges, they must work together to survive what lies within.

 

In a word: yes.

Derrickson is a director well-suited to this material, which depends on a slow build of tension surrounding the true nature of the titular geologic feature. Once that starts to be revealed to us, the fun really starts.

As the isolated pair slowly come to grips with what they’re facing, their relationship grows as only a relationship built through isolation and fear can, but they’re also kindred souls, two of a kind, which allows us to buy in to the romantic sub-plot.

Circumstances arise where a trip into the gorge is unavoidable, no spoilers, but what we learn there is both horrific, it is Derrickson after all, and somewhat disappointing in that he didn’t go even darker.

Not disappointing enough to ruin my enjoyment of the film, mind you, but a bit of a narrative disappoint for ME. Your mileage may vary, as it did for at least one of my fellow Salt Lake-area critics who gave this one a very enthusiastic thumbs-up.

I’m more of around an 80% thumbs-up on this one, lol. I really did enjoy it.

Sad that we’re not getting at least a cursory theatrical release, because some of this film would look absolutely insane on a big screen.

The creature design is top-notch, and the effects overall are pretty impressive.

Our two stars give solid performances, and at just over 2 hours, The Gorge doesn’t overstay it’s welcome, either.

Definitely, if you have Apple TV+, check out The Gorge.

The Gorge hits Apple TV+ on February 14 and stars Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Sigourney Weaver.

And remember, if the BEST thing you can say about a movie is that it’s “visually stunning,” then they’ve done something wrong.

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