Anyone who reads my reviews knows I may not be the biggest horror fan, but I do love some good suspense. The Gorge is the perfect culmination of action, horror, and sci-fi bound in suspense and anchored by a faultless cast.
Directed by Scott Derrickson, The Gorge is the latest win from Skydance, the unsung heroes of entertainment lately. The studio behind hit series like The Big Door Prize and Reacher and the animated success Spellbound, have delivered another big “W” project for all to enjoy.
Retired marine Levi (Miles Teller) is a skilled sniper who periodically takes jobs in the private sector. When Bartholomew (Sigourney Weaver) offers a unique opportunity, the down-and-out veteran finds a new purpose and direction the next year. Opposite Levi is Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), a European operative who proves in the film’s opening scene how deadly a shot she is. Sedated without a sense of direction, they’re taken (separately) by helicopter to the gorge. With Levi stationed at the west tower and Drasa in the east, the two are contracted to guard the gorge for a year and are barred from contacting each other. But a lack of communication becomes the least of their problems once a disturbance from the ravine causes chaos for the pair.
When the trailer first debuted back in December, the film already had one mark against it: showing too much in the trailer. I’m glad that revealing too much didn’t ruin the movie. If anything, the writers made up for it by plunging a load of context and background behind everything that takes place. In the trailer, you see a foot for a split second, and for some, that completely ruined expectations. There are those who feel the art of surprise is worth the price of admission, while others would prefer just enough detail to be left hungry for more. There will always be that cache of people that scream bloody murder with even a short glimpse of CGI, but I will say that at the very least, what’s revealed actually fits the story.
I was one of those who saw the CGI glimpse in the trailer and raised a brow because the sounds coming from the gorge didn’t match what was seen. But when watching the film, everything comes together nicely; like when a puzzle piece fits just right. Levi and Drasa are left to keep “The Hollow Men”, those who reside deep in the valley, in their place. The plot is based on a 1925 poem of the same name by T.S. Eliot. The poem has been recited and/or referenced in many mediums, including Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now and Stephen King’s The Dark Tower book series. During Levi’s exploration of the west tower, he notices writing on a wall behind a bookcase. After reading a handful of quotes, he stumbles upon one from Captain Bradford Shaw, written in 1947: “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” That quote came courtesy of who? T.S. Eliot. The Great War-era poet suggests that we can discover our potential by daring to go beyond our comfort zones, embracing risks, and not allowing fear of failure to hold us back. Levi coincidentally has a secret love of poetry and is quite familiar with T.S. Eliot, giving him a leg up in deducing what transpired around them.
The film wastes no time in getting to the action. After the opening scene where Drasa hits her mark from long range (she’s in a forest; he’s on a runway at an airport), the film gives a quick background on both her and Levi. Then, 35 minutes into the film, things get dangerous. A sequence occurs that sets the tone for the entire movie. The wonder and curiosity that comes with meeting someone for the first time get cut short when Drasa notices movement along the gorge. That simple hunch would lead to four straight minutes of gunfire. Pistols, assault rifles, and gun turrets send bullets flying in every direction. This leads to the most epic sight in the entire movie: a wide shot of the towers igniting the night sky in a steady bombardment of hellfire.
The film boasts a high level of suspense, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats in anticipation. Danger and shock lie in wait around every corner, behind every shadow, and on the edge of every cliff. To supplement that fear is an excellent soundtrack by none other than Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor. The wide range of synths assists in placing fear in the unknown. It’s a unique, once-in-a-generation orchestration that will become a must-have after the film’s debut.
Simply put, Miles Teller is amazing and has excellent chemistry with Anya Taylor-Joy. He’s been trending in the right direction since The Divergent films almost a decade ago. After starring in Top Gun: Maverick (another win from SkyDance), we finally get to see Teller flex his muscles by both starring and executive producing his first feature film.
The Gorge earns a 9.5 out of 10. The film’s true strength lies in its masterful use of suspense, achieved through a combination of compelling writing, impressive cinematography, and an incredible score that elevates the experience. It effectively builds suspense and evokes emotions without resorting to gratuitous violence or excessive gore and the characters’ romance avoided overplayed, hypersexualized portrayals. While some scenes contain mild profanity, they pale in comparison to the obscenities that have become commonplace in film today. The Gorge serves as a powerful reminder that horror and suspense can be achieved without blood, gore, and excessive violence.
No “R” rating? No problem.
The Gorge will be available to stream on Apple TV+ on Feb. 14.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Apple TV
Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 2hrs 8 mins.
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: Feb. 14, 2025
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