The Gorge — A Review.

*Spoilers*

28th February, 2025: The Gorge.

If you’re reading this … ?

You’re possibly aware of the day of the week you’re reading this on: but not necessarily when I started writing the thing!

So you know?

I’ve started writing this piece on Friday, 28th February, 2025: with the intention of finishing it by Sunday, 2nd February.

Hopefully.

At any rate?

I have little in the way of cash, or company.

So … ?

I’m going to watch a film.

Then … ?   By Sunday?

Tell you what I thought about it.

Hopefully?

I’ll’ve enjoyed it!

~≈🎬≈~

1st March, 2025.

Part One: the Summary.

The Gorge opens to show us a Lithuanian sniper called Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy): hiding in a foxhole near an unnamed airport, waiting for an equally unnamed target to turn up.

The scene shifts … to show us retired US Marine sniper, Levi Kane (Miles Teller): waking up to from a nightmare … to be called into a meeting with an big-wig called Bartholomew (Sigourney Weaver).

Who asks Levi very specific questions.

Is he working?

Is he attached?

Is he fit for service … ?

Would he like a reason to do his job, again … ?

Bartholomew has a job for a man in Levi’s shoes.

One that involves being on his own for a year: in a watch-tower overlooking a gorge in an unidentified part of the world … one that’s separated from the only other tower by a few hundred metres … and a deep chasm …

~≈🎬≈~

Part Two: Thoughts and Questions.

Now … 

There’s possibly questions, here.

Was The Gorge any good?

Did I like it?

Did I spot any flaws?

Is it genuinely a film?

I’ve asked that question before: and probably will again.

I’m very aware I’ve watched a few long form dramas before now: that would count as films, under the right circumstances.

Or, at least, if they met the right criteria.

If, for example, they met the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences standards on what could or couldn’t be Oscar nominated in a given year.

The Academy says a film has to be at least forty minutes long, shown to ticket buying audiences, shown to an audience at least three times a day, over seven days, between 1st January and 31st December in the relevant year to count as films.

Or, at least, count as films that can be nominated for an Oscar.

There’s exceptions, obviously.

But, as far as I can tell, The Gorge, isn’t in an exempted class: nor does it count as a film.

It meets the time duration requirement, at some two hours and seven minutes.

But, as far as I can tell, it was only aired at a qualifying cinema for one day: before its debut on Apple TV+ on 14th February.

I think that’s a shame: as The Gorge is a good looking, visually appealing, piece that would look good on the big screen.

On a personal front, I’d disagree with the Academy: as far as I’m concerned, The Gorge — much like the revered Threads — is a movie.

~≈🎬≈~

Part Three: Strengths.

What else did I make of The Gorge?

Were there any flaws, or strengths?

As I’ve already said, I felt that The Gorge could have had a cinematic release.

The look of the thing is very good.

The location — a river valley in Norway — looked absolutely breath-taking.

The towers that provided the homes for the main characters?

If ever something looked like the Brutalist children of Cold War parents, it was the two watch towers.

West Tower

The creatures, the Hollow Men named for a T. S. Elliot poem?

Actually, the look of the Hollow Men was original.

The creatures are supposed to be soldiers infected with a toxin that cross-breeds them, with local animals local insects, and with local plants.

Leaving the humans at the bottom to the gorge looking like humanoid trees, with twigs and branches growing out of their bodies in ways that looked quite grotesque.

Did you ever hear of mythical Ancient Greek creatures called dryads?   Or hamadryads?

They’re supposed to be the creatures, or spirits, that occupy trees: but that can separate themselves, when needed.

I think you’ll find a few fantasy writers mentioning or using the creatures: I know Terry Pratchett does, in an early Discworld novel.

That’s what the Hollow Men reminded me of: hamadryads, undead hamadryads springing to life to to terrorise those who’ve abused them.

And very effective they were, too.

Combine the Hollow Men with the burgeoning relationship between Levi and Drasa?

And with some competently done action … ?

We’d have a good film.

~≈🎬≈~

Part Four: Flaws.

We’d have a good film … 

A good film … 

Except I’ve possibly spotted a flaw or two.

Certainly ones that caught my eye.

First things first … I saw Blade Runner, a few weeks ago: the original International Theatrical cut that I first saw back in the 1980s, on VHS.

There’s been re-cut versions, since.

But, purest that I am, sometimes, I wanted to see the one I originally caught back in the day.

With the benefit of several years hindsight, I felt Blade Runner’s narration was fine, but the happy ending was unneeded.

The film could have finished at a slightly earlier point: with Deckard and Rachel leaving the building.

I mentioned this, because I feel the happy ending of The Gorge could also have been dropped, or changed.

Yes, it’s a nice, happy ending: our young lovers are re-united in France, sharing a kiss under a gorgeous sunset.

But … ?

And here’s the major flaw, I feel

The ending is after Levi and Drasa have had to destroy the gorge with a 1940s-era nuclear bomb that’s been left there.

A bomb that looks suspiciously like the Little Boy bomb dropped on Hiroshima in World War Two.

If I’ve understood what happened correctly, when the bomb goes off, Levi and Drasa have to get more than 4.2 kilometres (~2.5 miles) away from the Gorge, in order to be safe from the effects of the bomb.

In under two minutes.

Even given that the pair are trained snipers, trained soldiers?

I don’t think they could have done it.

Especially when the Sigourney Weaver character’s helicopter is destroyed, fleeing the blast.

I think their happy ending — kissing under a French sun, free from injury — is NOT what happened.

I think the nuclear explosion would have killed them.

~≈🎬≈~

2nd March, 2025.

Part Five: Conclusions.

So … what did I make of The Gorge?

Of a very entertaining film, with sympathetic characters, a villainous villain and frightening monsters?

Of a film that made an interesting attempt at mixing romance, horror and action: alongside touches of Stranger Things set design and an Outpost-like attempt at Lovecraft-style super soldiers?

Of a watchable well made film … with an unnoticed flaw at its heart?

Like I’ve said, The Gorge is a well made film.

And one I felt would look on the big screen: much as I felt Paramount’s latest Star Trek offering, Section 31, would.

As mistaken as that possibly is, I can understand why both companies want to keep the respective properties exclusive to their platforms: they’re trying to build businesses in an increasingly competitive market.

That’s possibly beside the point.

Apple have produced a watchable film.

But one whose flaw spoilt my enjoyment.

The Gorge makes for an entertaining watch: if you’re already an Apple TV+ subscriber.

But — given how the thing ends? — wouldn’t make me subscribe to their channel.

Bear that in mind if you’re thinking of watching …

The Gorge.

★★☆☆