Teeming with tension and desire, Scott Derrickson’s “The Gorge” is exactly what AppleTV+ needed — an action-packed, romantic thrill ride for all audiences.
Working on opposite sides of an ominous, fog-filled canyon, two contract agents (Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy) hide within tall, impenetrable towers, getting to know each other only through writing. Their bond is tested when unexplainable horrors begin to ascend from the dark ravine, forcing the two to come together and unearth the secrets that lie below.
“The Gorge” is the definition of a “smoothie movie,” blending together just about every genre imaginable. Ranging from various flavors, including romance, horror, science fiction and even history, Derrickson’s latest work offers a taste of every item on the menu.
The narrative may flip from horror to action in a matter of seconds, but Teller and Taylor-Joy’s characters’ budding romance makes the zany genre-mashing feel grounded. It isn’t either of their best performances, but it’s always enjoyable to see Oscar-caliber actors take a stab at lighthearted material.
Having previously directed “The Black Phone,” “Sinister” and “Doctor Strange,” Derrickson isn’t new to working in unique worlds, and “The Gorge” isn’t an exception.
Being his first full-length, original story since 2014’s “Deliver Us From Evil,” it’s no surprise that his latest film is one of his most creative.
Although the genre-blending delivers plenty of adventure, the narrative’s twisting reveals and the intriguing premise is what gives the film its boost of adrenaline. The pair’s exploration of what lurks below evolves into a conspiracy theory-ridden puzzle, sure to appease any mystery flick die-hards.
And to help audiences take a breather from unraveling the central narrative, “The Gorge” provides stellar action sequences to boot.
Whether it’s machine guns raining hellfire on the ravine’s arcane monsters, or a fight for survival against an army of skull-like spiders, Derrickson took notes while filming “Doctor Strange”’s mystical fight scenes.
The intoxicating performances, heart-pounding action set pieces and mind-bending mysteries that highlight the film are just enough to push “The Gorge” past its rather lowbrow screenplay. Aside from “The Black Phone,” Derrickson has never been great with the pen, especially in terms of dialogue. There are a few rough patches of conversation and exposition dumps throughout the film, but it’s never poor enough to take viewers out of the experience.
It’s currently unclear what the budget for the action-horror romp is, but it’s easy to see every dollar on screen, as “The Gorge” boasts stand-out production and creature design. Although the land above is rather muted, the mystifying ravine is filled with just as many colors as it has dead bodies. It’s a stunning mixture of beauty and decay, clearly taking inspiration from properties such as Natalie Portman’s “Annihilation” and beloved gaming series “Silent Hill” and “The Last of Us.” The monster design is also a breath of fresh air in a genre infected with zombie-like creatures. While the CGI is a bit hit or miss, the makeup effects are spectacular, reminiscent of A24’s “The Green Knight” and even “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
However, even visual eye candy isn’t enough to lessen the blow of “The Gorge”’s lackluster finale.
Even with a runtime exceeding two hours, the final act dashes to reach the finish line, not taking the time to answer key questions raised in the last minutes of the film. It attempts to offer a satisfying final scene, but there are far too many threads left lingering as the credits begin to roll.
Despite lackluster dialogue and simplistic writing, Scott Derrickson’s “The Gorge” marries together beloved genres to great effect, delivering viewers a romantic, spine-tingling, action-fueled ride.
“The Gorge” released Feb. 14 and is streaming on AppleTV+.