In the earliest scenes of The Gorge, we meet our two protagonists, Levi (Miles Teller) and Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy). Levi, a former Marine scout sniper, lives a life of solitude, wayward and clearly suffering from some form of PTSD. He receives a text telling him to report to a Marine base where he’s interviewed by Bartholomew (Sigourney Weaver), a high-level somebody who can offer him a new sense of purpose. Meanwhile, Drasa, camped out in a hunter’s blind, waits for the perfect shot. After she takes it and kills a Russian Oligarch, she visits her dying father. She has received a mysterious invitation and won’t be there for his end, but he encourages her to go.
These two lost souls have each been recruited to man watchtowers on either side of a mysterious, fog-shrouded gorge. Levi’s predecessor, J.D. (Sope Dirisu), briefs him on how to do his job and explains there’s something in that gorge that the world can’t afford to get out. The details are fuzzy, but the rules are clear: Levi can’t leave, talk to the outside world (except one monthly, super brief radio check-in), or make contact with the tower on the other side of the gorge. Naturally, one of the first things Levi does is contact Drasa on the other side of the gorge.
The two communicate by holding up handwritten notes for the other to read using binoculars. Over time, they find comfort in each other’s presence, establishing a real bond despite being on either side of a supposed hellmouth and unable to speak to one another.
Both actors display the charisma and presence required to pull off this wordless, budding romance. When they speak, mainly to themselves but for the audience’s benefit, it doesn’t feel weird or forced, and, despite the distance between them, there’s an easy chemistry they share, the kind that only two wounded people can. It’s a little cheesy, but it works despite awkward exposition dumps to set up the film.
Eventually, Levi crafts a zipline from a deactivated RPG and some rope and makes his way over to see Drasa, where they share dinner, a dance and a night of passion together. As he returns to his tower in the morning, he falls into the gorge, and Drasa immediately jumps in after him. This is the point where the movie comes apart.
Link: https://exclaim.ca/film/article/the-gorge-film-review-apple-tv
‘The Gorge’ Is Promising but Empty | Exclaim!
