Get ready for a heart-pumping, action-packed romance that will leave you breathless. In ‘The Gorge’, two skilled snipers, Levi and Drasa, find themselves on opposite sides of a mysterious crevice, but their lives become intertwined in ways they never could have imagined.
When two snipers, Levi and Drasa, are stationed on opposite sides of a fog-covered crevice, their lives become intertwined in ways they never could have imagined.
The Premise Behind ‘The Gorge’
The movie’s premise is exceptionally promising. A massive, fog-covered crevice, located in an unknown country, is protected by two watchtowers, one manned by the Russians and one by the British and American governments. A single sniper is assigned to each tower for exactly a year, but the two never interact with each other. Their sole mission is to contain whatever is inside the gorge—a mystery that leaves ample space for imagination under the layers of thick clouds.
A Compelling ‘What If…?’ Story
The best kind of story starts with a compelling ‘What if…?’. The premise behind ‘The Gorge’ is no exception. Directed by Scott Derrickson and written by Zach Dean, this action romance is full of real thrills and tension.
A gorge is a deep, narrow passage with steep sides, typically formed by the erosive action of a river.
Geologically, gorges are created through a combination of 'tectonic uplift' and weathering processes.
They can be found in various parts of the world, often carved out over millions of years.
The Grand Canyon, for example, is one of the most famous gorges globally.
Gorges can also serve as habitats for unique plant and animal species adapted to their specific environments.
Meet Levi and Drasa
Levi (played by Miles Teller) is a former Marine who now works as a killer for hire. He’s amassed dozens of kills as an elite sniper and has no emotional ties. Drasa (played by Anya Taylor-Joy), on the other hand, is a Lithuanian-born sniper contending with the grief that she won’t see her dying father again.
A Romance Blossoms
One night, Drasa holds up a sign asking Levi his name. Although he’s reluctant to break the rules, soon Levi is enmeshed in a long-distance flirtation with Drasa and the pair are exchanging raised messages like they’re texts. You see, this isn’t just an action thriller; it’s a romance.
The Action Unfolds
Derrickson reveals the Hollow Men early on, horrific figures that scramble up the canyon walls, but what’s really going on below is even more grotesque. The Gorge is not exactly horror—wimps like me can safely watch—but it does put Drasa and Levi in white-knuckle situations that are filled with tension and the threat of death.
A Chaotic and Fun Ride
The Gorge is chaotic and fun, despite some narrative and design hiccups. It’s too bad it’s not heading for the big screen. This is the sort of thing you want to experience with a lively audience with the sound turned all the way up.
- observer.com | ‘The Gorge’ Review: Action Romance That’s Chaotic and Fun
