The Gorge

The Gorge

This Apple TV+ movie was streamed yesterday.

A semi-retired Marine sniper (Miles Teller) is recruited by a still impressive Sigourney Weaver for an unusual job that will last for a year - no details given. At the same time, a Lithuanian sniper (Anya Taylor-Joy) is recruited by someone for a similar job.

They are sedated and then helicoptered in to a point a day's hike from their duty posts - one on either side of a deep, mist filled gorge, each in their own ageing concrete tower to guard the gorge.

The rules are quite simple - no contact with your opposite number on the other side; a radio check in every 30 days; kill anything trying to get out of the gorge; expect to be relieved in 12 months.

To no-one's surprise, they don't obey the rules - shenanigans ensue...

It's utter b0ll0cks, but good fun - the writers/producers have sat down with a large quantity of edibles and asked themselves the question, "Given what we are trying to do, what precautions would we have to take?"

There are plot holes you could taxi an Airbus through, but ignore that and eat your popcorn, and you'll likely enjoy it.

Finally an action movie where i actually care about the characters and am rooting for them against a hateable villian. This is down to a good story that pits good individuals against secret governments and private corporate military project. Think X-Files type storyline with a little 'Stranger Things' vibe thrown in, add a heavy dose of action when elite soldiers rebel against their deceitful and murderous masters. Also a good script which does well setting up and building the story. Good action scenes which are exciting and tense. The two leads have a great chemistry and their relationship adds to the high tensions as the story unfolds. Sigourney Weaver is great in her cameo as are the other 2 suppporting actors. The film is tightly edited with no wasted scenes and even though it is over 2 hours it is really a thrilling ride from start to finish. For me it is very hard to find a movie as entertaining as this in the last decade.

I watched this on a whim but chose it for the cast. Was quickly enjoying the movie that constantly moved into new territory with the story.

And believe it or not, it had a pretty great love story something that is really hard to achieve within the genere of horror / sci-fi.

The characters were fun to get invested in and their relationship really made the movie compared to movies that have all action but we just couldn't care less if they died.

I do think it helped that I saw no trailers for the film. That really made it something I could enjoy without having any expectations. If your looking for a good sci fi, I recommend it.

The Acting Anya Taylor-Joy is a great actress. She adds believability to her role by the way she delivers her lines. It is like she is a sniper not just playing one. Same thing will Teller. It's amazing what real actors can do with a story that has been told many times. These two put a new twist on an old story and they make work. Sigourney Weaver was a real surprise who did a good job in a supporting role.

The Story The movie had excellent pace. The action scenes were very well done.

The writing was excellent. Having good lines to deliver by the actors keeps your interest.

Anya and Teller have very good on screen chemistry. You never feel like they are just saying their lines. It would be great to see these two in a sequel but the story doesn't lend itself to a part 2.

If they had got the casting wrong this film would of been a let down for me, The romance that develops was believable and charming and enjoyable to watch. Aside from that it's just a action film which at times left me thinking this was based on a video game...lots of blowing stuff up etc but honestly nothing hear for the horror fans. It follows the action film formula as well as the romantic film formula but completely ignores the horror formula. Yes it has sci-fi in it thus aliens or whatever they called them but they don't give you the creeps. Overall it is entertaining but only because of the casting. It's a great film for a rainy day ,it just isn't a must watch.