What The Gorge has going for it is its freshness in concept. The original ideas in this action-thriller-romance-horror film are interesting and the mystery unfolds at a satisfying pace. Director Scott Derickson (Doctor Strange, Sinister) brings a scope and scale to Apple TV+ that is grander than the norm for the streamer, but with that also comes the shortcomings of streaming film productions.
I don’t know if there’s language in every contract that prevents streaming blockbusters from filming a majority on location, but the omnipresence of observable green screen reduces the impact of the visual surroundings and likely also the authenticity of the actors’ performances, especially when they’re in peril. You’re already in the forest, film it all there and add CGI in post.
The tone is an interesting one, that works and doesn’t work. The seriousness of the horror/thriller elements are convincing and effective, but the jovial display of the romantic arc between leads Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy are pretty over-the-top-silly and create a confusing vibe. It feels like James Gunn came out of nowhere to direct 3 fun scenes and then left. I don’t buy it.
Overall, The Gorge is a decent streaming blockbuster that has some interesting ideas, cool action set pieces and horror imagery. But its overreliance on CGI and disjointed tone make it a film that I don’t plan to revisit.
