If you do manage to scrape through the initial flawed setup, you would realise that The Gorge has got a story buried deep within its realms. At the face of it, you could view The Gorge as a love story between Levi and Drasa who are ‘trapped’ on duty at opposite sides of the gorge. Yet, there are layers to this tale that truly elevate the drama. The concept of the right and the left itself is a political commentary based on the political ideologies prevalent across the globe. The symbolism here is a little complex – it is shown that Levi, a US national represents the left, and Drasa, a Russian sharp-shooter represents the right. The gorge between them represents the widening distance between their ideologies (ironically as people too), even while being showcased to fight for a common cause of protection. And hence, it made more sense to directly open the film with the setting that offers a sense of novelty with its political ideologies while also adding to the mystery of ‘what lies beneath’.

The strongest aspect of the writing remains its characterization. Levi is a man of few words and living a life of solitude, Drasa is his opposite, a lively young woman who carries the burden of losing her father while aspiring to enjoy life. And hence, it hardly comes as a surprise that it is Drasa who breaches their ‘no-communition’ protocol on her birthday. It is clear that the lack of human touch or communication bind the two personnel and their ideologies here with the setting doubling up as a gateway to hell. The religious undertones are prevalent in the setting too wherein you see a reference of the gorge being ‘the closest to hell’ during an exchange between Levi and Drasa. Interestingly, the first spark in their flirtatious relationship is triggered through handwritten messages on cardboards (given the distance between them). This makes for a nostalgic old-school romance ironically in a dystopian world that instantly adds richness to the drama. The exchanges are cute and occasionally violent, even as they take turns to hunt down creatures trying to escape the gorge. And it is their way of warming up to each other than eventually prompts Levi to take a leap of faith in trying to unite with Drasa.

There are interesting tonal transitions in the film too, swiftly moving from a charming romance to a science-fiction horror of sorts, even as the drama changes its setting. There is an 80s anarchic horror vibe to the proceedings that also unravels the mystery prevailing beneath the gorge, that also doubles up as a government conspiracy of sorts. And here is when the political commentary that is briefly paused, is resumed even as Levi and Drasa learn about the mysteries of the gorge. This, even as the writing shifts gears and converts this setting into a dystopian survival thriller wherein the duo are met with multiple obstacles that double up as nightmares from hell. But the underlying commentary also lies in how people would unite if they were aware or could see through the conspiracies of the government.

The final act of the film remains a simplistic affair with an attempt to tie all the loose ends together. Ideally, I would have liked a little more flesh in the proceedings given how the duo were pitted against an authoritative body. The payoff though is logical with a brief layer of fate that binds the duo together. However, I couldn’t help but think that the events were too cliched and convenient by the end of things, at times almost resembling a video game wherein the payoff just wasn’t entirely satisfying. It did feel abrupt with a rosy ending that felt a tad too convenient for my liking. And there was a scope for a braver ending that remained untapped. All of this did make me wonder on what a few tweaks in the screenplay could have actually done, more specifically the start and the end which would perhaps have elevated the drama into a memorable space. The screenplay here was good but definitely flawed.