"The Gorge," "One of Them Days," and "The Instigators": Brief and Not-So-Brief Opinions: Part 18

The Gorge (Apple TV+), One of Them Days, and The Instigators (Apple TV+).

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The 'brief and not-so-brief opinions' articles are my outlet to rant about or appreciate movies, shows and their elements. I will express my thoughts while watching and after or only after watching, it depends. I will not be rating. These are not spoiler-free for the most part, and no research will be made for or about them (unless it's out of curiosity or accidental, which would be mentioned). They are in no particular order of recent watching as well. However, the opinions are based on the order in which the movie or series is viewed (for the most part). This wouldn't be as structured or detailed, and there would be no set number of picks per article. It would be just as things go. It is intended to be casual. So think…conversations about movie plots, characters, topics, or something like that.

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The Gorge (2025)

This film delves into the experiences of Levi and Drasa during their one-year deployment to a confidential location, where they unravel the mysteries of The Gorge. The pair form a friendship and a blooming romance after ignoring their instructions to avoid contact with each other. This agreement helped fend off loneliness among the mercenaries, unlike J.D. and other soldiers before him. J.D was in Levi's place and informed him of all he could before leaving. He was understanding, open, and warm to talk to but was utilized as an example to show that the officials who placed them there are indeed awful. His death was swift and felt somewhat open-ended with an expectation of a comeback which never happened and I was disappointed about that. 

As time passed and more of Levi and Drasa's adventures were shared, I began to wonder how J.D. handled things in his tower, since he wasn't communicating with the person in the opposing building, which highlighted how special their joint experience was. Drasa and Levi supported and comforted each other, evident in how Drasa didn't hesitate to dive into the gorge's depths to save Levi. I appreciated the film's action, romance, and detailed set design, especially in the lab. This movie is great to watch, with a tragic realization of what lies in The Gorge, but a justifiable and satisfying ending, making it well worth its attention.

The Instigators (2024)

In The Instigators, Cobby and Rory are inseparable after their failed heist during an election, fearing trouble or abandonment in Cobby's injured case. Rory is an ex-marine civilian who participating in the heist to pay for his son's fees, while Cobby is an ex-con doing it for his necessities. The two have contrasting personalities that complement each other well, as Rory's level-headedness and his ongoing emotional processing with his psychiatrist, Dr. Donna Rivera, contrast with Cobby's individualist and rugged personality. Cobby's street smarts is proven right each time Rory attempts to give people or situations the benefit of the doubt, which happens often. 

As they progress, Dr. Rivera and Special Officer Frank Toomey become increasingly involved, either helping or hindering them their escape, after they mistakenly carry a bracelet with hidden codes to a vault. This movie features a series of hilarious and engaging events that lead up to each one, culminating in a mellow and satisfying finale. I enjoyed this movie and felt it was underrated compared to Wolfs, but I see I'm in the minority in that regard, similar to people probably thinking they could make it to Montréal without a coat or boots.

One of Them Days (2025)

One of them days is what best friends and roommates Dreux and Alyssa go through as Alyssa's boyfriend, Keshawn, squandered their rent money, which should have already been paid. Keshawn's regular empty contributions are made worse by his audacious, careless, and selfish decision, which leads the ladies on an eventful day despite Dreux's need to gain some rest after her shift and before her upcoming interview to be a franchise owner, after dedicating several hours to one of the fast food franchises. Throughout the day, they come up with several good ideas which are intercepted by Alyssa's refocus on Keshawn and his cheating on her. This leads to the most horrid scene, guaranteeing to inspire a flurry of emotions, including shame, secondhand embarrassment, and frustration.

Dreux successfully makes it in time for the vital interview, and despite her inappropriate and flashy attire, it is covered up with a blazer. However, Alyssa's attempt to make Keshawn jealous creates an alarm of trouble and leads to a fight outside of the building where Dreux just finished her interview. She has to help Alyssa to prevent her from being hurt, which is a distasteful sight and jeopardizes her chance. Fortunately, she regains it at the end. Alyssa stressed me out, but I was happy about her growth, both personally and professionally, as she decided to focus more on her art and broke up with Keshawn. Meanwhile, Dreux successfully got the development and change she craved as she gained a boyfriend and landed her dream job at the end. This movie is stressful to watch as you root for the ladies, especially Dreux, most of the time, but you gain love and development in the end as they look forward to better days.

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