The Gorge (2025) Review!!

Synopsis – Two highly-trained operatives become close after being sent to protect opposite sides of a mysterious gorge. When an evil emerges, they must work together to survive what lies within.

My Take – This year’s Valentine’s Day saw studios and streamers surprisingly steer clear of traditional romance releases and divulge into some unconventional offerings. Such was also the case of this Apple TV+ release that sees director Scott Derrickson (Sinister, The Black Phone, Doctor Strange) mix up almost everything he has done before to create a compelling genre hybrid.

Working from a script by Zach Dean (Fast X, The Tomorrow War), the resulting combination of a meet-cute-romance-science-fiction-horror-thriller manages to be a taut and engaging experience that is blissfully aware of how silly it is, never tries to pretend it isn’t, and still fully commits to the premise. The kind of escapist original treatment we rarely get to see nowadays.

Aided by a superbly moody score and a solid narrative, director Derrickson employs his horror foundation to elevate a simple premise into a captivating monster film with surprising emotional depth.

Sure, the ideas don’t always work, and the mystery that eventually unravels isn’t as well-realized or smart as one perhaps hoped for, yet, the film works as thrillingly diverting popcorn entertainment that embraces its B-movie sensibilities, and uses a surprisingly playful romantic plot to provide a lighthearted sense of fun.

The story follows Levi Kane (Miles Teller), a former U.S. Marine sniper who is declared unfit for duty after failing a psych evaluation, but is still recruited by the mysterious Bartholomew (Sigourney Weaver) for a top-secret assignment. An assignment which is also handed over to Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), a Lithuanian mercenary, by Moscow, at the same time.

Their year-long job is actually quite simple. Stationed inside ageing guard towers opposite each other, the two are to watch over the deep, mist filled gorge in an unknown location. A place which has existed since at least the 1940s, when representatives of both sides of the Cold War agreed to collaborate on keeping it secret.

But while Levi and Drasa are forbidden from communicating with each other, 365 days is a long time just to sit around doing nothing, and through fleeting glances, small gestures and hand-written signs, they form a romantic bond that defies their orders.

And as they begin to unravel the true nature of their mission, they realize the danger is far greater than they imagined. Forced into an alliance, they must summon every ounce of skill and resilience to confront an enemy beyond comprehension before it escapes and threatens all of humanity.

Here, director Derrickson skillfully balances the narrative’s urgency. Delivering frenetic action sequences that keep the adrenaline pumping but also pulling back when necessary allowing the quieter moments to breathe. Undoubtedly, the script’s genre fluidity is the film’s biggest strength. As it seamlessly transitions from unsettling horror to sweet romance, and then from gripping suspense to thrilling action sequences, all without ever feeling jarring.

An impressive feat achieved through nuanced writing and effective pacing that allows each genre to digest, and the undeniable and captivating chemistry between the leads. It helps that the eerie atmosphere filled with rain, lightning, and fog adds on to the mood. Not only does the haunting texture of light give this dark place some real atmosphere, but the action is always crisp and visible through the gloom.

Even the creature designs are fantastic and effectively unnerving. And yes, the film draws inspiration from the Aliens franchise and the much underrated Annihilation (2018), and even offers nods to the leads star making turns: Whiplash (2014) and The Queen’s Gambit (2020).

However, there is no denying that the film could have benefited from a greater degree of mystery. As the script is too quick to fill in gaps that could have left some room for thought, the film’s ending is clearly visible with a full act still left to go. Surprisingly, at the heart of the monster mayhem lies a touching love story.

Running for 127 minutes, the film invest a large quantity of its time in developing the burgeoning relationship with these two long-distance elite snipers. And while there is enough opportunity to go the cheesy route, director Derrickson avoids the pitfalls of contrived sentimentality. Instead, the relationship evolves organically, providing a solid emotional foundation for the explosive action.

Add to that, Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy have excellent chemistry, committing to the two-handed isolation of the piece with aplomb and sparking up some heat with their very literal long-distance relationship. Taylor-Joy, channeling Furiosa-esque intensity, solidifies her status as a credible and compelling action star. Teller, meanwhile, returns to leading man roles, and delivers a nuanced performance by skillfully portraying the tortured soul of a seasoned sniper haunted by his past.

In smaller roles, Sope Dirisu is criminally underused, while Sigourney Weaver channels her familiar signature boss lady persona with aplomb. On the whole, ‘The Gorge‘ is a thrilling entertainer that straddles an unlikely line between romantic flourishes and horror-twinged action.