The Gorge Movie Review

A US vs. Russia scenario, in which each party must overlook an undisclosed ravine. Good chemistry, solid mystery & better than it had any right to be for a Valentine’s streamer dump! 

Genre: Action / Horror / Romance 

Director: Scott Derrickson

Cast: Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, William Houston, Sope Dirisu, James Marlowe, Ruta Gedminta & Sigourney Weaver.

Run Time: 127 min.

US Release: 14 February 2025 (Apple TV+)

UK Release: 14 February 2025 (Apple TV+)

German Release: 14 February 2025 (Apple TV+)

This one was found by accident. As my girlfriend and I were looking for something to watch in late February, we stumbled across this release. I didn’t have much faith in it, given its Valentine’s Day dump on the platform, plus the short recap didn’t make it sound like it would be any fun. I stand corrected, this was much better than I had anticipated, with an intriguing mystery, good performances by Teller and Taylor-Joy, as well as a touching blooming romance. It's not perfect, but it's worth watching. So, zipline with me through my review of The Gorge.

Two highly trained operatives are appointed to posts on guard towers, on opposite sides of a large, plus highly classified gorge, to protect the world from a mysterious world-ending danger.

Taken from a black-listed script by Zach Dean, who brought us mediocrities like Fast X or The Tomorrow War, Skydance Media then hired horror director Scott Derrickson to bring this popular screenplay to life. In October 2022, Apple Original Films signed on as the distributor for the action romance. 

The narrative is by far the weakest aspect. Though straightforward, the general story feels very underdeveloped, leaving the reveal of the secret inside the ravine undercut by the script's shortcomings. The blooming romance works due to the lead actors' chemistry, though it is rushed plus cringeworthy at times. Specific scenes add unnecessary on-the-nose references to the stars’ breakout roles, the pacing is all over the place, and some scenes are stretched out for no reason. It could have profited from a shorter runtime! 

With all its faults, it still manages to blend different genres successfully together, making for a uniquely fun experience, especially in the second half of the flick, when it starts picking up in speed, as the horror-action begins to unfold. The first half hooks audiences with the secret surrounding the chasm, just like the blossoming romance between the two operatives, Levi and Drasa, breaking the solitary monotony. 

The dialogue is generic, adding little to character development or plot advancement. One of the most infuriating moments, though, is when the hue is lifted, revealing what happened at the bottom of the canyon. Instead of visual storytelling, a heavy exposition is thrown into viewers’ faces via a recorded message. 

Another disappointment is the underwritten characters, especially since it only contains three noteworthy ones. The protagonists aren’t fleshed out, making them feel like shallow caricatures. The acting saves the personas from being completely unrelatable, especially since both stars have stellar chemistry with each other.

Miles Teller is cast in the role of Levi, a former US Marine Scout, who suffers from PTSD. The film only scrapes the surface of what could have been an interesting character piece, focusing on mental health issues after serving in the military. Teller, on the other hand, gives a likeable performance as the sniper specialist, including cute, clumsy performances during love scenes.  

Similarly, Drasa’s depressive state of mind, played by a great Anya Taylor-Joy, is underexplored. Contrary to Teller, she gives a more secure rendition when it comes to romance. As with Teller, Taylor-Joy gives a likeable performance, making it easy for the audience to connect with her.

Sigourney Weaver is completely wasted. She has minimal screen time, playing a shadowy operative, named Bartholomew, who hires Levi for the job as a guardsman.

Technically, this movie managed to impress at every level. Lingering panoramic shots of the untouched nature surrounding the gorge are utilised to give the setting character. The use of natural light plus fog added to the enigma of the place, while the grey hue, as well as the use of shadows, elicits a sense of emotional isolation. The action is well framed, using sparing handheld sequences that create a sense of suspenseful urgency. 

Practical set designs are used, which help immerse into the world successfully. The use of different coloured mists gives the second half of the movie a visual sci-fi style. Unfortunately, the overuse of CGI in the latter part does pull one out again. The creatures, while giving a creepy vibe, do contrast with the real-life elements. 

The sound design makes adequate use of silence, building dramatic tension during sniper standoffs. Echoing gunshots or explosions give the scenery a raw presence. The film’s score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross does underline the psychological themes, with quiet piano melodies being used during introspective moments. Sadly, it starts feeling repetitive after a while. 

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Verdict: Scott Derickson’s newest flick is better than I had anticipated, surprising me with an effective genre blend. While the script is the streamer’s biggest flaw, containing severe pacing issues, a too-long runtime, just like a rushed romance that feels cliché at times, it also manages to entertain magnificently! The dialogue makes use of a heavy exposition dump, explaining the background of the gorge, instead of using visual clues. Conversations sound cheaply generic at times. The chemistry between Teller and Taylor-Joy is what saves the romantic angle, as both have magnetic chemistry. Both give respectable performances, especially since their personas are underwhelmingly written. Best is the cinematography, making use of fantastically captured action segments, and setting the overall tone with lights, shadows, plus colours. Negatives aside, it is a fun time, worth seeing at home. A solid 7.0 out of 10. 

Have you seen The Gorge yet? If not, give it a try on Apple TV+. Though having its faults, it is pure entertainment! Leave a comment to let me know what you thought. Thank you so much for reading! Until the next review.