🎬 The Gorge (2025) Review – Sci‑Fi Thriller That Promises Atmosphere but Falls Short
Genre: Sci‑Fi, Horror, Romance, Action
Director: Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange, The Black Phone)
Writer: Zach Dean (The Tomorrow War, Fast X)
Cast: Anya Taylor‑Joy, Miles Teller, Sigourney Weaver, Sope Dirisu
Platform: Apple TV+ (streaming from February 14, 2025)
Runtime: 127 minutes | Rating: PG‑13
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🌟 Introduction
The Gorge is a high-concept sci‑fi thriller with horror overtones, placing two elite snipers in opposing guard towers on the edge of a mysterious, monster-infested chasm. Anchored by Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller, the film blends slow-burn romance with burst-action horror—yet critics generally agree its intriguing premise unravels beneath its glossy veneer .
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🧠 Plot & Premise
Assigned for a year to guard a secret “gorge” against emerging “Hollow Men,” Drasa (Taylor‑Joy) and Levi (Teller) are forbidden any contact. Inevitably, they connect via signs and binoculars across the chasm—and a quiet romance blossoms. But when they descend into the gorge, they uncover mutated soldiers, bioweapons labs, and a clandestine corporation planning super-soldiers—all amid awkward tonal shifts .
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🌅 First-Half Strength: Atmosphere & Isolation
The initial act is genuinely gripping. Derrickson (with cinematographer Dan Laustsen) crafts a visually striking environment: towers looming over misty cliffs, tension built through silence and distance . The romance—the pair exchanging cello-and-chess nods (a nod to their past roles)—is quietly charming, as Reddit users appreciated the setup before the film “runs out of original ideas” .
Highlights:
Cinematography and atmosphere evoke a post-Covid claustrophobia .
Slow-burn chemistry peaks before tonal shift .
Visually arresting towers, gorge, and setting .
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🧟♂️ Second-Half Breakdown: CGI & Clichés
However, the story falters once Drasa and Levi enter the gorge. The hulking CGI monster “Hollow Men” come off as underwhelming: cheap and echoing The Thing or Annihilation, without emotional weight . Critics slammed the vibe shift into rom‑com plus horror as “ridiculous,” mixing horse-riding zombies and melodramatic romance unexpectedly .
Issues Raised:
Monster reveal is cheap and unconvincing .
Romance feels forced once physical .
Script piles on exposition rather than tension .
Big premise—two snipers guard a vast bio-threat—feels implausibly under-resourced .
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🎭 Performances: Taylor‑Joy & Teller
Anya Taylor‑Joy shines in her quieter moments: her playful, open Drasa adds nuance to her usually aloof characters .
Miles Teller provides brooding intensity as PTSD‑scarred Levi but lacks emotional buildup when thrust into action-heavy romance .
Sigourney Weaver’s Bartholomew is squandered—an intriguing presence with very limited impact .
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🎵 Style & Production Values
Scored by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, it provides moody ambiance but doesn’t elevate tension effectively .
Visuals benefit from Apple’s budget and skilled cinematography, though the digital veneer undermines immersion .
The unreliable CGI keeps the horror from landing — viewers note the creatures are "hokey" and the gorge aesthetics inconsistent .
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🌟 What Works & What Doesn’t
✅ Strengths ❌ Weaknesses
Strong opening tension and atmosphere Shallow plot, predictable turns
Player chemistry across the gorge Weak and glorified CGI monsters
Moody, immersive cinematography Clumsy tonal shifts—romance, horror, action
Taylor‑Joy’s emotional performance Exposition-heavy script and improbabilities
Apple budget visible on screen Romance lacks depth and climactic payoff
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📱 Audience Feedback
Rotten Tomatoes: 63% critics, 75% audience
Many praised it as engaging enough for a single viewing but lacking lasting impact .
Reddit users pointed out persistent plot holes—like why only two guards—and felt the climax was “arbitrary” .
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🎯 Final Verdict
The Gorge starts strong—a beautifully shot, ominous sci‑fi thriller with captivating isolation and coaxed romance. But as it descends into its gorge, it loses grip: uneven pacing, cheesy CGI, and tonal confusion weigh it down. The leads deliver decent performances, but they can’t fully rescue a film that unravels beneath its high-concept premise.
⭐ Final Rating: 6.5/10
Recommend Watching If:
You enjoy stylized sci‑fi romance with atmospheric first acts.
You're a fan of Taylor‑Joy, Teller, or Derrickson's visual flair.
You like moderate thrills with some monster-action.