THE GORGE. Taylor-Joy & Teller in a sci-fi action romance [Review]

Two experienced snipers—American Levi and Lithuanian Drasa (played by Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy)—are assigned a mission by their employers to guard a mysterious gorge. For a year, they must live in watchtowers on opposite sides of the chasm, ready to respond if any creatures from below attempt to surface. Though Levi and Drasa are not supposed to communicate, they soon develop a bond from a distance, which gradually turns into something deeper. This is the premise of The Gorge, directed by Scott Derrickson, which debuted as an Apple TV+ original on February 14.

Watching The Gorge, one gets the impression that Derrickson’s film is pieced together from elements of various genres and productions. It blends action, horror, science fiction, and romance, occasionally resembling a video game where players must shoot enemies before they reach a critical point. A lighthearted scene where the protagonists communicate via handwritten notes to the sound of The Ramones transitions into a horror moment with jump scares, only to return to romantic themes—and so on.

Despite the overarching mystery from the past and the relentless attacks by monstrous creatures, the film keeps Levi and Drasa’s relationship at its core. Fortunately for both the director and the audience, Teller and Taylor-Joy make for a compelling on-screen duo. They share strong chemistry and convincingly deliver both quieter, intimate moments and action-packed sequences, which are especially prevalent in the second half of the film. Sigourney Weaver appears in a supporting role, though her character is disappointingly one-dimensional and far below the level of her acting capabilities.

The film’s central intrigue is not particularly original, recycling familiar pop culture tropes, such as an infection that transforms humans. While the protagonists face genuine challenges in combat (a refreshing touch is that they don’t have unlimited ammo), the mystery of the gorge is resolved rather easily—characters (and viewers) receive the answers conveniently packaged in video recordings and computer files. However, this seems secondary to Derrickson’s main focus: giving Taylor-Joy and Teller the opportunity to run around with rifles and shoot things. And, in that sense, the film succeeds—The Gorge delivers a fun and engaging experience, provided you’re not expecting deep intellectual stimulation.

Visually, the film holds up well, especially when the characters descend into the gorge, though even here, it evokes comparisons to other productions. One sequence strongly recalls The Last of Us, while echoes of Garland’s Annihilation and even Peter Jackson’s King Kong (specifically, the infamous giant bug scene) are noticeable. These may be deliberate nods rather than mere coincidences.

The soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is another highlight—though not as dynamic as their score for last year’s Challengers (why wasn’t that soundtrack nominated for an Oscar?!), it effectively enhances the atmosphere, particularly during the scenes where Levi and Drasa remain stationed in their towers.

The film is at its most intriguing in the early stages, when the mystery still looms, and the protagonists reveal different facets of their personalities. Once the action fully takes over, the story rushes toward a rather predictable and unsatisfying conclusion.

Still, The Gorge makes for a solid weekend watch. It features well-executed gunfights, strong performances from Teller and Taylor-Joy, and maintains a good pace throughout. A mix of genres with a prominent romantic thread, it’s a film worth watching—not just on Valentine’s Day.