As a longtime fan of sci-fi thrillers, I was really interested in The Gorge – advertising wise it had a launch similar to The Matrix where little if any details were shared so understanding what the movie was truly about really dependent on a first viewing. As a SciFi movie with hints of horror & romance, it was truly a weird blend of styles, so I was really curious to see what the movie would actually offer to viewers.
Roger Ebert’s review describes it as “a drive-in B-movie that most people will watch at home in the middle of winter,” which perfectly captures both its throwback charm and the strange reality of streaming releases. As someone who loves when genres collide, I was immediately intrigued by this premise. Now that it’s finally arrived on Apple TV+, I’m happy to report that while not perfect, “The Gorge” delivers an entertaining and ambitious story that mostly succeeds in its genre-hopping aspirations.
The Setup
The premise is deceptively simple: two elite snipers, Levi (Miles Teller) and Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), are stationed on opposite sides of a mysterious gorge, tasked with protecting the world from an undisclosed evil lurking within. In case you’re wondering where you’ve seen them before, think about Top Gun: Maverick and The Queens Gambit. They both did an exceptional job in those properties, and you can see their acting chops have definitely not waned at all!
What starts as a seemingly straightforward assignment evolves into something far more complex, both in terms of their relationship and the nature of their mission. The film opens with Levi being recruited by a mysterious government figure (played by the always-compelling Sigourney Weaver) for this classified assignment. We learn that the gorge has been under surveillance since World War II, with Eastern and Western forces collaborating to keep whatever’s inside from escaping. It’s an intriguing setup that immediately hooks you with questions: What’s in the gorge? Why does it need such skilled marksmen to guard it? And why have these two specific individuals been chosen?
What Works
The chemistry between Teller and Taylor-Joy emerges as one of the film’s strongest assets. Flickering Myth notes that their romance, while potentially cheesy on paper, works thanks to the actors’ committed performances and genuine chemistry, particularly during a memorable slow-dancing scene.
The visual effects and creature design deserve special mention. The “Hollow Men,” as they’re called in the film, are genuinely unsettling. Drawing inspiration from both classic monster movies and modern horror, they’re a unique addition to the creature feature pantheon. The effects team has created something that feels both ancient and alien, with the foggy atmosphere of the gorge adding to their mystique.
Derrickson’s direction shines brightest in the action sequences. As IGN points out in their review, the film really comes alive when it descends into the gorge itself. The claustrophobic environment and creative use of lighting create a palpable sense of tension. One particular sequence involving what critics have dubbed “the flesh tree” is both horrifying and mesmerizing – it’s the kind of imaginative body horror that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross perfectly complements the film’s shifting tones. Their music effortlessly transitions from romantic to horrifying, supporting the movie’s genre-bending narrative without ever feeling jarring or out of place.
What Could Have Been Better
The film’s pacing in the first act is somewhat uneven. While the relationship between Levi and Drasa is well-developed, some viewers might find themselves getting impatient for the real action to begin. As Mashable notes in their review, the romantic elements occasionally veer into cheesy territory, with some of the long-distance courtship scenes feeling more appropriate for a romantic comedy than a sci-fi thriller.
There’s also the matter of exposition. While the mystery of the gorge is compelling, the eventual explanation for its existence and purpose feels slightly underwhelming compared to the build-up. Some plot points are left frustratingly vague, and while ambiguity can be effective in horror, here it occasionally feels like the script is avoiding difficult questions rather than purposefully maintaining mystery. In some respects, the actual reveal feels a bit like Serenity & its creation of the Reavers, although it is a nice touch that the “Allies” were the bad guys here.
The third act, while exciting, rushes through some important revelations. The Heaven of Horror review accurately points out that the film’s ideas about military secrecy and the ethics of containment are intriguing but underexplored. A few more minutes devoted to these themes could have added valuable depth to the story.
The Verdict
“The Gorge” is a bold experiment in genre-mixing that largely succeeds thanks to strong performances, impressive technical execution, and confident direction. While it occasionally stumbles with pacing and exposition, the film’s ambition and creativity make it stand out in an increasingly crowded streaming landscape.
For fans of sci-fi, horror, or romance (or all three), there’s plenty to enjoy here. The film manages to be both intimate and epic in scope, with enough scares and action to satisfy genre fans while maintaining an emotional core that gives the story real weight.
Is it perfect? No. But it’s exactly the kind of ambitious, original filmmaking we need more of. In a landscape dominated by sequels and reboots, “The Gorge” dares to try something different, and while it doesn’t always hit its mark, its successes far outweigh its failures.
As the Chicago Sun-Times’ review suggests, this is a film that knows exactly what it wants to be, even as it shifts between genres. It’s a romance that just happens to involve highly trained killers, a monster movie that takes time to develop its characters, and a sci-fi thriller that isn’t afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve.
For those willing to embrace its genre-bending nature and overlook some minor flaws, “The Gorge” offers a unique and entertaining experience that proves there’s still room for originality in mainstream filmmaking. It’s available now on Apple TV+, and I’d highly recommend giving it a watch, especially if you’re a fan of any of the genres it tackles.
What did you think of “The Gorge”? Did the genre-mixing work for you? Let me know in the comments below!