Review: The Gorge

7 May, 2025 William Eguizabal 0 Comments 2 categories

Title: The Gorge
MPA Rating: PG-13
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sigourney Weaver
Runtime: 2 hr 7 mins

What It Is: There exist a gorge. A deep unstudied hole that separates the western and eastern worlds. Each side of the gorge has a person that watches for the creatures that ascend from beneath it. The western front is run by the United States and they’re selection was Levi (Teller) a military sniper with a high kill count. For the eastern front they’ve selected Drasa (Taylor-Joy) also a former sniper with deadly aim and a high body count. But there’s a lot they don’t know, and will slowly uncover about what this gorge is and the secrets it hides.

What We Think: There’s a lot to like here. I’ve never really seen Scott Derrickson make a film like this before. He’s made his name in the horror genre and adjacent territory. While there are some elements of that here, this is primarily a dramatic war romance.

Miles Teller delivers a surprisingly wooden performance—his usual charisma feels lost. Anya Taylor-Joy, unfortunately, also feels miscast and doesn’t quite rise to the challenge. Thankfully, once the two characters finally meet, the film picks up substantially. When all the secrets are revealed, you don’t feel cheated, even if the VFX aren’t particularly strong.

Still, there’s more going on beneath the surface in this unexpected thriller. Derrickson should step outside his comfort zone more often—not necessarily because he’s making better films, but because it allows us to see his direction in a different and interesting light.

Our Grade: C-, In spite of all the film’s glaring issues—its bloated runtime, for example—this is still something that’s bound to entertain. It’s a film that feels bigger than it actually is. I take nothing away from the two leads’ acting abilities (Taylor-Joy is normally a delight), but they simply weren’t given enough to work with, and that’s perhaps the film’s biggest flaw. Still, it’s solid enough to hold your attention. Check it out on AppleTV+ by clicking the JustWatch link below.