After enjoying The Black Phone in 2021, I was eager to see what Scott Derrickson would deliver next. The early year release, The Gorge (2025), starring Miles Teller as Levi and Anya Taylor-Joy as Drasa, a top pick on Apple TV+, is a blend of action, horror, romance, and sci-fi. But what makes this action-horror hybrid worth your time? Let’s break it down in this movie review (no spoilers).
The Gorge (2025) Genre
What some critics viewed as a flaw might actually be the film’s core strength. The Gorge (2025) shifts between genres. The film starts as an action thriller, dips into romantic drama, then turns mysterious, and before long, it leans into full horror with Resident Evil-style creatures. Director Scott Derrickson seems to have poured every idea he had into one film. The result is chaotic but bold.
The Premise…
A story following two elite snipers, Levi and Drasa, stationed on opposite sides of a secretive gorge. The two expendables are assigned to monitor an unidentified threat and are strictly forbidden from communicating, but not stalking each other. Through glances, later on exchanged notes, they begin to form a bond in this isolated, high-pressure role, introducing the romance element of the film.
Mystery Movie?
At their isolated posts, the film builds tension through isolation and quiet intensity. You feel the weight of their mission and the loneliness of their role. The mystery of what they’re watching for adds a layer of suspense.
But then, just when you’re settled into a slow, character-driven thriller, the story starts to drift, shifting to military conspiracies, then throws in mutated monsters and bioweapons. By the final act, you’re in a high-tech lab with drones, explosions, and a nuclear threat. The transitions are sharp and not that smooth, but they’re visually striking. To some viewers, folks who watch while scrolling through on Reddit, this can be overwhelming.
What Holds This Film Together
Scott Derrickson, known for Sinister, Doctor Strange, and The Black Phone, keeps the suspense alive. Despite the genre whiplash, he manages to inject emotion and pacing that hold your attention.
The emotional core, Levi and Drasa’s bond, stays intact even when the world around them goes off the rails. That’s a credit to Anya Taylor-Joy, who delivers a strong performance with a convincing Russian accent. She brings depth even to scenes that risk becoming otherwise. The power of casting the right actors! Miles Teller does well, too, though his character feels underwritten by comparison.
The action scenes are well-defined and are captured very well. The CGI, however, looks rough at times, but you might not notice.
The ending jumps into full sci-fi horror, starring Sigourney Weaver as a villain linked to a war-era lab, a good twist. A beast that can talk? Mystery solved! What follows is big action and a return to romance. It’s a lot, and that’s the point.
The Downsides?
The movie skips some explanations. It doesn’t slow down to connect every dot. Instead, it trusts you, the viewer, to fill in the blanks, including accepting that the sniper setup isn’t really the core of the story.
Should You Watch It?
If you enjoy bold genre blends or are fans of the lead characters and director, The Gorge (2025) is worth a watch. Just don’t expect a straight story.
