The Gorge (2025) – Mystery in a Creepy Canyon, But Familiar Sci-Fi Tropes
The Gorge (2025), directed by Scott Derrickson, hooked me right away with its big mystery: two guard towers on opposite sides of a massive, classified gorge, and nobody knows what’s down there. Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy as the lone operatives trying to survive in isolation? I’m always in for that kind of “alone against the world” vibe. It builds into friendship, romance, then full-on action-horror. Entertaining sci-fi with some scary moments and cool visuals, but the romance drags a bit and the big reveal feels way too familiar. Solid 7/10 for me—fun watch, just not groundbreaking.
See also: Top 100 Sci-Fi Movies Worth Watching: My Ultimate List for Every Fan
The Plot: Isolation to Romance to “What’s Down There?”
Levi Kane (Miles Teller) and Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy) are elite operatives posted in separate towers overlooking a huge, off-limits gorge. Strict rules: no contact, stay vigilant, protect the world from whatever’s inside. But boredom, curiosity, and human nature kick in—they start signaling, talking, bonding from afar.
Friendship turns romantic (slowly), then the threat emerges: something evil down in the gorge, and now they have to team up to stop it. Sigourney Weaver pops up as the no-nonsense boss Bartholomew pulling strings.
What I Really Liked
- The mystery setup is killer. That massive gorge looks creepy and endless—great visuals, tense atmosphere.
- Early isolation/survival parts are my favorite. Two people stuck alone, finding ways to connect? Loved it.
- Action and horror in the second half deliver: scary creatures, big set pieces, solid thrills.
- Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy have good chemistry. You buy the slow-burn connection.
What Held It Back
- Romance sections slow the pacing way down. Some scenes drag and lose the tension.
- The big explanation for the gorge and its creatures? Super familiar: governments/private corps experimenting for super-soldiers, disposable people, greedy military firms. We’ve seen this exact backstory in tons of movies. Needed something fresher to really blow me away.
Ratings and Critical Reception
- IMDb: 6.7/10 (155,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 62 % critics (149 reviews) / 74 % audience
Critics are mixed—praise the visuals and leads, knocks for predictability. Audiences seem to enjoy the ride more. My 7/10 sits right in the middle.
Final Take: Entertaining Sci-Fi Action with a Romantic Twist
At 7/10, The Gorge is a good weekend streamer if you want mystery, isolation vibes, and some creature action. Apple TV+ dropped it on Valentine’s Day 2025, so the romance angle makes sense, but it’s the gorge itself that kept me watching.
Worth it for the visuals and tension, just don’t expect a totally original reveal.
What did you think of The Gorge? Did the romance work for you, or did the familiar backstory bug you too? Drop your thoughts below!
And suggest my next watch—I’m craving more isolated survival stories or creepy mysteries.
If this review helped, like, follow, share. See you in the next one!
