---
title: "The Gorge"
year: 2025
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-gorge"
fi1m_id: "the-gorge"
imdb_id: "tt13654226"
tmdb_id: 950396
wikidata_id: "Q116971304"
fi1m_score: 70
critics_score: 62
critics_reviews: 17
published: "2026-09-23T11:28:36.630952+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-23T11:28:49.596181+00:00"
region: "MY"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Gorge (2025)

Directed by Scott Derrickson · 2h 08m · LPF 18SG · Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller

## Identity

The Gorge

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-gorge
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-gorge
- **IMDb ID:** tt13654226
- **TMDB ID:** 950396
- **Wikidata ID:** Q116971304
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13654226/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/950396, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116971304

**Fi1m score: 70** · Critics 62 from 17 reviews

*In a sentence:* A sniper romance that makes a reasonable case for flirting through binoculars

> *The Gorge* works best when Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy are trying to get each other’s attention. The romance makes this odd thriller worth an evening, despite clumsy dialogue and an overexplained mystery.

## Synopsis

Levi (Miles Teller) and Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy) are snipers guarding opposite sides of a mysterious gorge, isolated at posts that keep them apart. They begin watching each other through binoculars and exchanging notes, turning the distance between them into an awkward means of getting acquainted. Their duty is to watch the creatures in the gorge; their growing attraction gives them another reason to keep looking across it. With Bartholomew (Sigourney Weaver) also in the story, the two guards try to get closer while keeping their attention on the danger below.

## Review

Scott Derrickson’s *The Gorge* is an enjoyable romantic thriller that becomes less interesting when it starts explaining itself. Its best idea is simple: put two lonely snipers on opposite sides of a dangerous gap, then let them become curious about one another. Zach Dean’s screenplay takes that attraction seriously enough for the unlikely arrangement to work. The trouble comes when the science fiction needs explaining, and the film begins supplying answers to questions that were more enjoyable left open.

Miles Teller’s Levi and Anya Taylor-Joy’s Drasa have to make an impression across a considerable distance, with notes and binoculars doing much of the work. That restriction gives the romance something useful to do before anyone has to declare a feeling. We were touched by their exchanges of notes: making contact requires effort, and the effort makes their loneliness believable. The actors make these overtures feel playful without treating the need for company as a joke.

Dan Laustsen’s cinematography gives the gorge the scale this romance needs: getting a good look at someone is a task in itself. The separation makes the binoculars useful as something besides a sniper’s equipment, and gives an ordinary exchange of attention some suspense. Rick Heinrichs’s production design helps sell the isolation of the two posts, so the yearning across the gap has a setting we can believe in. The space between the guards keeps the courtship from feeling too easy.

The shift towards creature action is not a complete disappointment. Scott Derrickson can make the combination of romance and threat feel like a good reason to put these genres together, and the creatures have enough strangeness to deserve a look. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross provide music that gives the action a welcome urgency. Their score helps sustain excitement when the effects become less persuasive, although it cannot make the monsters as involving as the people watching for them.

The dialogue is a more persistent problem, especially once Zach Dean has explanations to deliver. The early exchanges leave room for the performers to suggest an interest in each other; the exposition gives them information to pass on instead. A mysterious posting invites questions, certainly, but the answers are delivered with a solemnity that this story cannot support. The film is asking us to accept a fairly silly situation, and it does better when it allows some pleasure in the silliness.

Frédéric Thoraval’s editing is uneven in negotiating those changes of pace, and some of the movement between tenderness and danger feels abrupt. At 128 minutes, there is more explanation than this slender setup needs. The film nevertheless understands something useful about romantic thrillers: we need time to enjoy the couple’s company before their predicament can matter. Its patient early courtship earns enough affection to survive the less satisfying passages. Give it an evening if two lonely snipers exchanging notes sounds appealing, and do not expect the science fiction to bear much scrutiny.

*Fi1m score 70, published 23 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean positive, with most critics finding an entertaining, if uneven, mix of romance, action and horror. Praise centres on the courtship across the gorge, where notes and binoculars give the isolated leads an appealing way to connect. Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy’s chemistry is the most consistent selling point, while several reviews also single out Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s score for strengthening the atmosphere and action.

The spread is wide, however, and agreement weakens once the film moves beyond its romantic setup. Reservations cluster around clunky dialogue, explanatory passages and familiar sci-fi horror plotting; the creature effects impress some critics and disappoint others. The Guardian dissents on the romance itself, finding it forced and unconvincing. Collider offers a different reservation: it enjoys the leads’ chemistry, action and effects but finds the mixture of genres too predictable to recommend.

## Straight answers

**Is The Gorge worth watching?**

*The Gorge* is worth watching for its playful sniper romance, and we scored it 70 out of 100. Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy make their characters’ exchanges across the gap touching enough to carry the thriller through clumsy dialogue and excessive explanation; we recommend it for the courtship rather than the science fiction.

**How long is The Gorge, and what is it rated?**

*The Gorge* runs 2h 08m and is rated 18SG by the LPF in Malaysia. It is a romance and science fiction film.

**Where can I watch The Gorge in Malaysia?**

*The Gorge* is streaming on Apple TV in Malaysia. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is The Gorge, and is it suitable for children?**

*The Gorge* has a UK 15 certificate and features creature action and threat, making it unsuitable for younger children. The romance gives the danger a softer counterweight, but this remains a thriller aimed at older teenagers and adults; we would not treat the playful courtship as a sign of family-friendly viewing.

### Reviews we read (17)

- **RogerEbert.com**, Brian Tallerico (75/100, inferred): The film is a fun if flawed throwback B-movie that delivers on its genre-mashing action and horror potential once it gets going. The critic singles out the excellent score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross as elevating the action sequences. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-gorge-movie-review-2025)
- **The Telegraph** (75/100, inferred): The critic notes that the unusual premise of two strangers flirting across a gorge via binoculars is wrung for enjoyable thrills by the stars, who make a good team despite awkward dialogue. Derrickson handles the effects budget with aplomb in a suspenseful sci-fi horror that serves entertainment despite not being award-worthy. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/the-gorge-review-anya-taylor-joy-miles-teller/)
- **Variety**, Courtney Howard (75/100, inferred): The film succeeds as a suspenseful genre mashup of romance, horror, sci-fi and action, delivering a fun thrill ride with strong highlights in character setup and inventive creature effects. The critic singles out the charming cross-gorge romance scenes and chemistry between the leads for praise. [Read](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/the-gorge-review-1236304812/)
- **Empire**, Dan Jolin (70/100, inferred): The critic describes the film as a frothy, un-serious B-picture mash-up of action, horror and romance that works best as an unlikely love story between the two leads. They single out the endearing central romance and the score for praise while noting some clunky dialogue and underwhelming CGI. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-gorge/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Justin Clark (64/100, inferred): The critic highlights the strong setup and patient character work in the lonely romance between the two leads but finds the shift to action-horror disappointing and less compelling than a more cerebral version could have been. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-gorge-review-anya-taylor-joy-miles-teller/)
- **Radio Times**, James Mottram (3/5): The critic describes a quirky horror-thriller with twisted romance between snipers on opposite sides of a mysterious gorge, noting that the director combines fantasy and horror sensibilities effectively for escapist entertainment. Teller and Taylor-Joy handle the action well but lack sexual chemistry, while a silly screenplay derails into conspiracy-driven corniness in the final third. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-o6stjd/the-gorge/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Lovia Gyarkye (59/100, inferred): The critic finds the early romance and chemistry between the leads endearing and well-staged through notes and binoculars, but deems the later sci-fi action and conspiracy elements lackluster with clunky exposition and insufficient thrills. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-gorge-review-anya-taylor-joy-miles-teller-1236134468/)
- **The AV Club**, Brianna Zigler (C): The critic praises the grabby premise and initial sweet romance between the isolated snipers but criticizes the film for quickly falling into predictable, derivative sci-fi horror territory with familiar twists and imitative elements. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-gorge-review)
- **Financial Times** (★☆☆☆☆): The critic praises the crisp initial premise of snipers guarding a mysterious gorge but criticizes the film for getting restless too soon, devolving into drab, mechanical execution with a video-game feel and unwieldy effects mess. The central pairing and script elements like TS Eliot quotes come across as cheesy and unconvincing. [Read](https://www.ft.com/content/afc007af-b741-4db3-b006-0ebbe5a22b70)
- **The Guardian** (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film starts with some low-level genre fun in its setup of two snipers guarding a monster-filled gorge but quickly dissipates goodwill with a forced central romance that feels unconvincing and autopilot. The second half descends into subpar creature effects and predictable plotting that fails to engage. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/14/the-gorge-review)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (80/100, inferred): The film is an entertaining genre hybrid of romance, horror, sci-fi and action that succeeds as a credible love story between two assassins. Exceptional cinematography, atmospheric production design and a strong score are singled out for praise. [Read](https://deadline.com/2025/02/the-gorge-review-miles-teller-anya-taylor-joy-find-love-action-filled-romance-horror-hybrid-1236287522/)
- **Film Stories**, Maria Lattila (78/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as an ambitious and enjoyable genre-bending horror-thriller with strong chemistry between leads Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, impressive visuals, and an interesting story, despite choppy editing. She singles out the lack of marketing and promotion for the Apple TV+ release as a major complaint. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/features/the-gorge-is-an-excellent-horror-thriller-but-does-anyone-know-its-coming-out/)
- **Paste**, Jesse Hassenger (6.7): The critic notes the absurd setup but appreciates the surprisingly tender romance between the leads amid the genre shifts, highlighting the convincing chemistry and romantic elements over the monster horror. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/scott-derrickson/the-gorge-anya-taylor-joy-miles-teller-apple-tv-review)
- **/Film**, Jeremy Mathai (7/10): The critic calls it a solid, entertaining genre mashup that succeeds best as a sincere romance between the leads, with strong chemistry and direction, though the sci-fi/horror elements in the gorge are less satisfying. The romance and the leads' performances are singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1786699/the-gorge-anya-taylor-joy-miles-teller-movie-review/)
- **The Wrap** (70/100, inferred): The movie delivers a freaky, high-octane romantic action story with memorable monsters but fumbles when it explains the central premise. The chemistry between the leads and the bizarre beasts stand out as highlights in an otherwise mixed execution. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/the-gorge-review-miles-teller-anya-taylor-joy-movie/)
- **Collider**, Therese Lacson (4/10): The critic finds the film a silly, predictable popcorn movie with too many genres mashed together, but praises the chemistry between Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller and the fun action scenes and special effects. [Read](https://collider.com/the-gorge-review/)
- **The Playlist**, Rodrigo Perez (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a messy genre hybrid that fails to deliver on its high-action, genre-bending promise, with silly elements, dull action, and wasted leads. The flirty first act is singled out as relatively novel, but the overall execution is criticized as predictable and unsatisfying. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/the-gorge-review-miles-teller-anya-taylor-johnson-cant-save-scott-derricksons-messy-genre-horror-romance-hybrid-20250213/)

## Details

- **Director:** Scott Derrickson
- **Director:** Scott Derrickson
- **Writer:** Zach Dean
- **Cinematography:** Dan Laustsen
- **Editor:** Frédéric Thoraval
- **Music:** Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
- **Production design:** Rick Heinrichs
- **Costume design:** Ellen Mirojnick
- **Producer:** C. Robert Cargill, Zach Dean, David Ellison
- **Cast:** Miles Teller as Levi; Anya Taylor-Joy as Drasa; Sigourney Weaver as Bartholomew; Sope Dirisu as J.D.; William Houston as Erikas; Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Black Ops Commander; James Marlowe as Bradford Shaw; Julianna Kurokawa as Airman
- **Runtime:** 2h 08m
- **Certificate (LPF):** 18SG
- **Release (Malaysia):** 14 February 2025
- **Genres:** Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller
- **Budget:** $70 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUSdnuOLebE

## Where to watch in Malaysia

- Apple TV: streaming, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-23.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, SE, SG, TH, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Monsters* (2010): A tentative romance develops beside dangers the couple cannot hope to control.
- *Spring* (2014): Another courtship interrupted by bodily horrors, with patience for the people involved.
- *Starman* (1984): Science fiction with room for tenderness, and two leads worth travelling beside.
- *The Host* (2006): Creature trouble and family loyalties share the screen without cancelling each other out.
- *The Lunchbox* (2013): For the pleasure of watching lonely people grow closer through written messages.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-gorge