The Gorge (2025)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.