Scott Derrickson’s The Gorge is a cinematic experience that defies easy categorization. Equal parts romance, survival horror, and action-thriller, the film is a bold and ambitious offering that pushes boundaries while delivering a deeply emotional story. Released in April 2025 on Apple TV+ after much anticipation, The Gorge stars Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick) and Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit, The Menu) in a gripping tale of love, survival, and redemption. With its breathtaking visuals, intense performances, and a narrative that swings between quiet intimacy and explosive action, Derrickson’s latest film is as daring as it is entertaining.
However, ambition comes with its risks. While The Gorge offers plenty to admire, it also stumbles under the weight of its sprawling plot and uneven pacing. Despite these flaws, the film succeeds in delivering a memorable story that lingers long after the credits roll. Here’s an in-depth look at what makes The Gorge one of 2025’s most talked-about films.
Plot Summary: Love Across the Abyss
At its core, The Gorge tells the story of two broken souls brought together by extraordinary circumstances. Levi Kane (Miles Teller) is a former U.S. Marine Scout/Sniper haunted by his past and struggling to find purpose after leaving the military. Across from him is Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), a Lithuanian covert operative with her own share of scars—both physical and emotional. The two are stationed on opposite towers overlooking the titular gorge, tasked with guarding humanity from the monstrous entities lurking within its depths.
Their mission is shrouded in secrecy, orchestrated by Darklake Industries, a shadowy defense corporation with unclear motives. Isolated from the rest of the world and each other, Levi and Drasa initially communicate only through radio transmissions. What begins as professional banter evolves into something deeper as they share their fears, regrets, and dreams across the void. Their connection feels real and raw—a testament to Derrickson’s ability to craft believable relationships even in fantastical settings.
But their budding romance takes a dramatic turn when Levi falls into the gorge after an unexpected accident. Drasa defies orders to rescue him, descending into the abyss where they uncover horrifying truths about the gorge’s inhabitants—the “Hollow Men.” These grotesque creatures are revealed to be mutated remnants of soldiers from a failed World War II bioweapons experiment. As Levi and Drasa fight for survival against these monstrosities, they also discover that Darklake has been exploiting the gorge for profit, using its secrets to develop advanced weaponry.
The stakes escalate further with the introduction of “Straydog,” a nuclear fail-safe designed to obliterate the gorge if containment fails. With time running out, Levi and Drasa must navigate deadly creatures, corporate mercenaries sent to silence them, and their own personal demons to expose Darklake’s corruption to the world—and make it out alive.
What Makes The Gorge Stand Out
1. Stellar Performances by Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy
At the heart of The Gorge are its two leads, who deliver powerhouse performances that elevate the film beyond its genre trappings. Miles Teller brings depth and vulnerability to Levi Kane, portraying him as a man grappling with guilt and trauma yet still capable of hope. Anya Taylor-Joy shines as Drasa, imbuing her character with equal parts strength and fragility. Together, their chemistry is electric—whether they’re exchanging heartfelt conversations over radio waves or fighting side by side against insurmountable odds.
Taylor-Joy’s performance deserves special mention for how she balances Drasa’s stoic exterior with moments of raw emotion. Her character’s backstory—hinting at personal loss during her covert operations—adds layers to her motivations without feeling overly expositional.
2. A Visual Feast
Visually, The Gorge is nothing short of spectacular. Shot on location in Norway’s Rauma River Valley and enhanced by cutting-edge visual effects from DNEG (the studio behind Dune), the gorge itself feels like a living entity—beautiful yet terrifying. The film masterfully uses light and shadow to create an atmosphere of tension and mystery. From sweeping aerial shots of the gorge’s jagged cliffs to claustrophobic sequences in its dark tunnels teeming with Hollow Men, every frame is meticulously crafted.
Derrickson also employs practical effects wherever possible, lending a tangible quality to the creatures and environments that heightens immersion. The Hollow Men are particularly grotesque creations—mutated amalgamations of human anatomy twisted into nightmarish forms.
3. A Bold Blend of Genres
One of The Gorge’s greatest strengths is its refusal to conform to a single genre. The first act plays like an intimate character drama with romantic undertones as Levi and Drasa bond over their shared isolation. The second act shifts gears into survival horror as they descend into the gorge and confront its monstrous inhabitants. Finally, the third act explodes into high-octane action-thriller territory with corporate conspiracies, shootouts, and a race against time to stop Straydog.
This genre fluidity keeps audiences on their toes while reinforcing the film’s central themes: love persevering through adversity and humanity confronting its darkest impulses.
Where The Gorge Stumbles
1. Uneven Pacing
While Derrickson’s willingness to take his time in developing Levi and Drasa’s relationship is commendable, it may test viewers’ patience during the first act. Conversely, once the action kicks into high gear in the second half, it rarely lets up—leaving little room for quieter moments that could have provided emotional balance.
2. Overstuffed Plotlines
The inclusion of Darklake Industries’ bioweapons experiments adds intrigue but also complicates an already dense narrative. Some elements—such as Straydog—feel underdeveloped or overly convenient as plot devices. A tighter focus on fewer subplots might have allowed for greater narrative cohesion.
3. A Too-Neat Ending
After all its grim twists and turns, The Gorge opts for an optimistic conclusion that may feel at odds with its darker themes. While satisfying for some viewers, others might find it too tidy given the film’s otherwise gritty tone.
Themes That Resonate
Beneath its thrilling exterior lies a story about survival—not just in a physical sense but emotionally as well. Both Levi and Drasa are characters burdened by their pasts yet striving for redemption through their connection with each other. Their journey speaks to universal themes of trust, sacrifice, and finding hope in even the bleakest circumstances.
The film also critiques corporate greed through Darklake Industries’ exploitation of human lives for profit—a timely message in an era where ethical boundaries are often blurred by technological advancement.
Final Thoughts: A Bold Swing That Mostly Connects
The Gorge isn’t perfect—it’s messy at times, overly ambitious at others—but it’s undeniably compelling from start to finish. Scott Derrickson has crafted a film that dares to take risks while delivering an emotionally resonant story anchored by two phenomenal performances.
For fans of genre-defying cinema that blends heart-pounding action with heartfelt emotion (think Edge of Tomorrow meets A Quiet Place), The Gorge is well worth your time.
Rating: 5/5
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