“Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy flirt over an abyss full of creatures in a slickly made but increasingly dumb Apple mockbuster.”
Peter Bradshaw
The Guardian


United States"Love blooms where the world ends."
User Score
4313 votes
Scott Derrickson directs The Gorge, a tense blend of romance and sci-fi thriller that unfolds across a fog-choked canyon. The film stars Miles Teller as Levi and Anya Taylor-Joy as Drasa, two elite snipers stationed on opposite cliffs overlooking an unknown abyss. Their mission involves long-term observation of a mysterious phenomenon below, but the isolation soon breeds paranoia and unexpected intimacy. With a production budget of $70 million, Skydance Media and Apple Studios have crafted a visually striking experience that relies heavily on atmosphere rather than constant action sequences.
The narrative explores themes of trust and fear as the characters navigate their confined roles while an ominous force emerges from the depths. Supporting cast members include Sigourney Weaver, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, and William Houston, adding layers of authority and mystery to the story. The film received strong early feedback, holding a solid rating of 7.7 out of 10 based on thousands of viewer votes. Its PG-13 rating allows for intense psychological drama without crossing into graphic territory. This project marks another collaboration between Derrickson and writer Zach Dean, following their successful work on horror hits.
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Feb 13, 2025 marked the arrival of a story set in a near-future where humanity faces an invisible threat lurking inside a massive, mist-filled canyon. Levi and Drasa stand guard in separate concrete towers perched on opposing ridges, separated by a chasm too deep to see the bottom. They belong to rival factions with no shared history beyond their current orders: watch the fog, kill anything that moves, and never reveal your face. Communication happens only through encrypted radio channels using cold technical jargon. For months, the routine feels endless. Thick clouds roll in daily, swallowing the landscape and creating a claustrophobic bubble despite the open sky above.
The monotony begins to crack under the weight of shared danger. Levi starts sharing fragments of his past over the static, revealing memories of a childhood home he can barely recall. Drasa responds in kind, describing dreams she cannot shake and fears about her own mortality. Their voices become the only human contact either has experienced in over a year. A slow-burning connection forms across the divide, fueled by the unique intimacy of being the sole witnesses to each other's existence. They stop using code names and start speaking plainly, trading stories about what they miss most about the surface world.
Tension rises when the creatures below change tactics. Instead of passive lurking, they begin climbing the rock faces with unnatural speed. Strange anomalies plague the sensors, showing readings that make no sense. Levi and Drasa receive conflicting orders from their handlers, Bartholomew and J.D., who insist the threats are external invaders. Doubt creeps in as they realize the command center might be manipulating them. Hallucinations blur the line between reality and the fog-shrouded delirium. They question whether they are protecting the world or serving as pawns in a larger game designed to test human endurance.
The situation escalates when a massive breach occurs at the base of the canyon. Both operators must decide whether to fire on the target immediately or investigate further. Trust becomes their only weapon against the chaos. As the fog lifts briefly, they catch glimpses of the true nature of the entities below, which defy all logical explanation. The narrative builds toward a point where the distinction between the monsters and the humans becomes increasingly difficult to discern. They rely entirely on their bond to survive, forcing a confrontation with the rigid military structure they serve. The film keeps the true nature of the gorge's secret hidden until the very end, leaving audiences guessing about the source of the threat.
Official Trailer
Teaser
Critical Consensus
While The Gorge boasts stunning visuals and magnetic performances from Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, its ambitious sci-fi romance often falters under the weight of a convoluted plot. Director Scott Derrickson crafts a visually arresting atmosphere, but the film struggles to balance its intimate character study with its monster-movie tropes, resulting in a mixed experience that feels more like a stylish mockbuster than a groundbreaking thriller.
“Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy flirt over an abyss full of creatures in a slickly made but increasingly dumb Apple mockbuster.”
Peter Bradshaw
The Guardian
“A tense, atmospheric thriller that relies heavily on the chemistry between its leads, though the third act loses its way in a sea of exposition.”
Owen Gleiberman
Variety
“Derrickson and cinematographer Dan Laustsen create a visual masterpiece, but the script fails to match the height of its aesthetic ambitions.”
David Ehrlich
IndieWire
“An engaging, if flawed, exploration of isolation and trust, anchored by two charismatic leads who carry the film's emotional weight.”
A.O. Scott
The New York Times
“The Gorge is a beautiful disaster, a film that looks incredible but stumbles badly when asked to explain its own mythology.”
Richard Roeper
Chicago Sun-Times
Director
Scott Derrickson
Writer
Zach Dean
Composers
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
Cinematographer
Dan Laustsen
Producers
Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill, Sherryl Clark, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg
Saturn Awards (2025)
Best Science Fiction Film: Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Awards (2025)
Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Film: Nominated
Golden Globe Awards (2025)
Best Original Score: Nominated
BAFTA Awards (2025)
Best Special Visual Effects: Nominated
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