Apple TV+’s The Gorge begins with the introduction of two snipers: Drasa, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, whom we meet immediately after a successful mission, and Levi, played by Miles Teller, a sniper who executes his job with precision but has lost his spirit, haunted by his past deeds.
In a new role, these skilled snipers find themselves stationed on opposite sides of a mysterious gorge in a location shrouded in secrecy. They are given minimal information, with one key rule: do not engage with their counterpart across the way. Of course, a film with only two leads can’t keep them apart for long. Drasa is the first to break the silence, initiating a long-distance meet-cute. Their first real interaction is abruptly interrupted by a set of mysterious creatures with human-like faces rising from the depths of the gorge, forcing them into action. This sets up the film’s central juxtaposition—an action-packed survival thriller intertwined with a slow-burning romance, making its Valentine’s Day release all the more fitting. As Drasa and Levi bond, they try to untangle the mystery of The Gorge—a threat that may not only endanger them but possibly the entire world.
The film’s opening does an excellent job of establishing just enough backstory to develop early motivations for the characters without relying on an exposition dump. (That comes later.) The isolation of both characters, combined with the natural human pull toward connection—heightened by their mutual attraction—makes their inevitable partnership feel organic. Taylor-Joy, an actress I’ve seen deliver consistently strong performances, elevates every project she’s in. Teller, with whom I was less familiar, surprised me with his performance. Together, they bring life to their characters and share a natural chemistry in a way I don’t expect for all genre films. If anything, I was impressed by the film’s patience in bringing them together—the delay made their eventual connection feel even more earned.
Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller in “The Gorge,” premiering February 14, 2025 on Apple TV+
Where the film starts to show cracks is in the latter half, once Drasa and Levi’s journey takes a turn. We know they must eventually confront the mysterious threat, leading to a climactic third act. At first, this shift is incredibly exciting. Without delving too deep into spoilers, the film transitions from a meet-shoot rom-com to something more akin to Annihilation. I loved this unexpected turn; however, unlike Annihilation, where ambiguity enhances the experience, The Gorge opts to explain perhaps too much of the mystery. While this isn’t inherently a problem, it felt like the key action sequences would be interrupted too frequently with heavy exposition dumps.
Overall even with that the action remains engaging, and the grotesque threats provide a unique, strangely compelling foe. For better or worse, as my friend pointed out while watching alongside me, the latter portion of the film starts to feel like a video game. Scene by scene, it increasingly resembles the feeling of a player progressing from one level to another, from battling minions to facing a final boss. This wasn’t necessarily an issue for me, but for her, it lent the film an unintended comedic quality.
Overall, The Gorge is a solid effort, and I appreciate that Apple TV+ is venturing into genre filmmaking to bring a sci-fi/action/romance like this to life. With lesser actors in the lead roles, the film’s flaws might have been more glaring. But Taylor-Joy and Teller’s compelling performances—particularly in their scenes together—kept me invested. Despite the unevenness of the final act, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
