THE GORGE (2025)

The Gorge is a big-budget b-movie from director Scott Derrickson: Doctor Strange (2016), Sinister (2012), The Black Phone (2021), and while not as good as any of those films…it’s quite fun. It ebbs at first, but really starts flowing during the second act as we watch two prestige snipers fall in love from a distance, a nice little bit of symbolism if you’re into such things; and thankfully, the two leads are into it. Miles Teller is at his best when trying to charm and there’s good chemistry between him and Anya-Taylor Joy. But Teller’s also playing a tough military cookie and unfortunately takes his calm resolve to an impossible level. It’s downright comical how blasé he is in the face of some horrific situations. Taylor-Joy keeps the reactions and energy up and reasonable, though her Lithuanian accent often gets left behind. The exposition and the coincidences that feed it are overplayed, not to mention there are some very deep plot holes (heh), still, The Gorge holds its aim and accomplishes exactly what it set out to do: provide a little romance and some action just in time for Valentine’s Day.

WATCH OR NOT: WATCH

Additional musings: Works better as a romance than an action film.