Anya Taylor-Joy is never bad in anything. That’s just a fact. Even when the material around her wavers between intriguing and uninspired, she always finds a way to elevate a film, and The Gorge is no exception. Directed by Scott Derrickson, the filmmaker behind Sinister and Doctor Strange, this Apple+ sci-fi thriller straddles the line between brilliance and bafflement. It’s not quite great, not quite bad—just stuck somewhere in the middle of its own narrative abyss.
At its core, The Gorge is a fascinating but underdeveloped genre mash-up. The film introduces two elite operatives, played by Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller, stationed in opposing guard towers at the edge of a classified gorge. Their mission? To protect humanity from the nameless, possibly supernatural evil that lurks within.
The central hook is fantastic, setting up an almost A Quiet Place meets The Breakfast Club dynamic as the pair form an unexpected bond through their shared isolation. But where the premise shines, the execution falters—the film struggles to balance its heady existential themes with the thrills of its high-concept sci-fi setting.
As expected, Anya Taylor-Joy is a force of nature. Even when the script meanders, she commands the screen with steely determination and emotional depth, ensuring that The Gorge never becomes completely forgettable.
Miles Teller, too, continues his impressive post-Top Gun: Maverick run, proving that his blockbuster days are far from over. He handles both the physicality and the character-driven moments with ease, making his scenes with Taylor-Joy the film’s biggest strength. Their chemistry keeps the story engaging, even when the plot itself feels muddled.
Visually, Derrickson knows how to craft an immersive world. The cinematography is stunning, capturing the vastness and mystery of the gorge with a sense of eerie grandeur. The sound design also helps build tension, ensuring that whatever lurks in the abyss always feels like a legitimate threat.
But despite the beautiful visuals and strong performances, The Gorge ultimately struggles to leave a lasting impact. The story feels stretched thin, with pacing that lingers too long in moments of introspection and doesn’t quite deliver on its action-packed potential.
The Gorge is an interesting watch, but it never fully capitalizes on its premise. It has all the right ingredients—a fascinating world, strong performances, and impressive visuals—but somehow, the film never quite sticks the landing.
For sci-fi fans, there’s still enough here to warrant a watch, especially with Taylor-Joy and Teller carrying the film on their backs. But for those expecting a genre-defining thriller, The Gorge doesn’t quite escape the abyss of its own potential.
The Gorge is available to stream on Apple+ now
