The Gorge (horror scifi movie: Apple TV+ trailer).
Gather ‘round, sci-fi and survival enthusiasts, because The Gorge is coming to Apple TV+ on February 14, 2025, to give you the Valentine’s Day you never knew you wanted: snipers, monsters, and forbidden love. Forget candlelit dinners and roses—this one’s about holding your breath as Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy navigate romance while also maybe standing on the precipice of hell. What’s not to love?
Directed by Scott Derrickson, of Doctor Strange and Sinister fame, this film seems intent on merging survival action, romance, and horror into one delightfully chaotic package. Because apparently, “impenetrable gorge with monsters lurking below” wasn’t quite enough tension—why not throw in some long-distance romance and see what happens? The screenplay, penned by Zach Dean, comes from the much-lauded Black List of unproduced Hollywood scripts, meaning it’s already been hyped as a gem. If it doesn’t deliver, well, at least we got to watch Miles Teller brood on a cliff.
The premise is deliciously absurd in that B-movie-meets-Oscar-bait way we can’t resist. Two elite snipers, Levi (Miles Teller) and Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), are stationed on opposite sides of an unscalable gorge for a mysterious mission. They don’t know what’s down there, but it’s probably not a family of friendly woodland critters. Naturally, sparks fly between the two. Because nothing screams romantic tension like sniper rifles and existential dread. Just when you’re wondering if this is secretly an extended metaphor for long-distance relationships, the monsters arrive. Are they literal hellspawn? Figurative projections of inner torment? Does it even matter when there’s screaming and gunfire?
Joining Teller and Taylor-Joy is Sigourney Weaver as Bartholomew, a name that practically screams, “I have secrets and maybe a weaponized moral compass.” Given Weaver’s history of commanding the screen while battling aliens, ghosts, and other assorted nightmares, we can only hope her character is here to drop truth bombs—or actual bombs. Sope Dirisu also stars as J.D., because no tense survival setup is complete without at least one wildcard soldier who might snap under pressure or save the day with a quip. And let’s not forget William Houston, whose casting feels like a reliable sign of ominous authority figures or darkly comedic despair.
Filming took place across London, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, and the Welsh countryside, which presumably stood in for “terrifying gorge where snipers fall in love while screaming at monsters.” If you’ve ever seen Derrickson’s work, you already know to expect atmospheric visuals and a creeping sense of dread. Imagine sweeping, scenic shots of the gorge juxtaposed with something scaly slithering out of the shadows. It’s basically Romeo and Juliet, but with more ammunition and teeth.
What’s really fascinating is how the film juggles its wildly disparate tones. Romance! Action! Survival horror! It’s the cinematic equivalent of trying to balance on a tightrope over a pit of lava while juggling chainsaws. Will it collapse under its own ambitions? Or will it stick the landing, giving us a genre mashup as satisfying as chocolate-dipped bacon? (Yes, that’s a compliment.)
And let’s talk about that Valentine’s Day release. Nothing says “date night” like contemplating the fragility of life while two gorgeous snipers exchange meaningful glances and rifle fire. Apple TV+ clearly knows their audience: people who think The Notebook is fine, but it could use more monsters.
With a script that’s been marinating in hype since 2020 and a cast that’s both talented and ridiculously photogenic, The Gorge looks poised to deliver. Or implode spectacularly. Either way, we at SFcrowsnest are here for it. Tune in on February 14th, grab your sweetheart—or your cat—and prepare for a wild ride. Just don’t look down.
