The Gorge (2025)

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://talkingfilms.net/the-gorge-review-a-well-crafted-genre-blend-with-strong-performances/ "The Gorge may not be a revolution in this genre blend, but it stands out for its stylish execution, imaginative creature design, and the engaging chemistry between its leads. Scott Derrickson once again proves his talent for balancing action, suspense, and emotion, crafting a highly entertaining home blockbuster that, despite lacking deeper development in some of its most fascinating narrative elements, keeps audiences invested from start to finish. In the end, it's a film that thrives on captivating performances, well-orchestrated tension, and the way it transforms a simple premise into a visually striking experience." Rating: B+

## Story: 9 **A gorge shrouded in mystery** At first it appears as a typical adventure or action story but as the film progress, it is slowly revealed to be about a place shrouded in mystery. The flow kept the audience guessing but only to find out it's totally something unexpected. ## Visuals: 9 **It gave me the feels of Guild Wars 2 and World of Warcraft** It was awesome. I kept wondering where the location was, if it even exists. The special effects and design, most especially at the critical part of the story, were beautifully done. As a gamer, it gave me a sense of the places from Guild Wars 2 and World of Warcraft. ## Sound: 8 **It was immersive** The sound effects were great and perfectly timed. It helped in building the mystery and suspense. It was immersive. ## Character: 8 **Done perfectly** The main characters were fit for the story. Ordinary people, or snipers, who only wanted to survive and serve their country. People with special skills but at the end of the day, are no different than everyone else. The character backgrounds were not lacking nor it took too much time, and the rest of the character development brought out the basic need of human beings. ## Enjoyment: 10 **Kept me on my seat** I truly enjoyed watching this movie. Being able to bring me into the story, ensuring I don't spend time analyzing the plot, was an experience I rarely have these days. This movie was did that and kept me on my seat.

The woman is hot. It's a cool setup. Kind of but...why do the automatic guns not work the first attack and why are the mines set to explode the fence (defence) as well as the Ents? Seems just kind of dumb. Are these the first two to bridge the gap? None of the romance matters. They are both just horny and no build up before he goes over there. This movie is long, boring and pointless. Wait, Corporations are evil. All they care about is money. They don't value human life. They don't value the environment and LOOK AT THE HORRORS WE HAVE CREATED!!!!!

The Gorge (2025) is a movie that gets a lot of things right, blending action, romance, and a bit of suspense into a well-paced story. The plot is simple yet clever, unfolding naturally without unnecessary complexity. It keeps things engaging with steady character development, making you feel connected to the leads as their situation evolves. While some critics seem to take the romance out of context, it actually makes perfect sense within the story. It’s not just there for the sake of it but develops realistically based on their circumstances. Sure, there are some plot holes, but unless you're watching just to nitpick, they don’t take away from the experience. Visually, the movie stands out with dramatic lighting and smart camera work that keeps you immersed. Even daytime scenes carry a certain mood that adds to the film’s atmosphere. The cinematography is well thought out, with the right angles capturing the emotional depth of the characters while also making the action sequences hit hard. Speaking of action, while there’s plenty of it, the movie does lean more into its emotional core rather than being a full-on action spectacle. The CGI is solid, blending in naturally without feeling overdone, and while some moments might remind you of other films, it never feels like a cheap copy. The performances are strong, with both leads carrying the entire movie effortlessly. Their chemistry feels real, and their dialogue doesn’t come off as forced or unnatural. The script is well executed, moving the story forward at the right pace without dragging things out. The music and sound design complement the film nicely, enhancing key moments without overpowering them. Overall, The Gorge has a high rewatch factor, the kind of movie you'd want to show a friend just to experience it again. If Apple gives it a sequel, there's a lot of potential to expand on what made this one work so well.

The Gorge works, in spite of some conspicuous short comings. Lets get the negatives out of the way. An absurdly illogical story, filled with characters who do improbable, often stupid things. A lack of clear direction in terms of what the story is supposed to be, a love story, an action thriller, a horror, fantasy, sci fi tale? Oddly, I would argue its the creative cocktail of discordant genres and elements, that actually helps this film succeed. Firstly, "The Gorge" works wonderfully as a romance. The chemistry between the key characters sparkles with humour, quirkiness and passion. It functions too, as a fantasy horror, sci fi, thriller with highly creative story and action aspects, that come together beautifully. CGI is only okay but it functions well enough, to make things creepily exciting. In summary, I enjoyed this film. Its compelling, exciting, likeable and inherently watchable, in spite of its often glaring shortcomings. My advice, take a look and see if you agree.