Ah, Valentine’s Day. A time for love, overpriced chocolates, and… existential sci-fi action? Apple TV’s The Gorge somehow manages to be both a mushy romance and a high-octane shooter, making it the perfect “compromise” movie for couples who can’t agree on what to watch. One minute, you’re swooning; the next, you’re dodging bullets. Romantic, right?
The movie kicks off on a pretty bleak note: a father contemplating suicide on Valentine’s Day. Not exactly your typical rom-com setup. But instead of diving into full-blown heartbreak, The Gorge takes a sharp left turn into a surprisingly sweet, borderline saccharine love story. And let’s be honest—this film gets really into the romance. Like, so much so that for a while, you forget you’re watching a sci-fi movie and start wondering if you accidentally put on The Notebook (but with guns).
Miles Teller has officially entered his action hero era—gruff voice, shredded physique, and all. If this is his audition to be the next Tom Cruise, he’s passing with flying colors. Meanwhile, Anya Taylor-Joy is out here stealing hearts and lives. Between her sniper skills, that hypnotic accent, and the way she looks at Teller like he hung the moon, she’s the emotional anchor that keeps this whole thing from spiraling into chaos. The chemistry? Chef’s kiss.
For a good chunk of the film, you’re enjoying a surprisingly cute love story… and then—bam! Sci-fi zombie shooter. If you didn’t read the synopsis beforehand, you’d think you were experiencing movie whiplash. But that’s kind of the fun of it. The problem? The second act tries to hit us with all these mind-blowing plot twists, except they’re more “Oh, that makes sense” than “OMG, NO WAY.” By the time the big reveals start rolling in, you’ve probably already cracked the code, leaving the middle stretch feeling a little underwhelming.
There’s also a sneaky Oppenheimer connection here, but instead of a three-hour history lesson on atomic bombs, The Gorge is more concerned with explosions of the heart (and, you know, actual explosions). It flirts with some big, weighty ideas but never gets too caught up in them—because at the end of the day, this is a love story first and a sci-fi flick second.
All in all, The Gorge is a bit of a mixed bag, but one that somehow works. Great romance, decent action, and a middle section that thinks it’s smarter than it is. If you and your partner can’t decide on what to watch, this is a solid middle ground—it’s got enough romance to make you feel all warm and fuzzy but enough action to keep things from getting too lovey-dovey. A Valentine’s Day movie with gunfights and kissing? Now that’s balance.
