Being a sniper is a lonely job. You’re out there on your own most of the time plying your craft. Being an elite sniper might be the loneliest job ever. But if you find someone who can share your passion and understand your experience, sparks can fly.

That’s the basic premise of The Gorge, a new film that streams on Apple TV+ beginning on Friday, February 14. The film features Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller as elite snipers from very different backgrounds that find themselves thrown together. But that’s only the beginning of this film.

It’s directed by Scott Derrickson, and for a time it doesn’t feel like his kind of film. Derrickson is used to providing strong visuals and a rich exploration of horror and science fiction topics. Even his Marvel film stands out for that reason. So, a simple film about two snipers on assignment that connect felt like an odd turn.

That’s when the twist happens. The marketing for the film does a good job of shading that part of the plot, so I won’t ruin it here. Suffice to say we meet Drasa (Taylor-Joy) a talented sniper working for the Russians. She’s grown weary of the mental cost of making the ultimate shot and has been selected for a remote assignment that will have her off the grid for a year.

Next, we meet Levi (Teller). He’s a former Marine sniper who now plies his trade for the highest bidder. He, too, has gotten tired of the grind of taking the big shot. He’s recruited by a secret agent (Sigourney Weaver) for a special assignment.

He’s taken to a mysterious location and dropped off. He meets his contact who introduces him to his home for the next year, the West Tower. It sits over a mysterious gorge, with a twin tower on the opposite site manned by someone chosen by Russia. Their job is to ignore each other, maintain the tower and its equipment, and stand guard to make sure what’s in the gorge stays in the gorge.

Soon, Levi connects with his opposite—Drasa—and they begin communicating via written messages and telephoto lenses. But as they grow closer, so, too, does the danger they’re meant to safeguard.

This film moves at a nice pace and has a fun hook. The look and feel of the towers work well, and Teller and Taylor-Joy are great in these roles. The first half feels somewhat conventional but something of an interesting love story. Soon, it flips on a dime.

The time spent in the gorge is fascinating and makes good use of Derrickson’s talent and visual eye. In fact, some of it seems like a nightmare on par with the Upside Down. It picks up the action and drives the story to a fun third act and, ultimately, a fun resolution.

Apple TV+ has been a strong provider of content for years, both in terms of series and interesting films. I enjoyed the pace and production here, and I liked the lead performances. This was a fun, if somewhat unconventional film for Valentine’s Day weekend. It’s worth checking out.

The Gorge streams on Apple TV+ beginning Friday, February 14.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.