Horror movies on Valentine’s Day? Shouldn’t you rather watch a romantic film or at most a comedy to create a pleasant atmosphere? Wouldn’t a potentially bloody horror film just kill the mood—literally? Not at all. In fact, watching scary movies leads to an increased release of dopamine and serotonin. Fear is physiologically stimulating, according to communication scientist Joanne Cantor (via Men’s Health). In the right company, this can even lead to sexual stimulation.
And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, couples can put this theory to the test. Conveniently, on February 14, 2025, Apple TV+ will premiere The Gorge, the latest film by horror specialist Scott Derrickson (The Black Phone, Sinister). Fans of bold genre mashups should definitely add this mix of romance, sci-fi, and horror to their watchlist, says Sigourney Weaver. The 75-year-old is no stranger to the horror genre. With the Alien films, she established herself as a strong lead actress, appeared in M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village, and even parodied the horror genre in The Cabin in the Woods. In The Gorge, Weaver stars alongside Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy—and she told GamesRadar why the film is a great Valentine’s Day pick:
“I think it’s a great movie for Valentine’s Day. It’s a great date movie because it’s scary, and you’ll be in each other’s arms within the first half hour. And it’s also one of those films that constantly sends shivers down your spine because you never know what’s going to happen. I think it was a smart decision to release it on Valentine’s Day because it’s also a very romantic, thrilling love story.”
You can get a taste of what to expect from The Gorge in its trailer:
The Gorge Came at the Right Time for Director Scott Derrickson
In The Gorge, elite sniper Levi (Miles Teller) is assigned to guard one side of a deep, eerie ravine—against what or whom, neither he nor his supposed superiors know. His attention, however, is drawn to Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), a sniper tasked with the same mission from the opposite side. Isolated and cut off from society, the two grow closer, almost forgetting the lurking danger that suddenly becomes all too real.
Although director Scott Derrickson says he was inspired by dark video games like Until Dawn (which is set to receive a film adaptation) and Silent Hill, the romantic aspect of The Gorge plays a much larger role. The reason? Derrickson told The Hollywood Reporter:
“I had recently fallen in love and remarried, so the romance in the script really spoke to me. Plus, it was an interesting mix of five or six different genres that seamlessly blended together.”
But maybe you’re looking for a full-on horror movie with a Valentine’s Day setting—or you don’t have Apple TV+. In that case, you can stream My Bloody Valentine on Amazon Prime, even at no extra cost with a subscription.
