Scott Derrickson's 'The Gorge' Debuts as a Genre-Bending Thriller Inspired by Horror Classics

The Apple TV+ film blends romance, action, and horror with visual influences from Italian horror cinema and pandemic-era themes.

'The Gorge,' directed by Scott Derrickson and written by Zach Dean, premiered on Apple TV+ on February 14, 2025, blending romance, action, horror, and sci-fi genres.
The film stars Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy as snipers stationed on opposite sides of a mysterious gorge who develop a forbidden connection.
Italian horror cinema, particularly Dario Argento's 1977 classic 'Suspiria,' influenced the film's colorful and atmospheric visuals, especially within the gorge's fantastical setting.
Screenwriter Zach Dean drew inspiration from pandemic isolation, using the gorge as a metaphor for separation and the unknown, while exploring themes of love and resilience.
Derrickson's direction incorporates elements of folk horror, survival horror, and creature features, creating a rich narrative and visual homage to genre cinema.