There’s just something about Valentine’s Day and horror movies that go well together, and this Feb. 14, Sinister director Scott Derrickson is unleashing his latest on Apple TV+ subscribers: The Gorge. Now, ahead of the movie’s release, Derrickson is breaking down how his new horror flick took a few cues from a couple of hit video games.
Speaking with GamesRadar+, The Black Phone director was asked if The Gorge was intentionally mimicking the aesthetic of video games like Silent Hill and Until Dawn, two classics that have been a favorite of fans for years. Early reviews for the film have already made the same comparison, and Derrickson wasn’t shy about letting folks know that, yes, The Gorge is modeled somewhat on those games, especially when it comes to its action.
I love those games, and I do think that gaming has sort of set the bar for gunplay action, especially if you’re really with a single character or two characters, you kind of can’t beat it
Starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, The Gorge follows two elite snipers who are assigned to guard either side of a deep and impenetrable gorge, without knowing what actually lies beneath them. “The Gorge is the door to hell, and we’re standing at the gate,” come the words of Sope Dirisu’s character of J.D. in the trailer seen below. Combining a mix of action, horror, and romance, it looks as if Derrickson has another hit on his hands with this one, which is no surprise, really, as the director has managed to pretty much make whatever he touches turn to gold since his career began.
‘The Gorge’ Is Surprising Fans With Its Romance
When you think of snipers guarding a gateway to hell, you’d be forgiven if romance isn’t the first thing that comes to your mind. However, that’s what people seem to be enjoying the most when it comes to The Gorge. Early reviews of the movie on social media have people buzzing, with user @billbria on X saying:
“Of all the Valentines releases this month, #TheGorge is the most earnestly romantic?! When Teller & Taylor-Joy aren’t swooning, they’re kicking ass in a Skull Island/THE LAST OF US/Paul WS Anderson hellhole. Maybe my all-time fav Scott Derrickson film now!”
User @CoyJandreau echoed those sentiments, while also making the video game comparison. “The Gorge is GORGEOUS,” they said. “Not only is it the best Video Game I’ve never played, it evolves through so many genres effortlessly & an A+ Romance.”
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Derrickson himself admitted that the romantic elements of The Gorge were a challenge to maintain, especially when it came time to blend them with all the action and horror surrounding its two stars. “I think that the challenge of the movie was not letting it fall into just the straight, chaotic stimulus of gaming-type action,” he told GamesRadar+. “The challenge was to have that kind of stimulus and power and really utilize that, but then to also really keep the romance alive.”
Look for The Gorge to hit Apple TV+ on Feb. 14, just in time to curl up with your loved one. Derrickson will also be back at it again later this year when The Black Phone 2 hits theaters on Oct. 17, 2025, so be sure to also check out our interview with him below, where he discusses both, and more.
The Gorge
- Release Date
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February 28, 2025
- Runtime
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127 Minutes
- Writers
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Zach Dean
- Producers
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Gregory Goodman, C. Robert Cargill, Dana Goldberg, David Ellison, Don Granger, Miles Teller, Sherryl Clark, Adam Kolbrenner
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