In The Gorge, directed by Scott Derrickson and written by Zach Dean, two elite snipers are assigned a singular, isolating mission: Levi Kane—an American ex-Marine suffering from PTSD—and Drasa—a Lithuanian covert operative—must each guard opposite sides of a mysterious, hidden gorge for an entire year, with no communication allowed between them or with the outside world. Their only contact is via periodic radio check-ins, and they are warned that their job isn’t to keep people out—but rather to prevent whatever lurks within from escaping.

Strangely drawn to each other despite the strict isolation, Levi and Drasa begin to break protocol. They exchange messages across the chasm, engaging in playful ridicules, sharpshooting contests, chess games, and even music—flirting through improvised signs that evoke indie romance vibes, against a backdrop of horror and tension.

The turning point comes when Levi makes a daring, forbidden move: he ziplines across the gorge to spend a brief, romantic night with Drasa. However, disaster strikes the next morning when the cable breaks, sending Levi into the abyss. Drasa, acting on instinct and affection, parachutes in to rescue him. Once inside the gorge, they uncover its grim truth—this place is home to grotesque, mutated beings known as the “Hollow Men,” and it hides a dark legacy of wartime biochemical experiments gone horribly awry.

As they navigate the nightmarish underworld, Levi and Drasa learn that the gorge was a secret WWII research site, later commandeered by the private defense corporation Darklake, which has continued exploitative experiments to engineer super-soldiers. Realizing the mutation threat is existential, the duo activates the original fail-safe protocol—codenamed “Straydog”—triggering a self-destruct sequence. They use a Jeep to reach higher ground, destroy cloaking systems to expose the facility, and escape just before a massive explosion levels the gorge, annihilating the mutated creatures and conspirators alike.

In the aftermath, the film shifts to a note of cautious hope. Drasa, having undergone a quarantine period to ensure she’s not contaminated, travels to France where she waits for Levi—who eventually appears, injured but alive, revealing he was delayed. They reunite in a tender, emotional moment, suggesting a new beginning together.

While The Gorge offers a unique genre blend—melding sci-fi, horror, action, and romance—its reception is mixed. The film is praised for its imaginative premise, striking visuals, and the compelling lead performances by Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, as well as its atmospheric score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. However, many critics note weaknesses in pacing, plot depth, and tonal consistency. Some describe it as feeling like a high-budget B‑movie—a visually stylish but narratively thin “video‑game‑like” mash‑up of genres.