Out now on Apple TV+, Scott Derrickson’s The Gorge is something special, just read our four-star of the movie. A blend of sci-fi, action, and romance, the film stars Anya Taylor-Joy (The Menu) and Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick) as two elite snipers stationed on opposite sides of a mysterious chasm.
With a script that bends genre expectations and a commitment to practical effects, The Gorge promises to stand apart from the usual blockbuster fare. We sat down with Taylor-Joy and Teller to talk about their characters, the film’s unique energy, and the challenges of playing two warriors bound by love and duty.
“It’s three films in one”
The Gorge centers on Levi (Teller) and Drasa (Taylor-Joy), two highly trained operatives assigned to guard a deep, fog-filled gorge from unknown threats emerging from within. Stationed in solitary towers without direct communication, their mission is shrouded in secrecy, intensifying the sense of isolation.
When Taylor-Joy first read The Gorge script, she was immediately struck by its ambitious storytelling, and it’s one of the reasons she wanted to be part of the project. “It’s really rare to get a script that’s so many things at once,” she explains. “It’s action-packed, it’s sci-fi, but at its heart, it’s this really deep love story. It felt like three films in one.”
Teller echoes the sentiment, adding that the film’s originality was a huge draw. “We’ve all seen great action films, great sci-fi films, great love stories — but this combines them in a way that feels fresh. That’s what got me. It doesn’t just rely on spectacle; it’s got heart.”
Speaking of that heart, Taylor-Joy’s other reason for wanting to star in The Gorge is because of her co-star: “I’ve known Miles for a long time, and I’ve always wanted to work with him, and I knew that we would have a great time making the movie, and I wanted to dance with you, so we did!”
“Just knowing that we were going to have that kind of shorthand right off the bat was important for me,” Teller agrees, “because of the fact that it really is these two characters. When I got pitched it, it was two people getting sent on a mission and they were to have no contact with each other or the outside world or anything for a year but because they’re both snipers, they start to kind of fall in love with each other through their sniper scope. I just thought that was a really interesting premise!”
These two expert snipers are trained in vastly different ways and the actors’ preparation for the roles mirrored that distinction. “We were trained by two different people,” Taylor-Joy nods. “One came from an American military background, the other from a Lithuanian military background, and the approaches were completely different. That really helped us get into our characters’ mindsets.”
Also, luckily for Taylor-Joy, she was in a prime position to take on that rigorous training… “I was in the middle of shooting Furiosa and I was just excited to keep the stunts going. I was in such a stunt place in my life, and I felt very prepared!” she laughs.
Teller, whose character Levi struggles with a deep sense of isolation, found the training especially useful. “Snipers are often on their own, completely cut off. That was something I wanted to bring into the character — that feeling of being completely alone… until Drasa comes into his life…!”
The emotional core
Ah yes, our two snipers soon spot each other across the vast gorge and the film explores the evolving relationship between Levi and Drasa who, despite strict protocols, begin to communicate through handwritten signs and gestures, forging a deep connection across the abyss.
Though The Gorge is packed with intense action sequences, both actors emphasise that the emotional arc of the story is just as vital. “It’s a love story,” Teller nods. “That was everything to me. Making sure that throughout all the action, all the crazy stuff happening, the love between these two characters remains the core.”
Taylor-Joy agrees, describing Drasa and Levi’s relationship as something that transcends their mission. “They’ve been shaped by violence, but what makes them compelling is how they connect through it. It’s not just about survival — it’s about finding something real in a world that constantly tries to strip that away.”
The magic of practical effects
Indeed, further to the movie’s emotional core, Derrickson’s commitment to practical effects enhances the film’s realism. “We barely worked with green screen,” Taylor-Joy noted. “Maybe for one or two shots, but other than that, everything was real. And you feel it — it makes such a difference.”
“They built these insane environments,” Teller adds. “There were full forests indoors, real rain towers, tanks. You step onto set and you’re not pretending—you’re there.”
That level of realism not only helps the performances but also reinforces the film’s grounded aesthetic. “There’s a certain texture you get with practical effects that just can’t be replicated,” Taylor-Joy notes. “It keeps the audience connected.”
What The Gorge is really about
Beyond the action, The Gorge is like all good sci-fi and explores deeper themes of identity, trust, and human connection. “It’s about allowing yourself to be seen,” Teller explains. “Levi starts out completely shut off, always protecting himself. But the thing that ultimately frees him is being vulnerable.
“I think it’s a natural human response to always want to protect yourself, to not allow yourself to be vulnerable, especially in the line of work that these characters do,” he says. “That truly becomes the thing that liberates you – when you do feel like somebody accepts you for everything and being able to truly connect with somebody.
“I think that’s one of the greatest feelings that you can have.”
“We live in a time where everything is so curated, so filtered,” Taylor-Joy adds. “This film is about stripping all of that away and showing how vital real human connection is.
“It’s messy, it’s imperfect, but it’s also everything.”
The Gorge is out now on Apple TV+
