Scott Derrickson Says THE GORGE Was Inspired by SILENT HILL and UNTIL DAWN: "I Love Those Games"
Scott Derrickson’s latest film, The Gorge, might not be a video game adaptation, but it kinda feels like one. With its eerie world-building, pulse-pounding action, and a deep emotional core, Derrickson pulls inspiration from a couple of the most atmospheric and thrilling games out there such as Silent Hill and Until Dawn.
Derrickson recently talked about the film with GamesRadar+ and when asked about the film’s video game aesthetic he said: "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."
The movie stars Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, and it follows two elite snipers stationed in separate watchtowers overlooking a mysterious canyon.
As night falls, they discover the horrors lurking below, turning their tactical mission into a desperate fight for survival. Early on, it echoes the intensity of shooter games like Overwatch, but as the story unfolds, it leans into the dread and tension of Silent Hill and The Last of Us.
Derrickson also explains that he wasn’t just interested in crafting a high-octane action spectacle. He wanted something more, something that would make the story stand out from the usual genre fare.
"I think that the challenge of the movie was not letting it fall into just the straight, chaotic stimulus of gaming-type action. The challenge was to have that kind of stimulus and power and really utilize that, but then to also really keep the romance alive."
Derrickson went on to talk about mixing things up, saying: "I don't want to keep seeing the same movie getting made, you know, or versions of the same movies getting made.
"I think streaming is a place where you can really dare to be different because you don't have that box office pressure every on the opening weekend where people are going to decide whether or not your movie is a failure based on the box office return."
The film premieres Today on Apple TV+ on February 14, 2025.