The Gorge ending explained: Are the secrets of the research facility revealed?

The Gorge brings together several genres into one story. This Scott Derrikson-directed film has elements of action and horror along with science fiction and it was released on February 14, 2025, on Apple TV+. Written by Zach Dean, the film follows two experienced snipers (played by Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller) who are instructed to protect a massive gorge. Unbeknownst to them, there is something mysterious inside it.

The film is produced by Derrickson, Dean, Greg Goodman, David Ellison, C. Robert Cargill, Sherryl Clark, Don Granger, and Adam Kolbrenner. Much has been discussed among fans regarding the film's ending.

What is the plot of The Gorge?

The Gorge follows two snipers: Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), a Russian, and Levi Kane (Miles Teller), an American. Both countries task them with guarding a large gorge from their respective sides. But the catch is not that they cannot know what is inside that thing while they protect it from what some call the Hollow Men.

The official synopsis of The Gorge reads:

Two highly-trained operatives become close after being sent to protect opposite sides of a mysterious gorge. When an evil emerges, they must work together to survive what lies within.

How does The Gorge end?

Toward the end of The Gorge, the two protagonists destroy the mysterious structure and end the operations of Dark Lake. Initially, it feels like Bartholomew (Sigourney Weaver), the head of this mission. Toward the end, the two realize that she is corrupt and their mission is only for her company and not for their respective country's military.

For several years, Dark Lake has been conducting research inside the gorge using drones and people. The drones carry various items from around the globe, while the people protect the area from intrusion. The initial plan was to build a facility to create chemical weapons around the time of the J Robert Oppenheimer Manhattan Project.

However, an earthquake destroys the region and the remaining people stay to stop the spread of chemicals. This leads to them becoming the Hollow Men due to the toxins. The ultimate plan of the corporation is to collect DNA samples to form soldiers with super strengths. For several years, Dark Lake managed to stay under the radar with the help of the satellites and used the snipers to their advantage.

Derrickson spoke to Screen Rant about how he got attached to the film. Talking about the script, he said:

“It was a genre-bending romantic movie. I’d never seen that before. But reading something original and wanting to invest months into making it are very different prospects, and ultimately it was Derrickson’s own experience that led to his interest in making the film.

The director further said that his personal life events led him to do the film.

"I couldn't have made a romantic movie at a different time in my life. It was just at this time of my life. I recently fell in love, got remarried, and it's one of the reasons that the script spoke to me the way that it did."

The Gorge was released on Apple TV+ on February 14, 2025, and has received a 61% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.