Is The Gorge woke?
The Gorge (2025)
Movie
Released: January 1, 2025
Wokeness Score
2/10
Not woke
No political or woke messaging whatsoever. Focuses entirely on story, characters, fun, or escapism.
Key Summary Points
- Natural inclusion of female sniper lead without identity focus or lectures
- Story emphasizes personal trauma, romance, and survival over social issues
- No evidence of forced diversity, equity messaging, or progressive commentary
Wokeness Analysis
The Gorge (2025) is a straightforward sci-fi action romance horror hybrid centered on two elite snipers, Levi (Miles Teller) and Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), assigned to opposite sides of a mysterious gorge. The narrative focuses on their isolation, budding long-distance connection, personal backstories involving PTSD and family issues, and eventual confrontation with grotesque hybrid creatures resulting from a biochemical accident. Casting includes a Lithuanian female lead as a skilled operative, which integrates naturally into the international operative premise without emphasis on identity politics. No prominent themes of systemic oppression, gender ideology, racial equity lectures, or progressive social commentary appear in plot summaries, reviews, or cast details. The story prioritizes tension, romance, survival, and mystery over any messaging. Minor elements like a strong female character or cross-cultural pairing feel organic to the thriller setup rather than contrived. Conservative-leaning viewer feedback notes the absence of woke elements as a positive, distinguishing it from typical modern Hollywood fare. The film delivers escapist entertainment with action, horror, and romance without shoehorning ideology, aligning with pre-2010s genre conventions.
Plot
Two elite snipers from different backgrounds, Levi Kane (Miles Teller) and Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), are assigned to guard opposite sides of a remote, classified gorge for a year with no contact allowed. They develop a connection across the divide while fending off attacks from mysterious creatures emerging from the fog below. As the threat escalates, they uncover a horrific secret involving human-animal-plant hybrids from a past biochemical disaster. Directed by Scott Derrickson and written by Zach Dean, the film blends action, romance, sci-fi, and horror elements, with supporting roles from Sigourney Weaver. Released on Apple TV+.