Aubrey Plaza recently shared an emotional reflection on dealing with grief during a conversation on Amy Poehler‘s podcast Good Hang. She spoke candidly about The Gorge, the action-horror film starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, relating its themes to her experience processing the death of her husband, Jeff Baena. This heartfelt moment brought renewed attention to the movie and its impact.
The Gorge, directed by Scott Derrickson, involves two skilled operatives guarding towers on opposite sides of a fog-shrouded chasm filled with monsters. Plaza used this intense imagery on the podcast to describe the complicated feelings she faces while grieving.
Director Scott Derrickson Reflects on Plaza’s Remarks
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Derrickson expressed how moved he was by Plaza’s openness.
“I mean, how could I not be moved by that?”
he said.
“It was very touching. I think she was being really earnest and, of course, it makes you as a filmmaker feel good that your work is out there giving people experiences and helping them define their own feelings.”
Derrickson emphasized that such emotional responses are a natural part of film‘s purpose, not unique to The Gorge. He added,
“I don’t think it was something unique to The Gorge. I think that she just happened to talk about it the way I’ve talked about movies giving clarity to my own experiences and my own feelings many times.”
The director also recalled enjoying the work of both Plaza and Poehler, frequently rewatching Parks and Recreation with his children. Regarding Plaza’s and Poehler’s involvement, Derrickson said,
“I love her. I love Amy Poehler. It was especially nice to see that from actors that I have real personal fondness for.”
Understanding Aubrey Plaza’s Grief and The Gorge’s Symbolism
Jeff Baena, Plaza’s husband and frequent collaborator, died by suicide in January at age 47. In her podcast interview, Plaza described grief as an all-consuming presence, much like the terrifying monsters lurking in The Gorge. She said,
“I swear when I watched it I was like, ‘That feels like what my grief is like,’ or what grief could be like. At all times, there’s a giant ocean of awfulness that’s right there, and I can see it. Sometimes I just want to dive into it and be in it, and sometimes I look at it. Sometimes I try to get away from it. It’s always there, and the monster people are trying to get me — like Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy.”
This vivid metaphor reveals how Plaza sees her sorrow as a constant, overwhelming force that she both confronts and avoids, mirroring the film’s atmosphere and its characters’ struggles.
The Gorge’s Availability and Continuing Resonance
The Gorge is available for streaming on Apple TV+ and through various digital retailers. As audiences engage with the film, Plaza’s reflections deepen the understanding of how art can mirror real-life emotions, especially amid intense personal challenges.
Scott Derrickson’s response and Plaza’s candidness highlight the film’s influence beyond entertainment, serving as a poignant means for viewers to explore complex emotions such as grief. Their discussion suggests that movies like The Gorge can offer clarity and emotional connection during difficult times, underscoring the power of storytelling in healing processes.
