Director Scott Derickson is hit or miss. When he’s working with Ethan Hawke on horror films like “Sinister” or “The Black Phone,” the less is more approach usually results in something memorable. His higher profile, big budget work: “Doctor Strange” or “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” are mediocre. His low points are “The Day the Earth Stood Still” and “Deliver Us From Evil.” Apple’s latest big-budget thriller “The Gorge” starts off with a unique premise. Two of the best sharp shooters in the world, isolated in two separate towers, guarding a gruesome secret below. Derickson’s less is more approach is applied in the first hour as leads Miles Teller (“Whiplash”) and Anna Taylor-Joy (“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”) only communicate with written signs, binoculars and gunshots. The film nosedives when the audience gets a good look at what’s below in the gorge.

The East and the West secretly working together for decades, guarding “the door to hell.” Levi (Teller), the new replacement for the West Tower has been declared unfit for duty by the U.S. military. With no friends, family or attachments, he is an ideal candidate for this year-long, confined post. Similarly, Drasa (Joy) is posted to the East Tower for many of the same reasons. They know little about what lies below, no way of communicating with the outside word, aside from monthly radio checks. Two of the world top guns get curious about the other and decide breaking the rules for some human connection is well worth the risk. Two wounded souls find love at first shot just as the terror of the gorge is unleashed and secrets are exposed.