Sometimes art speaks to us in ways we least expect. Just ask Aubrey Plaza, whose recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast revealed how an unlikely source — Apple TV+’s action-horror film “The Gorge” — became an unexpected mirror for her grief.
The typically sharp-witted Plaza, known for her sardonic humor, dropped her usual comedic armor to share something deeply personal. Following the January passing of her husband, writer-director Jeff Baena, at just 47, Plaza found herself drawn to an unusual metaphor from Scott Derrickson’s latest genre-bending creation.
“At all times, there’s a giant ocean of awfulness that’s right there and I can see it,” Plaza shared, her voice carrying a weight rarely heard from the Parks and Recreation alum. The parallel she drew wasn’t subtle — comparing her emotional state to the film’s central image of a vast, monster-filled chasm separating Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy’s characters. “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, but it’s always there.”
What started as almost a throwaway observation evolved into something far more profound. Plaza’s raw honesty about finding meaning in an action-horror film speaks volumes about how we process grief through unexpected channels. It’s particularly striking given her own deep connections to the film industry — she and Baena had collaborated on numerous projects throughout their relationship.
Scott Derrickson, whose directing portfolio includes “Doctor Strange” and “The Black Phone,” responded to Plaza’s comments with characteristic thoughtfulness. “I mean, how could I not be moved by that?” he told Entertainment Weekly. The director — himself an admirer of Plaza’s work — demonstrated a humble understanding of art’s role in personal crisis. “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.”
Yet Derrickson was quick to deflect any special credit. “I don’t think it was something unique to The Gorge,” he reflected. “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 conversation has added an unexpected layer to “The Gorge,” transforming what might have been dismissed as another genre piece into something more meaningful. Perhaps that’s the true power of art — its ability to reach across the chasms in our lives, touching us in ways its creators never anticipated.
In an era where entertainment often feels manufactured and predictable, these moments of genuine connection remind us why we keep coming back to stories, even in our darkest hours. They show us that sometimes, the most profound comfort can come from the most unexpected places — even a monster-filled gorge.
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