The scariest thing in the world is not a zombie, monster or ghost. It is the feeling of abandonment in the vast, empty darkness and the lack of any hope for rescue.

This is the defining characteristic of director Alfonso Cuarón’s new film “Gravity,” and no Hollywood film in recent memory has depicted the horrifying dangers of outer space with more craft. “Gravity” is one of the finest films of 2013 so far, and anyone who does not suffer from motion sickness should absolutely see it.

The story in “Gravity” is simple: two astronauts, played by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, are on a routine mission in Earth’s orbit when debris from a satellite explosion ruins everything and leaves the two of them stranded in outer space.

The film is not heavy on plot, but that is fine. Instead, “Gravity” gets by on its direction, tone and visuals with fantastic results.

Cuarón’s previous effort was a film called “Children of Men,” and it was most famous for certain scenes that featured incredibly long shots where the camera didn’t stop rolling for several minutes at a time. “Gravity” picks up right where he left off, as the opening shot is at least 10 minutes long, and several others throughout the film reach similar lengths.

Those long shots may have been stitched together with computer editing, but they are still incredible to watch. This film has some of the best cinematography in the last few years, and the complete lack of gravity leads to some amazing visuals and horrifying situations.

“Gravity” is not a horror film, but it is terrifying in spots because the lead characters have no ground to stand on and no help to call.

When there is no gravity, concepts like up and down do not exist. This film conveys that feeling better than any other film I can recall, and it leads to some sequences that could trigger motion sickness for some people.

Ultimately, “Gravity” is a film that excels at creating an atmosphere of hopelessness and loneliness in a relatively realistic situation. For the most part, Clooney and Bullock do an admirable job of keeping things interesting, even when they are talking to themselves. At an hour and 40 minutes, the film does not overstay its welcome. It is a must-see.