The Grey (Movie Review)

Anyone who knows me knows I love movies, and for those who don't now you do. I try to make as much trips to the cinema as possible, but thanks to the creative drought taking place in "Hollywood" I haven't been in a while. That all changed last Monday when I caught "The Grey" starring Liam Neeson. I just had to write about it, and if I come across such other movies in whatever format in the future, I'll be sure to share my thoughts about them with both of you.
Now, enough with the suspense. Sit back, relax and enjoy my opinion of this latest release, and then go watch the movie.

THE GREY

Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf? Not Liam Neeson that’s for sure.

Being faced with overwhelming, and near impossible odds is nothing short of a walk in the park for the former Jedi Master. This time, it isn’t a trade federation, or European sex traffickers, that are after his blood. It’s a pack of hungry, hungry wolves that’ll stop at nothing until Mr. Neeson, and his band of oil drillers are picked from their teeth. It’s man vs. beast, with the elements working against them in a contest depicting the survival of the fittest, ending in bloody carnage.

   It’s going to get dog faced ugly.

“The Grey” is the latest edition to the survival genre that not just puts its characters through hell, but its audience as well. You’ll squirm, you’ll cringe, you’ll gasp, as your worst fears are amplified, shattering your comfort zones. That’s if your afraid of heights, drowning, and rabid canines hounding your every step, of course, and it doesn’t let up.

   With each challenge that is thrust into the oil workers faces, they all come to grips with their own mortality in situations we hope we never have to face but know many have and do, making the nail biting, edge of your seat terror all the more believable. Its as realistic as real gets, and realism is scary.

   Though that’s not to say the film is devoid of fun, as there are moments of genuine laughs from the actors reacting to their predicament, caused by the all too familiar natural instinct that occurs when faced with a threat to our existence. Easily the best scenes in the entire film are the male bonding sessions as they struggle to stay alive physically, and mentally. A well written script, fine acting and direction make those scenes work to perfection. It all comes crashing down, unfortunately (for them) when reality rears its ugly, wolf face into proceedings, constantly pursuing the humans throughout the snowy wilderness, with only one thing on their minds; death. The uneasy sense of foreboding dread is felt throughout; the cold breath seen in the dark, the howls of the monsters heard from a distance, and the “did I really see that or not?” moments of panic. You’ll be looking out for the carnivorous predators as much as the on-screen characters.

   “The Grey” appears to be another typical Liam Neeson, tough guy star vehicle at first glance, but don’t let that fool you its so much more. Gripping, hair-raising, and tense. “The Grey” is an emotional journey into the fragile life of humanity, and how it affects us all. A real surprise hit.