Movie Review: 'The Grey'

It’s official: Liam Neeson has cemented himself as the world’s favorite new action star. Ever since his ultra-macho turn in Taken, people just love to see this guy kick ass. So when I heard of a film about Liam Neeson fighting wolves in the wild, my first thought was: “Well, that’s ridiculous” -- and my second thought was: “But I’ve got to see it!”

Thankfully, The Grey is more than just that. At its core, it’s a survival story. When a plane carrying a group of oil drillers crashes and leaves only seven alive, they must find a way to survive in the Alaskan wilderness amidst freezing weather and a bloodthirsty pack of wolves. This is absolutely not a movie for the faint of heart. It’s a somber film that’ll put your nerves into overdrive, keeping you constantly on edge; scenes of contemplative quiet quickly revert back to turbulence, and then back again.

The plane crash in the beginning of the film is one of the most intensely overwhelming scenes I’ve seen in a damn long time. True terror personified. When it finally ended and we were treated to a moment of silence, there was a scattering of “whoa’s” heard around the theater. It’s that kind of movie, one that’ll have you verbally reacting to what you’re feeling.


And then there’s the wolves. When we’re first introduced to a pair of glowing white eyes in the darkness of night – which then turns into a LOT of glowing white eyes – we feel the danger just as sharply as the men do. As the human numbers slowly start to diminish, the already potent tension increases, constantly keeping us in the story even when nothing is going on but a bunch of guys marching through the snow.

Liam Neeson gives a riveting, tormented performance as Ottway, the “Alpha” of the group. And bonus! He gets to say things like “I’m gonna beat the shit out of you in the next five seconds and you’ll swallow blood!” Seriously? Only he could pull off saying such a thing.

While the cinematography is a visual treat (just thinking about that snowy vast whiteness makes me feel cold!), it is actually the sound editing and mixing that makes The Grey stand out. With ear-shattering sound effects (once again, the plane crash!), I can’t remember the last time I felt so present during a film. Director Joe Carnahan exhibits a thoroughly impressive ability to create a distinct and memorable atmosphere and tone. We’ve seen movies that take place in similar settings before, but Carnahan gives the entire film its own edge, with music that bends and molds itself into its grim setting.

There are a surprising amount of laughs – some intentional through cheeky dialogue, and some that’ll inevitably stem from the constant presence of the wolves. It can’t help but feel just a bit too campy at times – something I have no reason to believe the filmmakers were going for. Regardless, by the end of the film I was pretty firm on my belief that there is no sound more frightening (and simultaneously humorous) than the howl of a wolf.

Rating: B