Giovanni's Movie Review: THE GREY

Humans are animals. Our species may have more sophisticated technology than the rest, but at our core we aren’t very different from creatures we believe to be inferior. When put in danger, humans will go to great lengths to survive, just as any animal will. And that includes wolves. "Killer" wolves have been a major controversy surrounding director Joe Cornahan’s survival thriller, The Grey.

Misleadingly advertised as "'Taken' with wolves", the film follows a group of drill workers, lead by the depressed Ottway (Liam Neeson) who find themselves stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash. What would be a normal story of men fighting for their lives is complicated when a pack of territorial wolves begin picking them off one by one. Groups like PETA have scolded the film for its “unrealistic” depiction of the animals, but such gripes are needless in the scale of Cornahan’s vision. It’s a film that draws parallels between human nature and habits perceived as “wild,” showing that the two aren’t different at all. Just like the wolves, the men form a pack, are lead by an alpha male and build strategies to ensure their continued life. If anything, the film accepts our equality with animals rather than making humans look more civilized than supposed blood-thirsty beasts.

It’s an intense ride, though it borders on silliness at times once it dips into CGI chasm crossing and other survival clichés. But it does a great job of building tension, with gritty effects, breakneck cuts and chilling sound design. While The Grey is a solid and entertaining film, it does suffer from being unevenly paced. It almost feels like watching two separate films.

The other side of it is much different, and frankly more interesting. That part is a human drama about men handling death. Little moments filled with serious emotional weight populate the story. When a character is killed, it’s not done in a way that just shows off gruesome special effects. It’s done in a way that emphasizes the fear that many feel about dying. That’s why these men are so compelled to push on.

That sort of deep, emotional meaning may not be what audiences have come to expect from a Liam Neeson film over the years. But Neeson is a great choice for the lead role, showing versatility as someone who can do much more than kill and yell. Here, he plays a leader who’s admittedly terrified, but trying his best to take charge and keep everybody calm. He’s easy to empathize with right off the bat, since he’s not a superhuman fighter but just a venerable man. The entire ensemble give off the same vibe, presenting a cast of guys who want nothing more than to get back to their lives.

Audiences who come into The Grey expecting Liam Neeson to beat up a pack of wolves will likely be disappointed. What’s presented is something sophisticated, saying a lot to say both about death and human nature, though starkly uneven. Both topics are massive and maybe tackling just one would have been enough for the two-hour runtime. Cornahan’s ambition in discussing both causes the film to inevitably drag, concluding without making a perfectly concise observation of either. But stylish filmmaking and exhilarating scenes keep The Grey alive and kicking, presenting viewers with a survival tale that’s both exciting and smart.