The Grey
Director: Joe Carnahan.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Frank Grillo.
Reviewed by Danielle Muir.
[rating:4.5/5]
You know what? Hours of watching action/thriller flicks has taught me one thing. If I was stranded on a desert island, or anywhere for that matter, the one thing I’d want is Liam Neeson. At least then I’d feel like I had a fighting chance.
A plane of rowdy oil drillers crashes smack bang in the middle of frosty Alaska, killing all but seven. Stranded, freezing and without supplies, Ottoway (Liam Neeson) takes charge of the group’s survival. But they’re not alone. They’ve landed deep in wolf territory, who don’t take kindly to newcomers. At all. In fact they’d rather rip them to shreds. Now the men must battle the elements, wildlife and their own sanity in order to have any chance of making it.
The film this has been marketed as, and the ACTUAL movie are two different things.
There’s an obvious novelty factor associated with the idea of Liam Neeson strapping on bottle shards and having it out with a big bad wolf. Well if you’re going in expecting a kick-ass action flick, then yes there is a fair bit of it about. But if that’s all you’re expecting, watch out. You’ll be shocked, horrified, and scared. You’ll recoil; you’ll crouch in fear (if one is a bit jumpy like myself). You’ll laugh when they find humour out of the darkness, but don’t expect to loosen up because at any moment you’ll be caught off guard. Some of the dialogue heavy scenes are so emotionally heart-wrenching you just sit in awe of the incredible writing (special mention to the scene in which Ottoway comforts a dying man in the wreckage.)
Neeson is one of my favourite actors. Full stop. He possesses such gravitas and has a commanding presence, something which his role so furiously demands in order to avoid the laughable factor. His character isn’t straight up tough as nails, with an interesting reveal at the beginning questioning why he’s trying so hard to survive this ordeal in the first place. As with every group of men, you have the one who makes a lot of sexual jokes in order to compensate for his terror, the goofy one, the smart and reserved one, and the ones you don’t really remember. The group dynamic is perfect, and forms the basis of the strong psychological thriller elements as conflict arises between the men in conjunction with everything else. Another reason why this is no simple action flick are the extensive dialogue scenes, as they unravel and reveal their true natures in the wilderness. Heartbreaking.
Absolute credit goes to the sound, visual effects and camera department for their amazing work with the plane crash and river scenes. Adrenaline and fear will surge through your veins as the plane goes down, as the experience wholly engulfs you and leaves you gripping your chair so tight you may tear through the material. You’re tossed and battered and as scared as the poor souls sitting in the gradually obliterating aircraft. It’s raw, thrilling viewing.
There is haunting imagery, beautiful (yet devastating) music, powerful action sequences and a fantastic script. You’re powerless. You just have to watch them suffer, accept, fight and band together. This, in short, is a job well done. It’s still stuck in my head, anyway.
The Grey is out now through Icon.
ENDS
