Synopsis:
After a brutal plane crash, the seven survivors must make their way out of the Alaskan wilderness. A pack of wolves hell bent on defending their territory make survival that little bit more impossible.
I think it's safe to
say that currently... Liam Neeson is the baddest man on the planet.
Not bad as in evil, but bad as in badass. After the success of Taken
it's hard to see him in a different light. He's that crafty
veteran... a crafty veteran with a particular set of skills, and a
stone cold voice that would send chills up even the most cold hearted
soul. It would seem like the perfect setting then for him to take
these skills into one of the most ferocious wildernesses on earth and
use them to survive the sub-zero climate of Alaska in The Grey.
At first I, as I would
expect a few others, was sceptical about the film. Never was much of
a fan of survival
films, they tend to drag on more than I would like and it's difficult
to make the environment stand out as the antagonist (albeit when done
well it's something special), and to be honest I never really felt
the danger of the climate itself. Just irritant at the sound of
constant swirling wind, which the director was kind enough to do away
with about half way through. What it did provide however was a
platform for a pack of overly territorial wolves to truly become one
of the best on-screen villains of 2011. I'm honestly surprised at how
well they came across. I wouldn't even be afraid of putting them up
there with the likes of Jaws and the Anaconda from, well, Anaconda.
It tends to be that animals are rarely used as the bad guys because
our superiority as humans tends to stop them from being frightening.
They have to have something about them which makes them stand out,
the famous beasties that I just mentioned for example are abnormally
large. Their aquatic nature also gives them that edge as in water the
playing field becomes extremely one-sided and helpless in the eyes of
the viewer. Which is why I was shocked that they went for wolves in
this picture. A creature that is essentially a big dog, something we,
regardless of their capabilities, tend not to fear when we are in a
group. Yet the opening howl in the first minute adds something
haunting, almost alien, to the wolves. This is their terrain, they
are beyond our understanding, and even though Liam Neeson is with a
team of men who are the roughest of outcasts their situation feels
hopeless throughout. These wild animals are stylishly hidden from
view, their relentless, invisible pursuit always at the forefront of
the viewers mind. They're calculated, cunning, their numbers giving
them a sense of invincibility. Lucky for us Neeson is around to tip
the scales, if but only a little, to make us think that there is
hope.
All the other six oil
workers are easily relatable to. Although ignored and untrusted by
society under normal circumstance, their survival of a brutal plane
crash really gets you on their side. As the tension builds, and
chances of survival begin to waver, the human side, apparent in all
of us, shows through and the yearning for at least one person to make
it keeps you watching, no matter how hopeless the outlook.
Now unfortunately I
have to finish with a gripe and it's the ending. Hard to explain
without SPOILING, but you need to know, as it's
such a momentum killer and I don't want your movie experience ruined
if you're not inclined to appreciate these ridiculous outcomes. Basically, in as few words as I can... when tensions are at an all time high, the director chooses to cut and rap. Poor. Why directors choose to do this is beyond me but there you go. Thankfully after the credits there is some extra footage which leaves a nice air of mystery as opposed to just leaving us in the pitch black. Although not enough to vindicate the lack of finale action it certainly fills a hole, even if it is only with a big question.
Overview:
Be patient and wait until after the credits before you switch off a DVD, as there may be something of worth. In this case I'd say there was, the five seconds of film though not enough to bring this review from a 3 to a 4 star. I stand that this really could have been something special, had they have gotten just gotten in that little bit of combat we so desperately craved.
Rating:
★★★
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