THE GREY

What "Jaws" did for swimmers and ocean lovers, "The Grey" has done for those intrepid mountaineers and adventurers...and maybe also those that may have a slight fear with flying. Directed and co-written by Joe Carnahan, "The Grey" follows a group of air-crash survivors that battle not just against the freezing sub-zero temperatures of Alaska, but it's fiercely unforgiving terrain. Whilst the landscape creates plenty of barriers and challenges for these survivors their real challenge and fight stands against a pack of ravenous wolves that seem to pick each of them off, one by one.

Liam Neeson heads the cast of eight survivors. It is clear that Neeson is in his element. He embodies his character completely and if you liked him in "Taken" then you will love him in this. Tough, steely and by far the strongest of them all, his character leads the survivors through an ever-uncompromising landscape. Amongst the band of survivors is Dermot Mulroney whom you'd remember from that Julia Roberts film "My Best Friend's Wedding". Dermot is strikingly different in this film and plays his part very well. Although in many scenes I was left wondering if it was accidental that he had a striking resemblance to Robert Downie Jr?? 

There are plenty of thrills and this film will make you clutch at your seat. It is exciting, terrifying and thrilling. There is also its fair share of blood and gore, and if you are weak in the stomach I suggest you may want to be wary when walking in to see this film. What makes this film scary however are the wolves. As I said in the opening paragraph to this review, this film does what "Jaws" did to the sea, but for the Alaskan wilderness. The wolves are the central figure and are characters in their own right. Without the need of a soundtrack to cue the audience for oncoming danger, the wolves cries are enough to insight apprehension and fear. Their howls are both hauntingly beautiful and chillingly fearsome. It was a treat (without sounding sadistic) to see these great animals portrayed in such a way that made them foreboding all the more because of their sheer intelligence, cunning and instinct. As quickly as they devour their prey they disappear into the night.

This is one action, adventure, thriller that you must not miss. Catch it at the cinema if you can because the experience of sitting in the darkness watching the story unfold on the big screen is oh so worth it.

"The Grey"

8.5/10