The Grey

Grim Grey Gloomy and Cruel But Creative
The Grey, R, ***1/2, Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Frank Grillo, Dallas Roberts, Joe Anderson. Open Road film. Director Joe Carnahan. Length 117 minutes.

The Grey Wolves are on the prowl in extreme icy cold weather - “Way up North, North to Alaska in the land of the midnight snow.” Ottway (Liam Neeson) is a professional sharpshooter for oil companies. His job is to kill wolves in order to prevent them from harming the oil workers.
The wolves like to howl at night, and it is very eerie for anyone listening to their wail.
Now these oil workers are very tough hombres, but they have to work and keep their minds on their jobs. The film is set in Alaska or parts north where it is extremely cold and windy. Ottway is a very tough guy himself and a crack shot with his rifle.
Ottaway, the films protagonist, has some issues. He is always looking at a picture of his wife and writing a letter to her.
The workers complete their job and board a plane to fly home. I have flown many times through stormy weather, rain, and wind. Once the plane hit an air pocket and dropped altitude. People fell in the floor and it was somewhat chaotic. The liquid in the glass I was holding left the glass, and when it retuned to me, it splattered in my lap.
I tell this story for one reason. The plane the crew is traveling home in has some trouble. It loses altitude and begins to tear apart. The scene is extremely horrifying. It feels like the audience is taking part in the crash. This part is filled with horror and intensity.
It kills most everyone on board. Ottaway and a few others are alive, but not many. Not knowing where they are or if they will be rescued, the remaining group decides to start walking after a short rest.
If the crew is not in enough trouble, they discover wolves attacking them. The wolves are protecting their territory. They know the humans do not belong there. If I heard the statement correctly, Ottaway tells the men, “Wolves have a 300 mile range, and a 30 mile kill zone.”
To make things worse, one of the men thinks he is macho man, and he challenges the wolf expert Ottaway. It should be obvious to everyone that Ottaway is the Alpha since he has so much experience. However, someone is always ready to be Machiavellian and challenge the leader. Just remember Ottaway is smart and tough.
The group tries to reach some trees and find a way out of their quandary. The cold wind and snow makes the audience feel as if they are participating in the dreary, cold, and dangerous territory.
It has been said about the late Howlin Wolf a blues singer, guitarist, and harmonic player weighing 300 pounds and standing 6’ 6” that “With his imposing presence, he could rock the house down and scare the wits out of the patrons.” This is a small metaphor for the wolves and what they are capable of doing in this film.
Each person in this movie has their own story and demons. Sharing these stories while in this dangerous situation helps them to get a better grip on life. As each one speaks about what is important to them, they seem to become more sensitive to life and what is important.
The movie is original in its plot. Experiencing the film is a surprise, because of its unique circumstances. The language is pervasive and strong along with the blood and gore. The film does not take the easy way out. It is an extremely brawny story about some burly rough and tough characters. I recommend it for creativity, originality, hunters, and outdoor individuals.