Liam Neeson’s character, Ottaway is a sharp shooter by trade. He works to protect the Alaskan oil workers from the savage wolves that scavenge food from the surrounding land. The Grey filmed on location in Smithers, British Columbia is a valuable movie that serves up thought provoking questions about living in the moment and enjoying our second chances in life.

The texture of this crisp story is gripping and authentic. The Grey challenges you to think about and notice the little things that we so often overlook in our daily routine. The movie drives home the significance of children and loved ones that brings us a sense of joy in our lives.

The Grey movie scenes are graphic but well placed to create a powerful message. Faced by a devastating airplane crash strewn across the landscape in the middle of no-where; Liam Neeson is supported by an excellent cast of actors led by Frank Grillo (as John Diaz), Nonso Anozie (Burke), Dermot Mulroney (Talget), Dallas Roberts (Henrick) and Joe Andersen (Flannery).

In particular, Frank Grillo does a fantastic job in portraying an ex-con who shares many qualities with Ottaway but their beliefs in religious faith are different. I believe Grillo may see an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. His Al Pacino like acting style was a very strong complementing Liam Neeson with a great performance. 
 

The Grey in many respects reminded me of “Deliverance, 1972”, starring Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight. The character development in The Grey is well done taking shape from the start with a hair razing plane crash that plunges you into the unpredictable wilds of nature. The seven men that survive the crash must fight to survive against all odds as they are hunted by a native pack of wolves. Each person that experiences The Grey will take away something different. It impacts viewers on a personal level.

In the movie, the wolves represent the brutal and unpredictable moments of living in a world that at times may thrust us into painful circumstances such as losing a loved one or struggling to do something we regret in hindsight. The special effects wolf animatronics are graphic, detailed and scary. Carnahan, the director did a great job of using sound to cause sudden reactions and jarring action scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat. My girlfriend jumped out of her seat several times clinging to my arm in fear. This is another reason I may see this movie a second time …ha, ha.

But The Grey goes well beyond just battling wolves it’s about the personal journey of each character, a culmination of their experiences in life that brought them to this point. I liked the powerful flash back memory clips that Ottaway had during tense moments as he searched for a reason to carry-on when faced by death.

A theme throughout this intriguing movie is introduced in a poem;

“Once more into the fray.

Until the last good fight I’ll ever know.

Live and die on this day.

Live and die on this day.” 

The Grey addresses the issue of death, transforming it into a natural part of life. Something, we should not fear but embrace as a natural event. My favorite scene in The Grey is set with Frank Grillo (John Diaz), injured barely surviving a treacherous canyon crossing and unable to walk any farther. Grillo sits down on a tree stump in the middle of now-where with the wolf pack nipping at their heels in sub-zero freezing temperatures, he notices the beautiful mountains in the distance and proclaims that he will end his journey. John Diaz (Frank Grillo) decides his own fate and accepts death. His dying statement is that his life in the “civilized world” was not so glamorous so why not accept death there in the wilderness surrounded by the beautiful mountains of that day “...it will never get any better than this”, says Diaz.  

In the end, Ottaway cannot escape his fear. He scrolls through the memories of past loved ones and experiences in his life; Ottaway chooses to fight and confront what life has forced upon him. Whether, it’s being unlucky or God’s will Ottaway must deal with the real circumstances of that moment. He will truly live or die on that fateful day. 

Ultimately, the alpha wolf, a menacing pack leader comes face to face with Ottaway in the final scene. The Grey intensely reveals that both man and beast have a basic instinct to live. Ottaway stubbornly refuses to lie down when challenged by the terrifying wolf. Instead, Ottaway digs deep within himself for that last once of courage to keep going despite all his personal failures and regrets. I also saw hints in The Grey movie of Joseph Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness; a classic story that depicts the duality of human nature. 

Each person will always be confronted in life at some moment with extraordinary challenges. Individually looking beyond the fray, we all must choose our fate according to our aspirations. Ottaway chooses the last good fight he’ll ever know.

The Grey is a movie that brings you on a journey that you will contemplate long after it’s over. It’s an experience that provokes you to take a closer look at yourself. The Grey is a necessary movie to appreciate life. It has a powerful impact both visually and verbally with strong content development.  Checkout The Grey, its a powerful movie.