In my past reviews, I have made no secret about how much I enjoy Liam Neeson’s filmography…the man has outsmarted Nazis, trained Jedi, gone toe-to-toe with Batman, and torn through Paris to punish kidnappers. To put it simply, I am huge fan and will see anything he features in, so imagine my excitement when I saw him strap broken bottles on his knuckles and prepare to take on a wolf with his bare hands! Early trailers for The Grey were clearly designed to appeal to Neeson’s fans, but a true survivalist thriller has not hit theaters in quite some time, so there was an understandably high level of interest among both fans and casual moviegoers. We have all questioned how we would react in a life-or-death situation, and it looked like The Grey would be an intense rekindling of that curiosity, sure to keep most audiences on the edge of their seats. Early critical reaction was more than positive, and unless Liam Neeson was eaten by a wolf in the first thirty seconds, I didn’t see any possible way that I could be disappointed in The Grey.
Unbelievably intense and surprisingly philosophic, The Grey is a shockingly good thriller that showcases Liam Neeson’s best talents and will have anyone hesitant to ever venture near the wild or a cold climate…seriously, I had a chill and overheard people discussing their apprehension concerning going home and greeting the family dog! Neeson has always been an unquestionable badass, but the character he brings to life this time around is easily the most hardcore personality he has tackled…he can crack a joke one second and then unflinchingly kill and roast a full grown wolf on a spit. The direction is also surprisingly strong, immersing audiences in the genuine fear of a hopeless situation; all while bringing to life distinct and likable characters and tackling existential musings on faith and survival. If I had one complaint concerning The Grey, it would be that the ending is too abrupt and disappointing, and if it hadn’t been for that, the film would have earned my highest recommendation. Make no mistake, if you are in any way a fan of Liam Neeson or just someone looking for a unique adventure at the theater, then you need to see The Grey!
Overall Recommendation: High
