The Grey runs red

The Grey soon runs red as a bloody race for survival is set in motion and animal instinct for dominance collides head on with a human's instinct for survival; in this brutal and merciless warzone, only the fittest and most cunning triumphs. It is a ruthless battle of endurance in which Mother Nature reveals its dark side and pits man against beast, and man against himself.

Liam Neeson's character leads an unruly group of oil rig roughnecks when their plane crashes into the remote Alaskan wilderness. Battling injuries and merciless weather, the survivors have only a few days to escape the icy elements - and a vicious pack of rogue wolves on the hunt - before their time runs out.

Skilfully plotted psychological thriller

Although it might seem as if The Grey is an exploitative horror film, it most definitely is not, but ultimately reveals itself as a well-crafted and skilfully plotted psychological thriller, and emotionally draining human drama.

Neeson is terrific as the alpha male who needs to lead his anxious co-workers to safety when they are stranded in the Alaskan wilderness. The Grey is not only an exploration of man versus beast, but also an intelligent journey into the soul of a man who needs to be fearless in his quest for survival.

A first-rate mystery

It is also a first-rate mystery that unravels the heart-breaking secrets of a man who needs to put his tormented life back in order, resolve his troubled past and redeem himself. To reveal more will spoil your viewing, for what lurks behind The Grey, and underneath its murky surface, results in a meaningful and rewarding conclusion that puts everything into perspective.

Director Joe Carnahan knows how to set the pace and keep the suspense tight; his visual style perfectly captures a world in which fear hides out of sight in an isolated prison without borders. Carnahan masterfully balances the intimate nature of the human dilemma with an explosive spectacle in which the hunter mercilessly corners his helpless and unsuspecting prey.

There are moments that will leave you breathless as the fear of what unravels on the screen manifests itself vividly in your mind.

If you are looking for intelligent viewing with bite that guarantees to keep you on the edge of your seat, make sure to see this thought-provoking and excellent thriller.

Rating 5/5

Behind the scenes

From the silent Nanook of the North through the ground-breaking Jaws, one of the most enduring motion picture narratives has centred around the classic conflict between man and nature. Now comes an engaging new adventure about macho guys stranded in the wilderness and pitted against impossible conditions and even more nightmarish predators. In The Grey, set in the frozen mountains of Alaska, a pack of angry, snarling, bloodthirsty wolves are in dogged pursuit of human prey. As they pick off their helpless victims one at a time, the chances of survival for the last men standing become more and more remote.

"This is a hard core survivalist film," said director and co-writer Joe Carnahan, whose previous hits include Narc and Smokin' Aces. In The Grey, a group of men must fight for their lives against the extreme cold and snow as well as a hungry pack of wolves protecting their den. "If you're afraid of wild animals or plane travel, this movie will put you off for a good, long time."

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