After dumb (albeit very fun) action flicks The A-Team and Smokin’ Aces, director Joe Carnahan has become known as a Michael Bay-esque ‘style over substance’ type of filmmaker. But with the sublime The Grey, Carnahan proves there are more strings to his bow, returning to the dark, subtle and slow-burning tones of his acclaimed debut Narc. This icy wilderness edge-of-seater is a master class in building and sustaining tension, only allowing the audience to let their guard down at moments when more terror is about to suddenly rear its ferocious head. Carnahan wisely puts a lot of focus on what we hear too; from the heart-pounding sound design (the airplane crash sequence is phenomenal) to the affecting score, your ears are put to use as much as your eyes – which are treated to the outstandingly atmospheric cinematography – all combining for a fully immersive and chilling experience. Throw in a group of engaging characters you genuinely want to see survive as a ragtag bunch – led by Liam Neeson’s troubled Ottway – trying to conquer the severe Alaskan weather and the even more nightmarish wolves stalking them, and this is a near-perfect man vs. wild thriller.
