A survival thriller set in the chilling wastes of Alaska, The Grey follows seven men stranded by a plane crash who attempt to beat the odds and survive. This hapless septet is swiftly whittled down until the film’s climax, with the solitary Liam Neeson alone in a wolf den fashioning a knuckleduster from broken bottles.

Neeson is able to bring his characteristic intensity to the table which is highlighted by the bleakness of his surroundings. His rugged features and piercing blue eyes are well-suited to his unyielding character. A tragic back story is repeatedly hinted at, and the way he draws strength from this is both convincing and affecting.

The rest of the cast however, is patchily characterised at best. A somewhat unconvincing attempt is made to introduce some conflict and disunity from a dissident voice in the group. Questioning authority is all very well but it would ring more true if he made any kind of suggestion of an alternative plan.

Some nice camerawork and intense music save some very suspect script so one can empathise with some of the characters. However, the focus of this film is their struggles against the wolves whose territory they have landed in. Some excellent timing provides some real jump-out-of-the-seat moments when one or other unfortunate character is pounced on by a vast wolf that must have been within about three feet of the whole group.

Sadly, these seconds of abject terror are instantly followed by a realisation of how ridiculous many of the events are. Grit and realism were doing fine right up until an action movie scene spoils a perfectly good survival thriller. The real moments of tension are in the periods of inactivity, sitting around a fire listening to the pack howl around them. The chill is real and nicely compliments the philosophical undercurrent of atheistic frustration.

Ultimately an interesting movie, but many of the characters lack enough depth to make their interactions and black humour as touching as it might be. This feature mars the whole movie; every time the action veers from dramatic to ludicrous, the charm wanes.