The Grey (2011)

Whoever cut the trailer for The Grey sold you Liam Neeson versus a wolf pack, and what you actually get is a frozen meditation on grief that happens to have wolves in it. That bait and switch explains the B-minus CinemaScore. On its own terms, it’s tough and moving. Neeson’s Ottway has already given up when the plane goes down, and watching him decide to keep going is what the movie’s really about. The crash is one of the most frightening you’ll ever sit through, all noise and darkness. Frank Grillo’s hothead Diaz gets the best arc, and a campfire talk about faith and family is better written than it needs to be. The weak spots: the wolves behave like movie monsters, not animals, and a couple of survivors exist mainly to shrink the group. It made $79.8 million worldwide on a reported $25M. A 6.9 because the grief lands harder than the action. $97.59 says you check the weather in Alaska tonight and add a second blanket to your bed out of pure sympathy.

What works: Liam Neeson gives one of his most soulful performances, and the plane crash and quiet campfire scenes are excellent.

What doesn’t: The wolves act like horror movie monsters rather than animals, and some of the survivors are thin characters waiting to be picked off.

Who it’s for: Viewers who like bleak survival stories and are fine with more soul-searching than action.