"The Grey" in a gray zone

Described to me by a friend as "Liam Neeson punching wolves," I expected "The Grey" to be another action-packed, good vs. evil, ass-kicking fest along the same lines as Neeson's work in "Taken." However, I was surprised to find a suspenseful, sometimes thought-provoking film infused with raw detail and emotion.

But don't worry, Neeson still kicks ass.

The story opens on snow-covered terrain as Neeson's character, Ottway, works for an oil-rigging company. His job — to shoot dangerous animals who threaten the workers, namely wolves. After the employees finish their job, they board a plane headed for a new destination, but a mechanical malfunction brings the plane down in a wintery wasteland.

As Ottway and the six other survivors assess their situation, they realize the tundra isn't as barren as they'd like it to be. They have landed within the boundaries of a vicious wolf-pack and the group must battle the animals, the elements and themselves to survive.

This seems like a plot everyone's heard before, but this movie strives to make a mountain out of a snow drift. Typical themes like man vs. nature and man vs. self are presented in ways more similar to literature than blockbuster.

The most literary scene is when the survivors are listening to the wolves fight, then they hear a larger wolf snarling, followed by silence. When the group asks Ottway what has happened he tells them the alpha has put down a fight and asserted his dominance. In the same scene, a dissenting survivor picks a fight and forces Ottway to assert his dominance as well. This comparison allows the audience to draw parallels between man and beast in an artistic yet identifiable fashion.

The main plot provides an interesting storyline, but each character faces internal struggles and memories from his past. Neeson's character is the one we are given the most insight to, and his fighting spirit makes him very easy to root for. While subplots give dimension to what could be a purely archetypal hero, the audience is hard-pressed to find more than pity for the sometimes flat cast. Even with recognizable faces like Dermot Mulroney from "The Wedding Date" and Joe Anderson from "Across the Universe," the cast is diminished by Neeson's acting chops.

While the ensemble was flawed, the great camera work and action sequences made the film. Close-ups and shaky camera scenes were added tastefully and enhanced the element of realism. The airplane crash sequence was filled with explosive detail, and I lost my breath from the sheer power.

Some could argue, though, that the detail gore was too much. But I would argue when there's a pack of ravaging wolves, expect a disemboweled body or two. In some moments, the carnage adds an emotional element to make up for less important characters. As they say, "No guts, no glory."

What I did find disturbing, however, was a distinct lack of a strong female role. The opening scene begins with Ottway narrating a letter to his former lover, the only woman given a single line in the movie. In times of dark trauma, Ottway seeks refuge in a memory of the two of them together, and she serves purely as a symbol for love, safety and good.

Also, no story, no matter how decent, can escape the fallout of a bad ending. Not to spoil anything, but after two hours of waiting for an epic, climactic ending, it's kind of a letdown.

Despite its flaws, "The Grey" is a surprisingly emotional and thoughtful journey. Though it leans on a little movie magic and falls over the finale, this film tries to find something deeper and more honest.

Plus, even those who hate the film will still learn a lot of cool wolf facts.