The Grey is a 2011 survival thriller film co-written, produced and directed by Joe Carnahan, and starring Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Joe Anderson, Nonso Anozie, and James Badge Dale.

It is based on the short story "Ghost Walker" by Ian MacKenzie Jeffers, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Carnahan.

The story follows a number of oil-men stranded in Alaska after a plane crash who must survive a pack of Canadian grey wolves, stalking them during the mercilessly cold weather.

Released in the United States on January 27, 2012, the film received positive reviews, with praise for its philosophical themes, and for Liam Neeson's performance.

John Ottway works as a sharpshooter at a remote Alaska oil facility, protecting the staff from frequent grey wolf attacks.

Ottway survives, and along with John Diaz, Jerome Talget, Pete Henrick, Todd Flannery, Jackson Burke, and Dwayne Hernandez, takes shelter in the plane wreckage.

He believes the wolves feel threatened by the survivors' presence and thinks they may have a better chance of surviving in the nearby forest.

Facing certain death, Ottway gathers his last reserves of strength (while recalling his deceased wife's last words to "[not] be afraid") and arms himself with a knife and shards of liquor bottles taped to his hand.

A post-credits scene show Ottway and the alpha wolf laying together following their battle, their fates left unclear.

[9] Carnahan disclosed, in a Q&A session following an early screening at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, he had an alternative ending he never intended to use showing Neeson battling the alpha wolf.

The site's critical consensus reads, "The Grey is an exciting tale of survival, populated with fleshed-out characters and a surprising philosophical agenda.

There's time for some conversation among the men, and this film, directed by Joe Carnahan and written by him and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, treats them as individuals.

[22] Dissenters' reviews tend to focus on the film's abrupt ending, and perceive the emotional and philosophical undertones as unnecessary.

Siobhan Synnot of The Scotsman gave the film two stars, commenting "On the down side, there's a lot of dull pretentious philosophizing about the heartlessness of nature and God.

"[23] Some reviewers and analysts say the film has an atheist theme, due to characters such as John Ottway (Liam Neeson) pleading for divine help but not getting any.

[5] On January 19, 2012, British Columbia's The Province featured an article about the movie's crew buying four wolf carcasses, two for props for the film and two wolves for the cast to eat.

[29][30] Open Road responded by placing a fact sheet about the grey wolf on the film's official website while the Sierra Club cooperated.