The fact that the wolves' howling is what stops him from killing himself is one of the most profound and genius storytelling devices I've ever witnessed. It's like they're calling him from the future, challenging him to fight for himself, for life, and for meaning.
Thinking about it on this perspective is pretty awesome. I was thinking of it like, “don’t do it, these people here are going to need you soon.” I like this way better. Bitter genius.
Forever upset at how this film was marketed as a cheap, wolf hunting action movie instead of the thought-provoking, poignant film it is about humanity's inner demons and how we must fight them, and that is the beauty of life.
Liam Neeson was instructed to actually write this to his real life deceased wife. That makes it even more sad and gut wrenching. RIP Natasha Richardson
I cry sometimes just watching this scene. I never lost a wife, but I did lose my Mother, and it just feels terrible even watching this scene. Losing someone really sucks, and she died when I was only 26 years old. Read about the production in this link, sad stuff. Now I'm 37 years old, and I drink alcohol sometimes and feel exactly like Liam in this scene. The pain slightly subsides over the years....but it's still there. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grey_(film)
I know exactly what he feels, my Mother was in a coma for a week before doctors said she would be brain dead, and me and my brother had to sign a "do not resuscitate" document which basically is letting the person die. Watch this if you want to tear up...I love Liam, I feel so sorry for him. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EaUQtQWbXZo.html
It's about White Men. Western Civilization. Liam trying to hold on to morality even among the chaos. Those who accept their fate go peacefully. Those who don't don't. All die.
@@mufidlassissi5058 I won't point out the irony that you should reply, as a non-western cultured person enjoying the spoils of western creation, but I will point out the fact that there is a very specific and deliberate theme in the movie which presents itself by the statement "Killing for a major oil conglomerate" as well as "I don't know why I'd done half the things I'd done', and finally firmed in the methodical and deliberate attacks by the "wolves" who worked together to pick off the scattered survivors one-by-one. I'll give you one guess at whom the wolves represent. Now what group can you think of that works together to get everyone fighting each other while they sit back and feast on the decay and rot they produce? starts with a J ends with an S.
no one truly knows the inner demons that haunt us, past mistakes, guilt, insecurities, betrayal ect.. ... I can relate. the wolves in the end is a metaphor for fighting his inner demons the last good fight
Robert lee Esparza So True!The grey is a such great movie and it is so unfortunate that many people got disappointed because of their expectations for another adventurous movie crop without real meaning...
I like that approach about inner demons. I can see that. Some make you drown in your own sorrows. Some inner demons they linger and won't let you sleep until you fight them off. How you handle them decifes how long you live. I like that. I saw the Alpha Wolf as death itself. How do you handle death? How do you accept it? You try to run from it you might get hunted by it. You might clumsily fall into making mistakes that cause your own death in your worst fears by trying to outrun it. When Liam goes face to face with the Alpha Wolf (death) he's tired of being afraid and already had said, "I'll do this myself." He's had enough of fear. "Hey Alpha Wolf (Death), you'll probably take my life too but I'm not running from you anymore. I'm ready to meet you. Once more into the fray ..." Regardless, I love rewatching this movie because you pick a lot of different themes.
I cried so hard at the end of this movie when I realized she died and didn't actually end it with him. Shit broke my heart. Love this movie. The music makes this movie
@@chubary Nooooooo! That makes no sense. She was the one dying and told him to not be afraid because she wasn't going to be around anymore. Hence why she's not in the picture anymore
@@ryanbrowning5586 lol!! watch the movie again! I know its confusing, but watch at the end....he is the one in bed with the serum...she was telling him not to be afraid of dying!! thats why he wanted to die and was going to shoot himself!!! thats the whole trick in the movie!! He doesnt even die at the end!! watch after the credits!! the wolf its badly hurt!! its a great movie!
@@chubary I've read tons of reviews and they all say the same. He died at the end after beating the wolf. He died fighting in memory of his wife who died. That's why his wife said don't be afraid because she loves him so much she doesn't want him to be sad of her passing. WHICH IS WHY HE WRITES HER A LETTER BUT KNOWS IT WONT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. She's the one with the I.V. It's on her side. That's why it's shows the I.V. after she says don't be afraid.
@@chubary BTW I've watched the movie about 20 times. SHES DEAD AND HES DEAD IN LIFE CAUSE HE MISSES HER. Which is why he almost kills himself cause he feels just as dead without her!
I was so stunned by this movie. The masculinity mixed in with love, strength, pain and meaning. It's nice to have something make your own pain look beautiful.
Now I realize why I am so drawn to this scene and movie. When my son "left me" after fighting for years in agony, with me sitting bedside in a children's hospital lying to him all the way til the end about better days that would never come, I too had to admit he was not coming back, and to this day cannot figure out how to move beyond it, as his twin brother in the other room awaits his own fate, and I hide out here in fear of doing it all again. I too have stopped doing this world any good.
"And I've stopped doing this world any real good." I feel this way often and understood Liam's character. This movie tapped so many different emotions and resonated much deeper than most. This song penetrates the dermal layers of sadness, score of this film was probably my favorite of any. So many profoundly powerful scenes in this movie. I love when Henrik asks John where he was going that night with his rifle.
We are the broken men who walk amongst you, living ghosts, staying on this earth because that is what we are supposed to do, a moral code not meant for this society, a lifetime of bad luck while the confident look down upon us, not understanding that it is fortune that has failed us, not our character or strength. You can see it on our faces, hear it in our voices, if you look, if you listen...
@@psychostranger2097 Seldom does society speak of the noble silent suffering of such men who would rather eat a gun barrel than admit they've been broken by the universe.
@@malachizarathustra7301 yes, i agree with you. But the problem with society is that apart from few lucky people, everyone is suffering from pain. Therefore they do not care about others pain. And if you are either intelligent or weird or unlucky or outcast or suffering from mental disorders, then the life will become extremely painful for you. We cannot blame a single person in this deterministic universe. In the vastness of universe human or any kind of life form has no meaning at all.
Loosing my girlfriend of almost 7 years was a harsh blow to me. Liam summed everything Ive been feeling so perfectly. Just goes to show you we all go thru and process heartbreak the same way. Love this movie
Scott Lambert same with me scott I was 28 when I lost my wife and although I have been able to move on I watch this everyday because I can relate to every word
Right there with you guys. Worst part is we watched this movie together so she is on my mind every time I watch it. When Liam speaks it’s as if he’s narrating my life lately
100%. This is the situation I would be placed in, if I ever to lose my wife. My purpose of living would be nonexistent. Only to aimlessly walk this earth, fantasizing of seeing her face with my own eyes again. I would not care about anything in this world if I lost her. The only battle I would face is trying to convince myself that I would see her in an afterlife. Thankfully, she’s sleeping against me as I watch this video.
That same look he has at the being is the same as mine. That deep thought of, “who am I”!and that thousand stare at nothing. I often watch this video because I draw many comparisons. If anyone thinks the same way as this just know you are not alone.
I have this theory that the wolf howling is the alpha, and the alpha is actually Morrigán, the Celtic goddess of death and war (who sometimes took the form of a wolf.) Ottway is Celtic and a warrior, so Morrigán howls for him not to die by his own hand. It's her idea of mercy that in the end he dies not by suicide but in battle, like a warrior. This adds a supernatural element to a mostly atheistic movie, I know, but does sorta explain why the wolves don't act like real wolves.
@dars5229 I definitely think you should if you can get a copy. It's may 35 years old but a great read, horror mixed with mythology and Celtic folklore, can't beat it
What a monologue! what an awesome movie this is. It’s really sad that movies like this are getting more rare. This is more like a film from the 90s. Good storyline, great combination of actors and brilliant direction.
One of the greatest start and end, taken together, any film has ever had..... Liam has done it as if he experienced it, the pain, the loneliness of a lost love...nowhere to go...witnessing the death of few others on the way, adding further to his pain, much ...much more....
His real life wife Natasha Richardson died from a skiing accident not that long before this movie... maybe acouple years... the letter he wrote, this monologue, was to Natasha Richardson. This truly was/is art imitating life.
Whenever I deal with heartbreak i come here. I saw this movie after my 10th grade in 2012-13 . Around the same time i fell in love too and after watching the movie i used to wonder what heartbreak would feel like . After 10 years and 3 unsuccessful relationship i think my heart soul mind have had enough. I wish I could just go over to some small mountain town .
Every time i watch my fav movie, The Grey. I forget that she passed away and did not break up with him. Then it hits me again at the end. 😢 this movie should've won every award out there.
same here i watched this in 2013 when i was 17 going through a hard time in life... his quotes and everything is just so awesome and it hits the right spots.
The scene where she said to him "Don't be afraid" but she is the one that is dying is so heartbreaking, I repeated that scene 1000 times with that epic music and cried my soul out. Liam Neeson was the perfect man for this role
Still i exist, still i live , still miss you each day ...my wife. I stop doing this world any good but still im here, waiting to see you again. This movie saw in theaters, hit so close so close, maybe if i wait long enough ill get to see her again, be with her again, my wife.
"The wolf has its own story, he too chooses to make a point of life when he decides to fight the human in the end battle alone. The wolf also seemed to desire a point to its some what hard and meaningless life. In the end, nothing wins, as all goes black, and it all just proves that its just a zero sum game, regardless of what purpose you as an individual give meaning to. The question in life is not what is its meaning or purpose, but how you deal with fate" Marcus Donnellious
Such an affinity to this for years and years now. The reason behind one of my tattoos. The words mean so much. Once more into the fray. Only men will understand this ❤
8 years now this movie is in me.. first lost love of i better man they one i always wanted to be..We stoped doing this world eny real good.feeling like poison..hoping and waiting that tommorow i will be able to do actual good to this world..
Ive visit this Dark place again after losing my better half of me and my son its been years and im still wondering around in the dark something that i desired all my life turned to a Curse for Me ‼️
The wolves howling at the end indicate to him that they will give him what is truly in his heart. An honorable death. The man is way past reconciliation with his past. He doesn't want/care what the future has in store for him.
"There's not a second goes by......"These are some lines from Hollywood that a lonely man like me can connect to him self. There are some other's like from Great gatesby " Gatesby believed in the green light" and from Taxi Driver "lonliness has followed me everywhere... There's no escape" and also from movie Fury "I heard the voice of the Lord"
I've been there, man. That precipice where the only thing that pulls you back is knowing that ending your pain will mean causing pain for someone else.
I get the message of the movie after the second viewing. First i thought its a classic LN action flick. Now its heartbreaking to watch the movie and his love to his wife.
I’ve written multiple letters over the years just to leave them out on my nightstand or on my kitchen countertop while contemplating my reasons for being in that mindset. Eventually I’ll have a good moment in a day and burn them so no one will ever read them. These events are usually followed up with days of wondering why I feel this way. The monologue from this scene is by far the most accurate description of how it is everyday. I know I will never be an old man in this world. The difficult task for me these days is finding something worth dying for. Everyday I pray for the opportunity to go out saving someone from a tragic situation. It’s difficult to put into words, but life after the Army is the most meaningless thing I’ve ever experienced. I hope that one day I find my new purpose or that opportunity pops up to give my death meaning.
What I can't figure out is if he was drinking then thought about shooting himself or drinking for the courage to shoot himself and decided to do it sober as if to do it with a clear conscience.
I love this scene and this film but I'm still pissed that it cut off before we got to see Liam Neeson fight wolves with broken bottles taped to his fists
The fact that you got pissed shows how great of a movie it is. And how much of an impact seeing the ending happen had on you. This is what most people don’t realize. That’s the art. It’s up to the viewer to understand the art and the story in their own way
@@HawaiianCrow I do understand the deeper meaning of the movie and why there be no fight at the end in many ways was essential and made the film more impactful… But I’m still pissed I didn’t see my wolf fight
I'm grieving after a heartbreak. I remember this movie very often. I feel the same way as he. I'm completely alone and ex partner is already living with someone else. I'm a moving corpse. Already a month passed by and I will never be the same. I'm stuck in my thoughts and it is a living hell, torture.
Well his wife actually died 2 years before this film was made, so he can actually really relate to it. I really respect him because he could have said no to this film as it was still too raw for him. So really this wasn’t actually acting in the film but him being himself here.
