Director: David Hackl
Writer: Guy Moshe, J.R. Reher (Screenplay) J.R. Reher (Story)
Starring: James Marsden, Thomas Jane, Piper Perabo, Scott Glenn, Michaela McManus, Billy Bob Thornton, Adam Beach
Plot: Two estranged brothers reunite at their childhood home in the Alaskan wild. They set out on a two-day hike and are stalked by an unrelenting grizzly bear.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Fun Monster Movie
Story: Into the Grizzly Maze starts when Rowan (Marsden) returns to his home town to search for someone believed to be lost in the famous Grizzly Maze. He gets a chance to make amends with his estranged brother Beckett (Jane) who just so happens to be one of the sheriffs in town along with Sully (Glenn). When the hunting teams have been illegally hunting bears, but one bear has been taking humans out in the most violent ways possible.
Douglass (Thornton) a bear expert wants to go and hunt this killer bear while Beckett is against this he needs to go and protect his wife Michelle (Perabo) who is in the maze and his brother but who will make it out the maze alive?
Into the Grizzly Maze really does come to the simple concept of man against nature as we have our small group of survivors trying to get away from a killer bear. The story does come off as a way to try and campaign against hunting which I know I wrong in its own right. I found myself actually cheering for the bear because the most of the human characters are the reason why the bear is acting the way it is. I personally found this an easy watch with the story but found myself getting slightly annoyed with the way the bear only attacks the disposable characters and letting our main characters getting enough time to react.
Actor Review
James Marsden: Rowan returns to town to find a guide who had been helping poachers that has gone missing in the woods, he knows the woods better than most people but having to spend time with his estranged brother Beckett shows the different mind-set both have about the bears. Rowan wants to get into town and out before anyone he knows, knows he is back in town. James is solid in this role but is never the most convincing in the character’s actions.
Thomas Jane: Beckett is the deputy in town that has been going out of his way to make sure the bears are tagged and protected from hunters. He remained in the town while his brother left, but when the bears start attacking people he must find his wife and brother in the maze and stop the killer bear. Thomas is an actor who has battled sharks but this time he is just the sheriff in the town nothing special.
Piper Perabo: Michelle is the deaf wife of Beckett, she spends plenty of time in the woods trying to stop hunters plans but this is a bad day for here when we learn the killer bear is fighting back. She must use her experience to survive with the rest, but for some reason she reacts to sounds. Piper does ok but sometimes seems to forget her character is deaf as she reacts to the sounds.
Billy Bob Thornton: Douglass is a hunter that has been hunting bears for years, he knows how to track them and stay out of trouble. He hunts for the killer bear with just his horse and gun. He isn’t afraid to kill anything that gets in his way. Billy is good as we only see him in spells because of the nature of his character.
Support Cast: Into the Grizzly Maze has a supporting cast which mostly are disposable with Kaley being there just so the better known actors don’t get hurt early on.
Director Review: David Hackl – David gives us an easy to watch action horror that isn’t the most challenging but simple.
Action: Into the Grizzly Maze uses the action side of this for the bear attacks which all come off quite realistic throughout.
Horror: Into the Grizzly Maze puts our characters in the battle for their lives which is the horror side of the story.
Thriller: Into the Grizzly Maze does keep us guessing to wonder what will happen next.
Settings: Into the Grizzly Maze puts us into the middle of the woods which is a great setting for this to take place in.
Special Effects: Into the Grizzly Maze has average effects, the basic attacks all look good but when we see the kills the CGI is clear.
Suggestion: Into the Grizzly Maze is one to try, it is an easy watch that could be enjoyed by all. (Try IT)
Best Part: The bear.
Worst Part: CGI
Action Scene Of The Film: Final act.
Kill Of The Film: Final one.
Believability: Parts could happen even though this goes onto a bigger story.
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $10 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes
Tagline: Hunt or be hunted.
Overall: Easy to watch monster creature feature that keeps you on edge till the end.
Rating
