They Live in the Grey ★★★
IF YOU enjoy the so-called intellectual sub-genre of horror, epitomised by film-makers like Ari Aster and Robert Eggers, search out They Live in the Grey.
In recent years Aster and Eggers have delivered multi-layered, intense and atmospheric horrors like Hereditary, The VVitch, Midsommar and The Lighthouse, all of which are excellent.
While They Live in the Grey isn’t in quite the same league, it is a strong entry from the directing team of Abel and Burlee Vang.
The brothers are American independent film-makers who have only made a couple of previous films. They come from Asian family backgrounds which explains some of the themes and approach they bring to their supernatural tale.
Claire is a social worker who has separated from her husband Peter as a result of trying to deal with the overwhelming grief caused by a recent tragedy.
Her supervisor is less than understanding and isn’t happy with her approach to her tasks. She is directed to take on a new case which requires her to interview a family where child abuse is suspected by the daughter’s school.
Sophie and her parents initially insist her injuries have been caused by falls while skateboarding, but Claire is not convinced and eventually pushes them into revealing their belief that a supernatural entity is to blame.
The revelation doesn’t surprise Claire whom we come to realise has an unique awareness of the supernatural that she doesn’t fully have control or understanding of.
Claire tries to drop the case but her boss wants it progressed to a full investigation of the parents. At the same time the family are further terrorised by the entity and see their only help in Claire.
All of this is played out amidst a sense of palpable dread with some decent, genuine jump scares along the way.
The end result is lifted by the acting which is first-rate across the board. Michelle Krusiec is very good in the challenging lead role.
The Vang brothers probably draw things out a little too much at times and some threads are left hanging, but overall this is one of the better horror films so far in 2022.