MovieChat Forums > The Grey (2012) Discussion > Did 'The Revenant' steal from The Grey?

Did 'The Revenant' steal from The Grey?

posted 8 years ago by Neil_Williamson
10 replies | jump to latest

Scenery, poetry, characters attacked by wild animals and dragging themselves through the wilderness- there are a lot of similarities between the films.

[–] johnnyutah79 8 years ago

I really think it did, and that's a compliment to the underrated The Grey since so many people and critics raved about the Revenant and it was nominated for so many awards.

I actually enjoyed the Grey more than the Revenant. Other than technical aspects and some clever cinematography, I think the Grey is a much better film overall and for repeat watching. The Revenant's ending was so disappointing and such a let down how it went into conventionality and defied the true story of the book where he forgives Fitzgerald.

[–] dabney_smith 8 years ago

What disappointed you about the Revenant's ending? It was all about how vengeance is futile. Fitzgerald was dead. Glass had no reason left to live. Does he carry on? Or did a pack of wolves devour him offscreen?

The Grey is about how life has no meaning but everyone wants to live another day. His wife was dead. He was dead inside from the first frame of the movie(suicide note). He had no reason left to live. Does he carry on? Or did a pack of devour him offscreen?

Personally I think they both die, and should as they have no reason to carry on. It's left open-ended because, after all, hope for a better tomorrow.

[–] Seventy_Two_Raisins 8 years ago

The book came out long before Carnahan's greasy little mind started thinking this mess up. The book was based on things that actually happened to frontiersman Hugh Glass.

Monkey with small testicles roar loudest -- Confucius

[–] markdancedcrazy 8 years ago

I don't think so, although they are similar superficially. The Revenant is about revenge and the willpower to see that act through, above all else. Despite the poetry and serenity of the cinematography (and it is lovely), it's not a spiritual film and actually doesn't offer much of an arc for its protagonist.

The Grey is deeply spiritual -- not religious -- and its lead characters have fundamental differences in their motivations.

[–] heisenberg12 8 years ago

You didn't notice the similarities between the scenery and the score? And that the directors and producers placed themselves in harsh winter conditions? Even little details like how the snow flurries slowly come down and the tree configurations the actors move through in the snow are identical. The script, not so much. But, both have "ambiguous" endings too, something Carnahan also covered and was questioned on in Q and A.

[–] Seventy_Two_Raisins 8 years ago

LOL!

Monkey with small testicles roar loudest -- Confucius

[–] heisenberg12 8 years ago

Laugh all you want. It's obvious the Grey was an inspiration for several aspects of the Revenant. Any astute person would see that.

[–] DarknessKicks 8 years ago

Haha, no.

[–] heisenberg12 8 years ago

Read Carnahan's interview q and a about it. Everything I said above,plus don't forget the flashbacks with wife/loved ones and a spiritual element. You'd have to be in denial not to see it.

[–] markdancedcrazy 8 years ago

Like I said, I think those are superficial elements shared between the two, but used to very different ends. Even if Mallick was influenced by The Grey, he used different source material and explored a different theme. Ultimately they are not much alike. Great artists and filmmakers undoubtedly reference other works consciously and unconsciously, but I think it's a stretch to say that something generic like "winter" or "snow" was taken from The Grey specifically.