They Live In The Grey – Shudder Review (4/5)

THEY LIVE IN THE GREY on Shudder is a new horror movie that’s actually scary and packs a real punch. It’s made by, and starring, Asian-Americans, which is a nice change. Do not miss out on this one! Read our full They Live in the Grey review here!

THEY LIVE IN THE GREY is a new Shudder horror movie that builds a story on grief, fear, and pain. In other words, it really packs a punch and should resonate with viewers for many different reasons.

You might wonder if it matters that the main characters are Asian-American?! As someone who is white but part of the LGBTQ community, I’ll step right up and say yes. Because diversity matters. Being seen and having others see you for more than the typical tropes and stereotypes is paramount for change in the real world.

It’s been proven time and time again. Also, there are so many actors out there that we need to see more. Michelle Krusiec, who stars in this movie, is just one of them!

Continue reading our They Live in the Grey movie review below and check it out on Shudder from February 17, 2022.

The horror of heartbreaking grief

In They Live in The Grey we follow Claire (Michelle Krusiec) who is investigating a child abuse case when she discovers that the family is being tormented by a supernatural entity. In order to save the family, she must confront her own fears and use her emerging clairvoyance to stop the malevolent force.

That’s from the official plot and while it works to describe what this movie delivers as a “horror movie”, it is actually so much more. Dealing with child abuse tends to have elements of true horror. Just think of a movie like Antlers where we see a young boy hurting. Or even The Sixth Sense.

A child can be abused in many ways and for many reasons. None of them are good and acceptable, but They Live in the Grey manage to tell a nuanced story. And yes, there are twists throughout, so do avoid spoilers!

The absolute star of They Live in the Grey is Michelle Krusiec (Hollywood, The Invitation, Saving Face) as Claire. Krusiec brings Claire’s trauma and grief to the screen perfectly. Also in this movie are Ken Kirby (Good Trouble), Ellen Wroe (Only Mine, For All Mankind), and Madelyn Grace (Don’t Breathe 2).

Asian-American characters at the forefront

When it comes to Asian-Americans, they are far too often only seen in bit roles or as the classic horror tropes. In fact, Asian horror movies have been almost synonymous with J-horror (as in Japanese horror movies) for the longest time.

Here at Heaven of Horror, we are huge fans of South Korean genre productions for more than a decade. Also, we watch movies from Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, so it hasn’t been that simple for us.

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The HBO horror anthology Folklore with each episode being from a different Asian country >

However, far too often, when we mention “Asian horror” to anyone, their sole (or at least “core”) reference, is The Ring. A movie that was remade in the US 20 years ago. So yes, it matters that we see Asian horror as more than just a girl with long black hair in front of her face, and always shown in black, white, and gray.

Imagine being an Asian-American who loves horror, and continuously get this one style and reference to see yourself in. That’s why I think They Live in the Grey with Asian-Americans at the forefront is a perfect example of an important and necessary evolution. Their ethnicity has nothing to do with the story.

Just like white people’s ethnicity rarely has anything to do with the movies and stories that have predominantly white actors. Which would be most movies.

Watch They Live in the Grey on Shudder!

They Live in the Grey was written and directed by Abel Vang and Burlee Vang. The two are also known as the “Vang brothers” and previously wrote and directed the horror-mystery Bedeviled (2016). I haven’t watched that one, so I can’t speak to its qualities.

But I can say that they’ve made something unforgettable with They Live in the Grey.

And hey, if you don’t care that the filmmakers and main cast are Asian-Americans, then fine. That’s not why you should watch it anyway. You should watch it because it’s a solid and strong horror movie, that grabs a hold of you and puts you through the wringer.

If you, on the other hand, don’t want to watch it because the main cast is Asian-American, then that’s exactly why this movie is so necessary and makes for a nice (and important) change.

THEY LIVE IN THE GREY premieres on Shudder on February 17, 2022.

Details

Directors: Abel Vang, Burlee Vang
Writers: Abel Vang, Burlee Vang
Stars: Michelle Krusiec, Ken Kirby, Ellen Wroe, Madelyn Grace, Mercedes Manning