Into the Grizzly Maze

Into the Grizzly Maze

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2015 (2015)
Founder	David Hackl (director), Guy Moshe, Jack Reher (screenwriters)
Headquarters	United States
Products	Film

Into the Grizzly Maze—originally known as Red Machine, then Endangered, and later Grizzly'—is a 2015 American action horror movie directed by David Hackl with a screenplay by Guy Moshe and Jack Reher. The film features performances by James Marsden, Thomas Jane, Piper Perabo, Scott Glenn, and Billy Bob Thornton. Its narrative follows two brothers who have grown distant but reunite in the Alaskan wilderness, where they confront a formidable grizzly bear. The movie was first made available on video on demand on May 19, 2015, and subsequently received a limited theatrical release on June 26, 2015.

Plot

Beckett and Rowan Moore, siblings who were once close but have since drifted apart, find themselves reunited. Beckett serves as a local deputy, while Rowan is an ex-convict returning to Alaska. Rowan seeks out Mary Cadillac to assist in locating her missing husband, Johnny. Meanwhile, a large and cunning grizzly bear begins attacking hunters and loggers in the vicinity.

Rowan meets Amber at a bar but ends their relationship after discovering she is a sex worker. Following an altercation with Amber’s boyfriend Franco, Rowan reconnects with Beckett, now married to Michelle, who works as a wildlife photographer and conservation advocate. The brothers visit their mother’s grave shortly before Beckett receives reports of the bear’s attacks.

Hunter Douglas informs them that the bear is unusually large and intelligent, possibly targeting humans in retaliation for poaching and logging activities rather than hunting for sustenance. Beckett teams up with Rowan’s former girlfriend Kaley to search for Rowan and Michelle, who have disappeared within the Grizzly Maze.

Michelle encounters the bear but becomes trapped in one of her own snares; Rowan manages to rescue her. As they traverse moose kill sites and deserted campsites, they discover that Johnny has died. Sully, a local official who later admits to releasing poachers into the Maze, arrives by boat.

Douglas attempts to shoot the bear but is fatally attacked in response. Sully also falls victim to the bear after confessing his role in enabling poachers. Beckett and Rowan engage in a final struggle with the bear; after their attempt to trap it using fire fails, Rowan kills the creature while protecting the group. Together, they manage to escape from the Maze.

Production

On January 19, 2012, James Marsden, Thomas Jane, and Billy Bob Thornton were announced as cast members of the thriller then titled Red Machine. Shortly thereafter, Piper Perabo was added to portray Jane's fiancée. Filming commenced in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in February 2012. Producers included Tai Duncan, Hadeel Reda, and Paul Schiff.

Additional cast such as Scott Glenn, Adam Beach, Michaela McManus, and Kelly Curran were confirmed on February 2, 2012. The production featured animal actor Bart the Bear 2, from Wasatch Rocky Mountain Wildlife based in Heber City, Utah. On February 27, 2013, distribution rights were acquired by Open Road Films, which also renamed the project from Red Machine to Endangered.

Release

Following Open Road Films’ initial acquisition of distribution rights, the studio ultimately dropped the film. Subsequently, Vertical Entertainment and Destination Films secured distribution rights and released it via video on demand on May 19, 2015. This was followed by a limited theatrical release on June 26, 2015.

Reception

According to the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has garnered a 36% approval rating based on 11 critiques, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 10. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 43% derived from 4 reviews, reflecting a reception that is generally "mixed or average."

External links

• Endangered on MovieInsider