“They Live in the Grey” (also known as “The Uncanny“) is a taut supernatural thriller. It lives up to its middle-ground name. The film explores relationships frozen in time during challenging periods. It also delves into the ethereal spirits caught between worlds.

Thought-provoking and multi-layered, They Live in the Grey immerses viewers in the profound emotions arising from loss. This film was released on February 17, 2022. It is titled The Uncanny in the UK. It is now available for streaming on the Shudder platform.

Narratively They Live in the Grey, introduces us to Clair, a child-appointed protective services officer. As the story unfolds, her poignant journey follows the heartbreaking loss of her son. Clair delves into a distressing child abuse case. She soon discovers that the family she is investigating is entangled in complexities far beyond her initial expectations. Undeterred, she becomes acutely aware of a malevolent presence permeating the household.

Determined to uncover the truth and protect young Sophie, Clair bravely confronts a series of chilling encounters. Vengeful spirits, persistently attempt to connect with her. With each supernatural challenge she faces, it becomes evident that Clair’s uncanny ability to navigate the spectral realm is apparent. She exercises this skill with unwavering resolve.

What Do Ghosts Want?

If you are a fan of films like “The Conjuring”, you might enjoy They Live in the Grey. You might also enjoy it if you like TV shows like “The Dead Files”. It could be described as a precursor to those sorts of psychic investigator-type stories. In this film, Claire knows she sees ghosts. However, she is simply afraid. She doesn’t know what they want and lives her life terrified. Throughout the runtime, The Vang Brothers carefully eke out the different forms of what happens.

They show what happens when we lose something. They also show this premise from several angles. For the family she is investigating, there is a marital affair lurking in the background. Between Claire and her husband, there is a wall between them. Neither knows how to deal with their pain. And in other examples, there are ghosts. These ghosts are the victims of violent crime and abandonment. They simply don’t know how to move on.

If you are looking for a scary movie, They Live in the Grey might not scratch that itch. Despite having numerous frightening visuals that are creatively executed, there is nothing overtly creepy about this movie. Those sensitive to jump scares might even feel a little ripped off. There is an overreliance on loud noises and scores versus creating tension. That’s something I usually prefer in my supernatural haunting films.

Scary Ghost Movies

Overall, I found plenty to like about the film but the pacing is really slow without a lot of payoffs. The grand finale had some unexpected details to throw into the mix but overall, was a little subdued. I could see They Live in the Grey easily stretching out to a sequel. It could also become a horror franchise. However, I have heard nothing about that being the case.

They Live in the Grey is rated

3 ghosts sure do enjoy breaking bones out of 5

Mother of Movies score

What to watch next: Wolves Against the World 2024 / Bloodthirsty 2020 / Blackout 2023

Written and directed by brothers Burlee Vang and Abel Vang (The Tigers Child.)
Cast for They Live in the Grey: Michelle Krusiec (Hollywood), Ken Kirby (GoodTrouble, Dynasty.) In addition, Ellen Wroe (For All Mankind, Shameless), Madelyn Grace (Don’t Breathe 2)

It’s not the burdens we carry that makes life hard. It’s the refusal to let anyone else help us carry them.
Quote from They Live in the Grey

They Live in the Grey is a Ghost Story About Loss

For the full, They Live in the Grey trailer, see the Mother of Movies article. The article discusses the announcement for the film.