Review of Into the Grizzly Maze (2015) by Joe M — 18 May 2015

Let me just say right off the bat that Into The Grizzly Maze is by no means quality cinema, but it is enjoyable fodder provided you're into the nature run amok sort of thing. Plagued by setbacks, re-shoots, and multiple title changes, the film had disaster written all over it, thankfully the PG-13 rating that the MPAA initially slapped it with was overturned.

A rogue grizzly bear goes on a rampage and must be stopped by a great white hunter. All of this is as predictable and cliche ridden as can be. The stock characters are portrayed reasonably well by the likes of Thomas Jane, James Marsden, Scott Glenn, and Billy Bob Thornton.

These people are slumming it of course, Thornton has a bit of fun picking the scenery out from between his teeth after he's done spouting foreboding bear factoids. The writing is absurdly sporadic, with the dialogue ranging from idiotic to chuckle worthy to passably dramatic.

At a brisk hour and half there isn't much time for the bear (sometimes Bart, sometimes digital) to establish a real presence, it just kind of shows up to give chase and or maul someone.. to varying degrees of believability.

This is a B movie through and through, it uses the Jaws blueprint down to a T and it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's dumb, but harmlessly enjoyable.