Don't Breathe

Starring: Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto, Emma Bercovici
Directed by: Fede Alvarez
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Thriller
2016

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Three thieves (Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto) break into a blind man's (Stephen Lang) home. They soon discover that he's not as helpless as they imagined.

Review:

Tim: Don't Breathe is one of the most effective, thrilling horror movies I've seen in recent years. It's intense, exciting, and offers a twist on the same-old, same-old formula we've seen. I was thoroughly impressed with it. While it doesn't quite deliver the knockout punch needed to be considered great, it gets significantly closer than 99% of the horror movies out there. This movie is very much worth seeing.

One of the best aspects of this movie is that it takes the home invasion story and flips it on its head. We've seen so many home invasion movies, it's impossible to keep track of them all. In this film, though, we identify with the thieves breaking into the house. We care about them, we like them. It's the "innocent" victim in this case, the home owner, who is the antagonist of the film. I love this simple twist that throws all our expectations out the window. This aspect of the film shouldn't be overlooked- it's a simple tweak to the usual formula that helps this movie feel fresh and unique. Any time you see a movie that follows the exact path that dozen of others have trod, this movie should be a reminder that you can change one thing and it can make all the difference.

It helps that the cast has some strong members in it. Stephen Lang was absolutely the right choice as the Blind Man. He didn't have to say a lot, but he is jacked and just has this dangerous, unpredictable quality to him. He could be standing still, saying nothing, and you shiver just a bit. I loved his casting and I was certifiably creeped out by his performance. It was very strong. I also liked the casting of Dylan Minnette. I've been a fan of him for a while- he has this vulnerability that endears the audience to him. You care about him, even when he's breaking into someone else's house. He made a great contrast to Lang. I was less impressed with Jane Levy. I don't think I have seen anything else she's done, so my first impression was this film. She was okay, but she never gave the audience a reason to care about her, other than she's a potential female victim of a madman. I wasn't able to emotionally connect with her character. It's hard to judge an actor based on one performance, but I can't say I saw much to excite me with Levy.

I enjoyed that the film took a very straightforward story and added enough unexpected elements to really keep you on your toes. The story can be stated in one sentence- three thieves break into a house and are terrorized by the blind man who lives there. As the story progresses, though, we find out more about this blind man and his story is a crazy one. There's certainly a big, unexpected moment at one point that completely changes how we think about the film. The turkey baster thing felt a little over-the-top, but it did offer one of the most memorable moments of the film. I suppose it was needed, but I can't claim to have loved it. I did enjoy the scenes in the pitch blackness when the characters were running around in the dark. It gave the film an added visual bonus and helped you to understand how chilling it would be to be in that situation.

Director Fede Alvarez does a good job of telling a fairly memorable, intense story. Horror movies come in all shapes and sizes, and this film is a great example of how you can elevate the genre higher than most films. There are a few too many moments that slip back into the expected and the generic, but as a whole, Alvarez certainly crafts a very good, uncomfortable, entertaining film. Don't Breathe surprised me by how good it was.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Evil Dead, Panic Room