The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: on DON’T BREATHE

The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: 

on DON’T BREATHE (2016, 88 minutes, R)

The Quick of It -

As more astute moviegoers know, young careers can be launched from the horror film industry.  This is potentially at the expense of stumbling upon a critically acclaimed role and having them swimming though the depths of a genre where many themes have been played out.  But there are those innovative gems that have just enough panache to make a difference.

DON’T BREATHE was one of them, to a degree.  The film seems to find its novelty in the horror world by offering something a little different.  Director Fede Alvarez and Jane Levy, among others, re-pair after the EVIL DEAD – 2013 remake.  Jane costars with Daniel Zovatto (IT FOLLOWS) and Dylan Minnette in this late summer release.  Minette seems to be the biggest box office regular out of the youngin’s.  His career, being only 20-years-old, includes PRISONERS, GOOSEBUMPS, LET ME IN, and enough TV credits to fill an IMDB page… most impressive.

These three friends are crafty burglars, hoping to find their way out of Detroit’s gutter.  One gets a lead on a possible score that could solve a lot of their financial woes, a job on a house where a blind man lives.  Enter Stephen Lang (AVATAR, CONAN THE BARBARIAN).  This man has more charisma than “The Most Interesting Man in the World”, thus should now be dubbed so.  He is the Chuck Norris of ‘charisma’, if that helps.  There is just something about his physical presence, his guttural voice, and … blank stare.  Even playing a blind man, he made you pay close attention to everything he did, felt, and experienced. 

This was a movie where everyone was pretty much a bad person.  Sure, some people justified what they did because of their current life situation, or whatever, but they were making poor decisions.  No one was innocent here, and it made for a much more interesting story.  You could almost root for anyone as the story progresses, not caring about the outcome.

DON’T BREATHE was a great thrill ride.  And yes, it made you want to hold your breath.  I remember spending many late evenings as a child playing hide-n-seek at sleepovers at one particular friend’s house.  And I mean the kind where you have all the lights out in the house, blocking off all light sources to include outside, and playing in pitch black.  You could be standing right in front of someone and still not be found.  I would venture a guess that I held my breath a few times as well.  So stop breathing and head to the theater to support these young actors and their budding careers.

Grade: B