Before I get this review started, I wanted to apologize for the lack of new reviews in the last couple weeks. I had some sort of viral infection for the last 3 weeks and its finally started to clear up now, it started during my John Wick: Chapter 2 review, and there was no way I was missing that screening so I powered through. I’m hard on myself but I felt like that review wasn’t my best, but I appreciate people complimenting it. I also wanted to apologize for my lack of finishing the best picture reviews for the oscars, my goal was to have all 9 films up for Best Picture reviewed before the Oscars and due to being sick I wasn’t able to write the reviews and keep to my standards, so i omitted them. But I would like to say that i’m super happy Moonlight won best picture, I knew that when the final oscar nominations were announced that Moonlight was going to win. Anyways, I just wanted to say I’m back to semi full health and expect some great content in the future, or mediocre content, who knows!
anyways onto my review of Don’t Breathe
Original Release Date: August 26th, 2016
“Now You’re Gonna See What I See”
Don’t Breathe is a film I really wanted to go see when I heard about who was making it. I thought The Evil Dead (2013) was a really great movie, and I thought they did a very cool job with that film, so when i figured out it was the same creative team that did The Evil Dead taking on an original idea I was all for it. Unfortunately I didn’t catch it in theatres, and even more unfortunately I waited until the liquidation sale of HMV to pick it up, and MAN I’m so mad I waited for so long.
Don’t Breathe is a Crime, Horror, Thriller film about a trio of thieves who hope to walk away with a massive fortune, break into a blind mans house who isn’t as helpless as it seems.
Don’t Breathe is directed by Fede Alvarez. Alvarez’s filmography consists of The Evil Dead remake (2013). Fede Alvarez is an extremely capable director, I think he is definitely a name to look out for in the Horror genre from now on. His camera movements and how he shoots his films is really awesome, he does these subtle moments with extremely high suspense, and even I found myself in places not breathing.. or don’t breathe… see what I did there? (you missed me didn’t you). I found myself holding my breath and on the edge of my seat throughout the entire hour and 28 minute run time. I also liked how he didn’t wait to get it going, this thing starts and it GOES, no bullshit, no ridiculousness, just a damn well crafted thriller.
Don’t Breathe is written by Fede Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues. They both wrote The Evil Dead remake (2013). Piggybacking on the great directing, Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues are really good at making scripts. They have original ideas that they were even able to put into a remake of a classic horror movie, and honestly they were able to make it their own. But finally getting a chance to really stretch their imaginations and put it on paper in a really well crafted, and original thriller is crazy. This movie was really well written and the ideas of it and execution were so well done. After the credits rolled, all I could say was “Damn, that was a smart movie.” In an age of reboots, remakes and seqboots, having a highly original not jump scares, edge of your seat horror/thriller movie is definitely welcomed.
The film stars Stephen Lang as The Blind Man, Jane Levy as Rocky, Dylan Minnette as Alex and Daniel Zovatto as Money.
Stephen Lang’s filmography consists of Avatar (2009) {Anyone that knows me, knows that I hesitated putting that film down}, Public Enemies (2009), and Call of Duty: Ghosts {Video Game} (2013). I am not familiar with Lang’s work, I hated Avatar, so I don’t even consider that he was in that movie. Public Enemies was a well crafted Heist film and I don’t remember him in Call of Duty: Ghosts. But wow, he was great in Don’t Breathe. I think he was really well casted in this movie. He was this big, intimidating fella, that even you as an audience member were like “Yeah, I don’t want to mess with this guy.” I thought he was really good, and I’d be intrigued to see what else he does in the future, he’s definitely on my map to seek out more of his films (unless they’re Avatar sequels).
Jane Levy’s filmography consists of The Evil Dead (2013). I think its really neat that Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues brought back Jane Levy in Don’t Breathe. She was really good in The Evil Dead (2013), that was the only thing I’ve seen with her in it, I thought it was her first film but it was not. But I think she’s great at what she does, she’s subtle and doesn’t over act in these two films. She was great to watch, and I think she’s a very capable actress. Theres a film on Netflix with her in it called “I Don’t Feel at Home In This World Anymore” that I can’t wait to check out, not just because of her, but the director is a great actor that was in many of Jeremy Sauliner’s films and I can’t wait to see his work behind the camera. But yes, Jane Levy is excellent, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Dylan Minnette’s filmography consists of Let Me In (2010), Lost {TV Series} (2004-2010), Prisoners (2013), and Goosebumps (2015). This is the actor in Don’t Breathe that I have the most experience watching. He was great in Lost, playing Jack Shepard’s son. But he really was fantastic in Denis Villenueuve’s Prisoners in 2013, thats where he really shined in my opinion. Goosebumps was also a lot of fun. But to see him in a high tension, horror/thriller thats not playful like Goosebumps is awesome, I thought he did a great job in this movie, and was extremely fun to watch. I’m intrigued to see what he does next, I see bright things in this guys future. I also hope more horror films…because horror films are great.
Daniel Zovatto’s filmography consists of It Follows (2014). Daniel Zovatto was great in It Follows, I honestly didn’t remember his face until I looked at a couple of stills from the film and I know exactly who he is. In Don’t Breathe he played a completely different character, more of an asshole, more intimidating and it was interesting to see him in this role. There were a lot of moments however where I despised his character, but it was definitely for the good and the plot of the film.
I don’t want to ruin anything from the film, so I’m going to end it here. Just know its a highly original and smart horror movie, that I was very glad I got to watch. I’m also glad I own the blu ray, those who watch movies with me on a occasional basis that enjoy these types of films, expect me to lend it, watch it or tell you about it in the near future.
Don’t Breathe gets a 4.5/5 from me.
Until Next Time!
-Andrew